FEED THE FUTURE RWANDA ORORA WIHAZE ACTIVITY

Request for Applications

Individual consultant to provide training and coaching to meat actors who received an in-kind grant of equipment under RICA partnership.

Assignment Locations: Rwanda (Kigali and Orora Wihaze target districts; Kayonza, Ngoma, Gakenke, Burera, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke)

Assignment Period: May-June 2024

Category: Animal source foods (ASF)MSME, training and coaching

Type of contract: Individual Fixed Price Contract

I. Introduction

Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a nonprofit organization helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in crop inputs, agricultural insights, dairy and animal nutrition from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is the lead implementer of The USAID funded Feed the Future Rwanda Orora Wihaze in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Market Share Associates (MSA), The Manoff Group (TMG) now John Snow, Inc. (JSI), and Urunana Development Communications operating to deliver an innovative market systems development approach empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises. The goal of Orora Wihaze is to sustainably increase access to, availability and consumption of Animal Source Foods through the development of a profitable market. Implemented under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contract.

II. Background of this call for Applications

As part of the Market Systems Development approach implemented by Orora Wihaze which is aimed at increasing animal source foods product Market, the project identified and signed grant partnerships with 20 meat actors and 2 fish producing Cooperatives, who were trying to increase availability of livestock products at rural markets but lacking important for proper operations and equipment handling manuals to guide them as they operate their business.

To support them to avail affordable quality meat and fish products while complying with hygiene and safety requirements, Orora Wihaze provided the 22 market actors with meat handling materials and equipment which included meat cutting machines, Meat and fish freezers, fishing nets and Happas, saws for separating bones from fresh, Knives, Rainwater handling tanks, among other materials that require special skills and handling techniques.

A quick assessment revealed that there are gaps and challenges in equipment and business operating skills that may negatively affect the operators, the product (meat and fish), and the entire environment. And the business at large. In addition to lack of skills, the grantees do lack business records, equipment handling manuals, equipment maintenance plan, and depression processes, waste disposal and cleaning plan, to guide them as they operate their businesses. It is against this background that Orora Wihaze is looking for a competent consultant to provide technical assistance to address these challenges through capacity building and coaching.

III. Objective of the assignment

Orora Wihaze signed grant agreements with 20 meat actors and 2 fish producing Cooperatives to increase availability of Animal Sourced Food (ASF) in rural markets. The technical assistance will focus on 3 Major aspects: Proper utilization of equipment & maintenance, basic knowledge on business management & marketing while complying with environmental management rquirements. Through this support, the 22 market actors will improve pig, Goats, fish, and chicken primary processing and business ensuring compliance with environmental regulatory requirements. The assignment will reinforce marketing strategies to raise awareness on the availability of affordable quality ASF products on their local markets.

IV. Scope of Work (Key Activities) of the Consultant

To effectively deliver the required technical assistance, the consultant will undertake the following activities:

• Assess partners’ capacity needs in the implementation of meat and fish business at the community level.
• Take lead in the collection of basic information and analyze the strength and weaknesses of the butchers, Slaughterhouses and fish producing Cooperatives.
• Assess actors' readiness and ability to use the given equipment, basic information on business management, product handling, equipment maintenance and waste disposal,
• Design and facilitate capacity enhancing intervention based on the identified gaps and provide informative training for improvement of product handling and proper records keeping at business level.
• Facilitate Partners to develop business operating protocol, procedure manual and tools, defining roles and responsibilities (for Cooperatives) to help streamline the intervention in business management and collaboration.
• Develop user friendly waste management and disposal tools, including cleaning calendar, renovation and replacement of old materials, Staff health and medical checkup frequencies, basic knowledge on sources of environmental contamination mitigation measures at the business level.
• Develop equipment handling tools training manual including maintenance plan and reporting procedures.
• Train Staff and Cooperative members on Waste disposal, business management, Equipment handling and record keeping.

V. Key deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report that includes assessment report summarizing detailed methodology, work plan, timelines
• Training manuals and equipment operating guide (Meat Cutter, Ice making machine and freezers, rainwater harvesting Plastic Tanks, Knives and weighing balances)
• Butcher/slaughterhouse staff training report on proper use of equipment and maintenance.
• Waste management plan, guidelines for the cleaning Calendar.
• Market actors training report on proper waste management, to enhance compliance with the GOR Environmental Policies and other relevant national competent authorities’ guidelines.
• Templates related to business records keeping and train the ASF producers on how to keep accurate business records and balance sheets to have basic knowledge of business management.
• Final report that includes lessons and recommendations from this assignment

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

Interested individual consultants are encouraged to send their applications to ProcurementROW@landolakes.com not later than 19^th May 2024 Kigali time. The title of the email must include “Individual consultant to provide training and coaching to meat actors and Fish producing Cooperatives.”

The application email should attach a comprehensive 2-section technical proposal as one (1) document in pdf format:

• A Proposal with (i) brief description of why the individual considers themself as the most suitable for the assignment, (ii) a detailed clear methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment, and (iii) a duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using consultant’s self-created template or a project-specific template where applicable.
• The Proposal should also contain (iv) personal CV indicating education background/professional qualifications, all relevant experience, consultant contact details, (3) professional references and (v) a financial proposal.

1.1 Organizational arrangements

Orora Wihaze will contract one consultant who will undertake the assignment as described in this ToR. The consultant will report to: Intervention Portfolio Manager and Orora Wihaze Senior Nutrition Specialist with acquisition plus related remuneration handled by procurement department. The Consultant will spearhead the assignment and will be responsible for the submission of the deliverables as requested. All deliverables submitted by the consultants should be reviewed by the Intervention Portfolio Manager and approved by Senior Nutrition Specialist.

1.2 Duty Station

The duty station of the work will be Kigali and travels to the target Districts.

1.3 Required Expertise and Qualifications

• A degree, or equivalent in Food science with relevant knowledge on environmental and business management.
• Proven experience in conducting training for capacity building both theoretical and practical.
• Good understanding and working knowledge in the Agro-processing sector.
• Have a good understanding and working knowledge of good hygienic and handling best practices along small livestock supply chain in Rwanda.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Kinyarwanda, both oral and written. 

1.4 Payment Modalities

The consultant shall be paid the consultancy fee in accordance with Orora Wihaze’s procurement procedures upon completion of the following milestones:

• 25% Submission of inception report detailing the consultant’s plan of action and timeline for conducting the following a quick scan of business and environmental related challenges faced by the grantees across Orora Wihaze Districts.
• 35%. After completion, submission, and acceptance of tools and training materials including:
• Business management by small and medium enterprises.
• Routine Hygiene and waste disposal plan and reporting.
• Proper fishing technics and post-harvest handling best practices.
• Proper handling of butcher, Slaughterhouse, and fishing equipment during and after use.
• Facilitate in the process of business registration in Collaboration with Orora Wihaze field Staff.
• 40%. After completion of the training and coaching of grantees, proof for grantees registration process and after the approval of the final report by Orora Wihaze technical team.

2. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The expert will be evaluated against the following criteria:

1. Quality of Proposal (25%)
2. Experience and proven capabilities (25%)
3. Consultant’s relevant knowledge, qualifications, and skills (30%)
4. Cost (20%)