Terms of reference for consulting services of a Part-Time Horticulture Value Chains Export Specialist

1. Background

Oxfam is a global movement of people, working together to end the injustice of poverty. That means we tackle the inequality that keeps people poor. Oxfam’s vision is a just world without poverty. We are a confederation of 20 Oxfam affiliates working across the world as one Oxfam International on goals that support our shared vision. We want a world where people are valued and treated equally, enjoy their rights as full citizens, and can influence decisions affecting their lives. 

Oxfam, in consortium with three other local organizations, secured a four - year funding from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, with the support of the European Union, to implement a project titled “Horticulture Value Chains Project (HVC)” in four districts of Rwanda namely: Nyagatare, Kamonyi, Rulindo and Nyamagabe. The project aims to unlock the potential of Rwanda’s horticultural value chains, ensuring sustainable supply of safe and high-quality products to local, regional and international markets. 

Oxfam in Rwanda seeks to achieve the project’s objectives by applying inclusive business approach that combines private sector development with inclusive growth objectives. Furthermore, the project will reduce food losses and increase value chain efficiencies, improve food safety, promote inclusion of entrepreneurial small holders and use climate smart technologies. 

To adequately support the project, achieve its intended results especially, outcome 3: Increased access and capacity to respond to demand /supply of local, regional and international markets; Oxfam seeks to use the skills and knowledge of a part-time horticulture value chains  export specialist who would provide brokering expertise to unlock market opportunities for horticulture produces supported under HVC project. Sh/e will bring the global exposure and experience to ensure success of the program in linking farmers, processors and aggregators to local, regional and international markets. 

2. Roles and Responsibilities of Oxfam International Market Linkage Advisor.

Reporting to the HVC program manager, the Export specialist will facilitate integration of smallholder farmers beneficiaries of the HVC project to structured output markets. Below are some key areas of focus of the role:

• Support in identification of the horticulture industry’s demand and enhance partners’ awareness and knowledge of such demands;
• Support in building capacities of Farmers organizations and SMEs to competitively market Flowers, eggplant, avocadoes and chilli/hot pepper, Tomatoes, pineapple and fresh beans. Onions/garlic and passion fruits to structured market channels;
• Support in the development and implementation of strategies and interventions that can help in establishing stronger and sustainable linkages between program’s farmers and the formal local, regional and international markets;
• Strengthening business partnerships among the selected commodity value chain actors and service providers;
• Coordinate with in-country HVC team and project’s implementing partners to improve market orientation of production and post-harvest practices. 

2.1 Specific Responsibilities Include:

1. Technical Leadership

• Support Oxfam and implementing partners to undertake market demand analyses for targeted horticulture produces including market opportunities of priority crops, markets’ channels, quality and quantity requirements, prices and standards’ requirements on the markets; 

• Support in identification of farmers organizations and SMEs whom the project can work with for sustainable supply of project targeted horticulture commodities; 

• Support in identification of potential buyers of the targeted horticulture commodities and support in defining the actions required for building long-term business partnerships; 

• Collaborate and participate in commodity sub-cluster platforms; 

• Enhance synergies between the project’s objectives with other existing programs in the region (eg. Mark-up, Hortinvest, …); 

• Support in the creation of platforms for buyers and farmers’ groups and cooperatives or SMEs; 

• Support SMEs and farmers groups to comply with contractual agreements to supply demands on structured markets. 

2. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Participate in overall project’s specific and consortium led project work planning sessions and provide expertise inputs;
• Provide to the program’s M&E person data and information related to market linkages aspects of the program especially during reporting times;
• Develop monthly written updates on the progress of the program component on market linkages for the HVC Programme Manager’s consideration.
• Document and share lessons on the project during influencing meetings with external stakeholders and implementing partners when requested. 

3. Gender Integration

• Understand all gender integration requirements and targets (donor as well as internal to Oxfam in Rwanda) within the program’s design.
• Review achievements of gender targets in aspects related to market linkages and make suggestions for necessary corrections to implementing partners and project leadership. 

4. Technical Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• University degree in International Development, Economics, Marketing, agri-business or related field.
• Proven experience in working within dynamics of market linkages, networking with various stakeholders, and securing business deals using personal connections.
• Demonstrate strong negotiation skills and capacity to forge long-term partnerships beyond local settings.
• Experience working in other countries within the region or at international levels.
• Proven capacity to deliver independently on tasks and duties with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability and willingness to work towards deadlines, in a planned and inclusive manner.
• Demonstrable communication, facilitation and representation skills (in English and Kinyarwanda preferably).
• Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work hands-on, independently, and within a team. 

• Excellent and demonstrated written and verbal communication skills in English. 

• Experience with Project cycle management. 

• Knowledge and experience of monitoring and supporting projects in gender, economic empowerment and women producers. 

• At least ten years of relevant work experience including three-year experience in leading roles in programmes’ implementation, enterprises’ development, markets-based or value chain development and/or Value Chain Financing; or similar private sector positions. 

• Clear understanding of importance of a well implemented development project in poverty eradication, and promotion of women economic empowerment. 

• Demonstrated skills to use project management systems for M&E and ability to learn and manipulate related online systems. 

• Demonstrated experience in reports’ writing and conceptualization of ideas would be an added value. 

• Demonstrated capacity to articulate and write good quality reports in English. 

• Proven experience and ability to work with partners, community-based groups and other key stakeholders

3. Ethics and safeguarding

Oxfam has a zero-tolerance policy towards inaction against sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.  Oxfam’s ethics for safeguarding will be emphasized and remain mandatory throughout the process of the undertaking of the mapping study. Engagements and support will aim to create and maintain safe, equitable, and inclusive culture where all those who work for and with Oxfam as well as those in the communities where Oxfam operates are treated with dignity and their rights and voices are heard and respected.

4. How to apply

Qualified interested individual Consultants are invited to send their resume, degree certificate and related courses and proof of experience of similar assignments electronically to kigali@oxfam.org.uk  and kigaliprocuremnt@oxfam.org.uk not later than the 20^th June 2023 at 5:00Pm. Applications must be written in English. 

Please note that Oxfam reserves the right to negotiate, accept or reject any or all proposals and quotations at its sole discretion and to pursue or act further on any responses it considers advantageous.