FEED THE FUTURE RWANDA ORORA WIHAZE ACTIVITY 

Request for Applications 

Individual consultant to provide technical assistance to meat actors on meat safety and environmental compliance. 

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

Assignment Period: September-November 2024 

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

Type of contract: Individual Fixed Price Contract 

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 supporting human progress.

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is the lead implementer of the USAID funded Feed the Future Rwanda Orora Wihaze project 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, a project implemented under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contract, is to sustainably increase access to, availability and consumption of Animal Source Foods through the development of a profitable market system.

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 in rural markets. To support them supply affordable quality meat and fish products while complying with hygiene and safety requirements, Orora Wihaze provided the 22 market actors with meat handling equipment which included meat cutting machines, meat and fish freezers, fishing nets, happas, saws for filleting fish, knives, and rainwater handling tanks, among other materials.

A quick assessment revealed that these actors lack important tools and skills to handle the donated equipment as they operate their business and ensure environmental compliance. In addition to lack of skills, the grantees lack equipment handling manuals, equipment maintenance plans, depreciation plans, waste disposal and cleaning plans, to guide them as they operate their businesses.

The assessment indicated that Indyonziza and N&N slaughterhouses face significant challenges in ensuring safety and environmental compliance. The most urgent concerns include inadequate waste management, poor hygiene practices, biosecurity lapses, and a lack of proper staff certification.

 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 and development of relevant tools to ensure sustainability of businesses. 

 III.Objective of the assignment 

The overall objective of this assignment is to provide technical assistance through, physical training sessions and field mentorship, to 20 meat actors and 2 fish producing cooperatives partnering with the Feed the Future Rwanda Orora Wihaze activity. The technical assistance will focus on 3 major aspects:

• The proper handling of meat and fish products
• Proper utilization and maintenance of butcheries and fish equipment.
• Training of fish and meat value chain market actors on environmental compliance laws and policiesto ensure that these market actors are aware of the legal requirements they must follow to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. 

Through this support, the 22 market actors’ skills will be supported to apply appropriate meat and fish handling techniques and animal source food safety best practices across the pig, goats, fish, and chicken value chains including primary processing to comply with the GOR/USAID environmental regulatory requirements.

Scope of Work (Key Activities) of the Consultant 

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

• Conduct needs Assessment and gather essential information and analyze weaknesses of butcheries, slaughterhouses, and fish-producing cooperatives that may contribute to air and water pollution, soil contamination and destruction of the habitat 
• Evaluate the readiness and capability of meat and fish market actors to utilize and maintain the provided equipment, product handling, and waste disposal best practices. 
• Design and facilitate the partners to address the identified gaps by, providing comprehensive training to improve product handling practices, the equipment maintenance, depreciation, and proper disposal of outdated or broken equipment. 

Develop user-friendly documents for the meat actors to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and policies. These documents should cover areas such as:

a) Waste management and disposal tools, including a cleaning schedule, 

b) Guidelines for the renovation and replacement of outdated materials, 

c) Records of staff health and medical checkups, and

d) Training of meat and fish actors on environmental contamination sources and mitigation measures. 

The selected consultant (s) will, (upon needs assessment findings) train and guide meat and fish actors, staff, and cooperative members on proper waste disposal, equipment maintenance and proper handling, record-keeping, helping them achieve a balance between reducing environmental impacts and maintaining profitability and efficiency business. Additionally, the consultant will instruct them on best practices for meat and fish cutting, preserving raw meat under cold chain conditions to extend shelf life without compromising quality, and handling fish and poultry, including cleaning knives, deep freezers, and meat-cutting machines. 

Key deliverables 

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following: 

An inception report that includes:

• Environmental gap analysis findings 
• A detailed plan outlining the activities that will be carried out during the project, including timelines, roles, and resources. 
• Methodology: The strategies and approaches that will be used to execute these activities effectively and achieve the project's objectives 
• A list of important regulations governing production and handling of the target livestock value chains
• Training manuals and equipment operating guide, equipment maintenance protocol (Meat Cutter, Ice making machine and freezers, rainwater harvesting plastic Tanks, Knives and weighing scales) 
• Butchery and Cooperatives staff training report on proper use of equipment and maintenance.
• A Waste Management Plan and Guidelines for Cleaning of Equipment outline the proper procedures and protocols to ensure environmental hygiene, safety, and compliance in business operations like fish and meat value chains.
• Market actors training report on proper waste management, to enhance compliance with the GOR Environmental Policies and other relevant national competent authorities’ guidelines. 
• Using Orora Wihaze templates compile Environmental Monitoring and mitigation reports (EMMR) and attach any supporting documents, such as data from monitoring activities, photos, or/ additional assessments.
• Analysis on Safety and Environmental Issues at Indyonziza and N&N Slaughterhouses. And develop a report detailing findings on environmental concerns at Indyonziza and N&N slaughterhouses based on the identified challenges which will addresses specific safety hazards, environmental risks, compliance gaps, and recommendations for improvement. 
• Final report that includes lessons and recommendations from this assignment. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES 

Interested individual consultants and or Companies are encouraged to send their applications to ProcurementROW@landolakes.com not later than 5.00 pm Kigali time on September 06^th, 2024. The title of the email must include “Individual consultant to provide technical assistance to meat actors on meat safety and environmental compliance” 

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

• A proposalwith (i) brief description of why the individual considers themself as the most suitable candidate 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(iv) relevant personal CVs indicating education background/professional qualifications, all relevant experiences, consultant contact details, (3) professional references and (v) a financial proposal. 

Organizational arrangements 

Orora Wihaze will contract a consultant or a company that will undertake the assignment as described in this Scope of work. The consultant will report to: Intervention Portfolio Manager 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 the Deputy Chief of Party. 

Duty Station 

The duty station of the work will be Kigali with travel to the project target districts.

Required Expertise and Qualifications 

The assignment will require individuals with bachelor's degree in food science, Veterinary Medicine, bachelor's degree or Certifications orin environmental science, Natural resources management or other related field with relevant experience in Livestock value chain.

Applicants should include CVs of people with expertise in the educational background. The well-crafted biography of the individual/team can be a powerful tool for building credibility. 

• Proven experience in conducting training on environmentally sound practices and development management, including both theoretical and practical aspects; development and delivering training manuals, and workshops related to environmental management for sustainable development 
• Working knowledge in the Agro-processing sector. 
• Ability to train meat producers on meat safety protocols, including proper handling, processing, and storage techniques. 
• Have a good understanding and working knowledge of meat and fish hygiene and handling best practices along small livestock supply chain in Rwanda.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Kinyarwanda, both oral and written. 
• strong foundation in environmental management best practices 
• A Certification in environmental management, sustainability, or related fields is an added value 

Payment Modalities 

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

• 30% Submission of inception report detailing the consultant’s plan and timeline for conducting the following
• A quick scan on current meat handling practices 
• Current equipment handling and use
• Current Professional behaviors of persons operating butcheries and Slaughterhouses. 
• Environmental related challenges faced by the grantees across Orora Wihaze Districts with more emphasis on two Slaughterhouses. 
• 35%. After completion, submission, and acceptance of tools/ manuals and training materials on: 
• Routine Hygiene and waste disposal reporting tools. 
• Proper fishing technics, Happas and Fishing nets cleaning protocols. 
• Proper handling of butcher, Slaughterhouse, and fishing equipment during and after use.
• Grantees training and coaching report 
• 35%. Final report including:
• Proof for grantees registration certificate issued by RICA
• Equipment maintenance plans 
• Documented findings, market actors feedback and consultant’s recommendations. 
• Compiled Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring reports and supporting documents, such as photos, and/or additional data. 
• Develop a specific comprehensive report on environmental aspect for Indyonziza and N&N the piggery and Poultry slaughterhouses, elaborating the key environmental challenges identified and the importance of addressing them for regulatory compliance, environmental protection, propose mitigation measures to ensure business sustainability. 
• Final technical assistance report, used methodology, operating tools, waste management tools. 

VII.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% 

Annex 1: List of Market Actors and respective locations