TERMS OF REFERENCE. Consultancy: Needs Assessment for Oil Palm production for Landscape farmers

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1 TERMS OF REFERENCE Title f Pst: Cnsultancy: Needs Assessment fr Oil Palm prductin fr Landscape farmers Duty Statin/ Lcatin: Hme based with sme field wrk Time Perid: August Nvember 2018 Prject ID and title: Reducing Defrestatin frm Cmmdity Prductin (GGP-IAP) Reprting: Prject Manager Languages Required: English CONSULTANCY FOR CONDUCTING A LANDSCAPE LEVEL NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION OF OIL PALM PRODUCTION BACKGROUND INFORMATION The UNDP-GEF prject, Supprt t Reduced Defrestatin Cmmdity Prductin als knwn as the GGP Prductin Prject, is a child prject under the UNDP-GEF 6 Integrated Apprach Pilt (IAP) prgram, Taking Defrestatin ut f Cmmdity Supply Chains, knwn since its launch in September 2017 as the Gd Grwth Partnership (GGP). The GGP is advancing an integrated supply chain apprach t tackling the underlying rt causes f defrestatin frm agriculture cmmdities, specifically palm il that accunts fr and cntributes t defrestatin in Liberia. This apprach cnsists f linked prjects cvering prductin, demand, transactins, and knwledge management and learning. As part f an integrated, supply chain apprach the Prductin prject will create linkages and synergies t vercme barriers that pse systemic challenges t reduced defrestatin cmmdity prductin acrss regins and cmmdity markets. The selected apprach seeks t catalyze the develpment r transfrmatin f natinal and sub-natinal systems based n sme key levers: 1) dialgue, actin planning, plicies and enfrcement, 2) farmer supprt systems, and 3) land use mapping and planning. In Liberia, the prject fcuses n palm il prductin in Western Liberia (Grand Cape Munt, Bmi, Gbarplu and Bng). Cmpnent 2 f the GGP Prductin Prject aims t strengthen il palm farmer supprt systems thrugh apprpriate extensin services and ther appraches that help farmers adpt best practices and intensify their prductin sustainably. The Prject will als wrk n frmulating strategies that will encurage and regulate gd prductin practices and sustainability principles that cntribute t adjacent frest cnservatin, in-farm set asides, and prtectin f water surces. Farmer supprt systems are intended t disseminate and encurage such practices while als helping t increase farmer s prductivity. Systems fr land use mnitring and earlyrespnse will be intrduced t cmplement farmer supprt systems, furthering the drive twards mre sustainable, reduced defrestatin prductin systems. 1 P a g e

2 Need The UNDP/GGP is seeking t better understand the training needs f smallhlder Oil Palm farmers, t ensure targeted supprt and infrm the develpment f a lng-term strategy fr sustainable il palm in Liberia. Against this backdrp, UNDP/GGP is seeking services f a cmpetent Cnsultant t undertake a training needs assessment f smallhlder il palm farmers. In executing this assignment, the Cnsultant will wrk under the guidance and direct supervisin f the GGP Prject Manager, in clse cllabratin with the Oil Palm stakehlders including inter alia: the Oil Palm Technical Wrking Grup (OPTWG), the Platfrm Manager, the Ministry f Agriculture, the UNDP Energy and Envirnment Unit and Cnservatin Internatinal. Objectives f the Assignment: In Liberia, smallhlders make up the bulk f il palm prductin, and have either n r limited access t the technical r financial resurces needed t adpt sustainable prductin practices, hence causing envirnmental degradatin. This prject seeks t strengthen sustainable il palm prductin by smallhlder farmers thrugh imprvement in the knwledge, skills, and tls available t prducers fr increasing yields withut engaging in defrestatin practices. In additin t reducing envirnmental degradatin assciated with il palm prductin n existing agricultural lands, farmer supprt systems based n principles f sustainable intensificatin ffer an imprtant path t increasing prductin. This will generate green grwth, enhance benefits and incme fr farmers, and lead t greater uptake f sustainable il palm prductin. Therefre, t frmulate apprpriate strategies and effective appraches fr farmer supprt systems, it is crucial t btain a clear understanding f training needs f smallhlder il palm farmers. The aim f the training needs assessment f smallhlder il palm farmers is t identify technical, knwledgerelated barriers preventing mre efficient, intensified and sustainable practices frm taking hld That will help guide and rient the natinal il palm farmer supprt strategy in Liberia. Scpe f Wrk/ Respnsibilities: Under the verall guidance f the Prject Manager, the Cnsultant will be required t cnduct an in-depth training needs assessment f smallhlder il palm farmers in the target cunties f Grand Cape Munt, Bmi, Gbarplu and Bng, and cllect additinal infrmatin frm ther il palm cncessin areas that will help guide and rient the natinal il palm farmer supprt strategy in Liberia. The assessment will include a thrugh review and bringing tgether f best practices fr prductin and fr farmer training frm gvernment and private sectr, including any earlier experience with trainings. The assessments will fcus n farmers, and their needs, within defrestatin frntier areas ( defrestatin landscapes ) where sustainable cmmdity intensificatin is apprpriate, and brad training needs related t sustainable intensificatin, including the need fr awareness-raising related t aviding defrestatin. 2 P a g e

3 The assessments will als determine hw many farmers need technical supprt, in which technical tpics and pririty gegraphic areas, and at what cst; mapping ut areas where smallhlder il palm farmers in need f technical supprt are; and develp a database t help farmer supprt systems better target interventins. The findings f this assessment will serve as inputs fr the design and implementatin f natinal cmmdity farmer supprt systems. The assessments will be cnducted in clse cnsultatin with Gvernment, private sectr, farmer assciatin stakehlders, as well as NGOs, and will be designed t cmplement REDD+ strategies and assciated Plicies and Measures (PAMs). The cnsultant will als cllect and incrprate additinal data and infrmatin frm ther parts f the cuntry besides, the target landscape in rder t ensure the natinal-level relevance f the assessment. In particular, the prject will wrk with IDH and GROW, etc. t ensure that data is cllected frm at least tw ther cncessin areas. All f these findings will serve as inputs fr the design and implementatin f natinal palm il farmer supprt strategy. The Cnsultant will wrk in cllabratin with lcal stakehlders (gvernment institutins including but nt limited t the Ministry f Agriculture, the Frest Develpment Authrity, the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, the Liberia Land Authrity, research institutins- including but nt limited t the University f Liberia, Central Agricultural Research Institute, expert NGOs including but nt limited t Cnservatin Internatinal, IDH, Slidaridad, Flra and Fauna Internatinal, GROW and Civil Sciety Organizatins, the Oil Palm technical Wrking Grup (OPTWG) and UNDP, the cnsultant will carefully cnduct a needs assessment fr landscape level il palm smallhlders. Duties and Respnsibilities The Cnsultant will have a set f respnsibilities as fllws: 1. Review existing literature and best practices fr prductin and farmer training 2. Identify effective appraches t supprting the sustainable intensificatin f il palm 3. Map smallhlders in the target landscape (Sime Darby) and develp a database t help farmer supprt systems better target interventins 4. Incrprate additinal data and infrmatin frm ther parts f the cuntry in rder t ensure the natinal-level relevance f the assessment by cllecting data frm IDH and GROW t ensure that data emerges frm at least tw ther cncessin areas. Survey farmers (n tp f the baseline f data that may be available frm CI), analyze the survey results and identify brad training needs frm these farmers, related t sustainable prductin intensificatin, 5. Quantify hw many farmers need technical assistance, as well as pririty technical issues, in which they need supprt. (See methdlgy belw) 6. Determine the assciated cst required fr implementatin 7. Identify existing and ptential cmplementary strategies, plicies and measures 8. Farmer mapping Understanding: - Where smallhlders are, - Hw many there are, - Are there any frmal/infrmal relatinships (with mill, with ther grwers, with middlemen, etc), - Hw are they grwing il palm (a few trees here and there r a small plantatin, hw ld are the trees, what s current yield, cultivatin practices (e.g. fertilizer, harvesting, extractin/milling, etc)); 3 P a g e

4 - What else are they grwing? 9. Needs assessment Based n that infrmatin: - What d farmers need), what are the pririty barriers? - What best practices are ut there that address thse barriers? - What training/resurces are needed, - Wh can prvide that training/resurces? Methdlgy The needs assessments will fcus n independent smallhlders lcated apprximate frntier areas but utside essential ecsystems such as peatlands. These assessments aim t determine estimated number f farmers need supprt, in which technical tpics and pririty gegraphic areas, and at what ptential cst. Feasibility and pre-determinatin f target defrestatin frntier areas: The Prject will request the data n the current spatial plan f the districts where the Sime Darby landscape are lcated, peatlands, HCVs/HCSs including prtectin and cnservatin areas frm the relevant authrities in the landscape. The data will be utilized t cnduct a spatial analysis t pre-determine ptential lcatins fr needs assessments within defrestatin landscape utside peat r ther essential ecsystem areas. Additinally, a cnsultatin wrkshp will be cnvened in the relevant areas/cmmunities t seek inputs frm relevant stakehlders, n the analysis result. This cnsultatin wrkshp will als aim t acquire general infrmatin n smallhlder needs t supprt sustainable intensificatin in the area. The result f this general needs assessment will be used t design detail needs assessment t be cnducted in the selected target lcatins. Instrument and sample selectin: the needs assessments will cmprise f a desk review and field survey, as well as fcus grup discussins. The desk review will include analysis f existing secndary data and infrmatin n RSPO certificatin requirements and prcedures, smallhlder number, plantatin and cnditin, rt causes f unsustainable practices by smallhlders, access t financing and credits, and gender dynamics. Data and infrmatin will be btained frm varius research and plicy papers, and materials prduced by gvernment institutes and NGOs. With regard t field survey, activity will start ff with a randm selectin f sample farmers which equal t 20 percent f the ttal target farmers fr capacity training and RSPO readiness. Befre the actual field survey, the questinnaire will be pre-tested with a small number f farmers frm the selected sample. If necessary, the questinnaire will be mdified in accrdance with the findings and feedback frm the respndents. Additinally, selected fcus grup discussins will be cnducted fllwing the field survey n particular tpics in mre detail. Data analysis and result cnsultatin: survey data will be quantitatively analyzed. Results will be described in the frms f means, frequencies, standard deviatins, ranges. Training needs will especially be evaluated t determine the level f pririty as reprted by the farmers perceived level f training imprtance. In rder t cnduct this analysis, the fllwing are the steps t be implemented: list the desired capacities required fr smallhlders t implement sustainable intensificatin and btain RSPO certificatin, cnduct the survey using apprpriate questinnaires, rank farmers capacities using mean weighted discrepancy scres based n the ratings cllected frm the survey, cmpare the high pririty capacities t available capacity training pprtunity, and prvide recmmendatins n capacity develpment and supprt systems t match the highest rdered cmpetencies. 4 P a g e

5 - Identify pririty needs in farmers f the landscape cmmunities general and specific t each farm The results f the training needs assessments will feed int strategies t strengthen farmer supprt systems fr sustainable intensificatin appraches. Deliverables and Key end results: The fllwing prducts are t be delivered by the Cnsultant: - An inceptin plan clearly indicating activities, timelines and delivery plan including tls and methdlgy t be applied/ emplyed, including an initial landscape cnsultatin wrkshp t access relevant data - A landscape-level il palm smallhlder training needs assessment fr Liberia The assessment will fcus n inter alia: Mapping f smallhlders in the target landscape (Sime Darby) Quantificatin f the prducers in need f technical assistance Identificatin f technical issues with particular emphasis n reducing defrestatin due t expansin f il palm Identificatin f the specific interventin areas envisaged Outlining the ptential csts f implementatin Develping a database f the farmer supprt systems available - Obtain similar data frm 2 ther cncessins, wrking with IDH and GROW - A cmprehensive participatry needs assessment reprt including recmmendatins fr ensuring sustainable intensificatin f il palm prductin at the smallhlder level - A Detailed Implementatin Plan develped and based n the priritized needs/issues. - A ne-day disseminatin and feedback wrkshp rganized fr the relevant stakehlders in Mnrvia, as well as a disseminatin and feedback wrkshp rganized fr relevant stakehlders at the landscape level. Institutinal Arrangement Reprting- Direct supervisr: GGP Prject Manager UNDP In all matters relating t the assignment, the cntractr will reprt t the supervisr based n the table belw indicating the expected utputs and their timelines. The Cntractr is expected t liaise/interact/cllabrate/meet with in the curse f perfrming the wrk with UNDP Liberia CO s, Quality Assurance team, Platfrm team, Ministry f Agriculture, Cmpanies, Gvernment agencies, Private Sectr cmpanies, ther cnsultants, ther agencies, dnrs, cmmunities, lcal gvernment units, etc. as relevant t Liberia s cntext If the cnsultant is required t travel, the prject will prvide administrative supprt and airplane tickets and per diem t lcatins where this initiative is implemented. Reimbursements will be made as per UNDPs guidelines and based n the presentatin f an F10- Travel frm. Organizatin f wrk and indicative schedule/ Duratin f the Wrk: This assignment will be fr a perid f thirty (30) days including reprting preparatin. At the beginning f service, the Cnsultant will prepare a detailed wrkplan and timetable fr delivery f the abve activities Up t 30 days starting 1 September 2018 with a cmpletin date in 15 Nvember P a g e

6 Estimated lead time fr UNDP r Prject Implementing Partners t review utputs, give cmments, certify apprval/acceptance f utputs: 14 days after submissin f utputs. Educatin prfile: The candidate shuld meet the fllwing minimum requirements: Prfessinal with higher educatin in agrnmy, envirnmental studies, natural science r related fields. Prfessinal experience: Minimum 10 years f prfessinal experience in related fields such as natural resurces, sustainable agriculture, r rural develpment. Experience wrking with different stakehlders and cnducting pen interviews with smallhlder farmers Prven recrds f similar studies, cnducting trainings and perfrming assessments and analysis Experience in analysis and/r frmulatin f agriculture extensin services Experience particularly in the il palm sectr is a clear asset Key cmpetencies - Demnstrated ability t build rapprt with smallhlder farmers, peple wrking in gvernment, civil sciety and the private sectr - Strng written and verbal skills in English - Has prven excellent reprt writing and presentatin skills - Is gender and culture sensitive Scpe f Bid Price and Schedule f Payments The cntractr will be paid accrdingly t the submissin f the deliverables as per the table detailing the expected utcmes and based n the ttal number f days wrked and reprted at the agreed upn rate and as per the target due date. IC payments are directly linked t deliverables. Submit price prpsal in an all-inclusive daily fee, supprted by a breakdwn f csts Cntract price is fixed regardless f changes in the cst cmpnents The cntract signed as IC des nt invlve any fees in advance at the beginning f the cnsultancy. If travels are required, csts will be cvered by the prject. 6 P a g e

7 Schedule f Payments is as fllws: Deliverables Average Effrt Inceptin plan 3 days 5% Landscape-level il palm smallhlder training needs assessment 20 days 65% Needs assessment reprt 3 days 25% Implementatin Plan fr needs assessment & disseminatin wrkshp 4 days 5% Ttal 30 Days % f ttal payment. All payments will be effective 5 days after delivery f prduct and the apprval f direct supervisr. All payments will be effective after review and acceptance f supervisr (Estimated lead time fr UNDP t review utputs, give cmments, certify apprval/acceptance f utputs: 14 days after submissin f utput.) 100% Criteria fr Selectin f the Best Offer The evaluatin criteria are as fllw: Cmbined Scring methd where the qualificatins and methdlgy will be weighted a max. f 70%, and cmbined with the price ffer which will be weighted a max f 30%. The evaluatin prcess is divided int tw phases: I Phase: Technical revisin f CVs (100 pints), II Phase: Review f ecnmic prpsals. The candidate with the higher scre cmbining the technical scre and the price ffer will be the selected candidate fr the psitin. The technical revisin f CVs will cnsider the fllwing criteria: A B QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AS PER TORs Prfessinal with higher educatin in, agrnmy, envirnmental studies, natural science r related fields. Minimum 10 years f prfessinal experience in related fields such as natural resurces, sustainable agriculture, r rural develpment Pints C Has prven recrds f similar studies and assessments and analysis cnducted 15 D Experience wrking with different stakehlders and cnducting pen interviews with smallhlder farmers 10 E Experience in analysis and/r frmulatin f agriculture extensin services 5 7 P a g e

8 F Demnstrated ability t build rapprt with smallhlder farmers, peple wrking in gvernment, civil sciety and the private sectr 10 H Strng written and verbal skills in English 10 I Has prven excellent reprt writing and presentatin skills 15 J Is gender and culture sensitive 10 Ttal 100% Presentatin f Offer Qualified candidates wh are interested in the abve psitin are invited t submit their applicatin, in English, attaching the dcuments listed belw n later than (18 August, 2018 by 15:00 COB) t bids.lr@undp.rg a) Duly accmplished Letter f Cnfirmatin f Interest and Availability using the template prvided by UNDP; b) Persnal CV and UN Persnal Histry Frm P11, indicating all past experience frm similar prjects, as well as the cntact details ( and telephne number) f the Candidate and at least three (3) prfessinal references. c) Brief descriptin f why yu cnsider yurself as the mst suitable fr the assignment, and a methdlgy, if applicable, n hw yu will apprach and cmplete the assignment d) Financial Prpsal that indicates the all-inclusive daily fee, supprted by a breakdwn f csts, as per template prvided. If an Offerr is emplyed by an rganizatin/cmpany/institutin, and he/she expects his/her emplyer t charge a management fee in the prcess f releasing him/her t UNDP under Reimbursable Lan Agreement (RLA), the Offerr must indicate at this pint, and ensure that all such csts are duly incrprated in the financial prpsal submitted t UNDP. Please nte that applicatins received after the deadline will nt be cnsidered. Only shrt-listed qualified candidates will receive an acknwledgement. Annexes t the TOR Existing literature r dcuments that will help prvide Offerrs with a better cmprehensin f the prject situatin and the wrk required wuld be immediately prvided as annex/es t the TOR. Applicants are required t submit cmpleted and signed UNDP Persnal Histry Frm (insert link) 8 P a g e