TERMS OF REFERENCE PROVISION OF TRAINING SERVICES FOR FARM TECHNICAL MANAGERS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) AND PHASING O

BACKGROUND

Fairtrade Africa (FTA), a member of the wider Fairtrade International movement represents Fairtrade certified producers in Africa and the Middle East. We operate four regional networks: Eastern and Central Africa Network (ECAN) based in Nairobi, Kenya; West Africa Network (WAN) based in Accra, Ghana, Southern Africa Network (SAN) based in Blantyre, Malawi and the Middle East and North Africa Network (MENA).

Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members, who are African producer organizations certified against Fairtrade International Standards producing traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, flowers, cotton, bananas, cane sugar, wine, fresh fruits, herbs and spices and non-traditional commodities including shea butter and rooibos tea. Currently, the organization represents over 1,083,139 producers across 28 countries in Africa. Fairtrade Africa secretariat is located in Nairobi, Kenya, and has 50% ownership of the Fairtrade system.

ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT

Fairtrade Africa (FTA) aims at ensuring that all certified producers have agricultural and environmental practices that contribute to a more sustainable production system where risks to health and the environment are minimized among Fairtrade certified flower producers in Uganda.

The training will explore a proactive approach whereby FTA Field Staff and Farm Managers in charge of crop protection at the flower farms are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills for the selection and use of less hazardous materials that are environmentally friendly, and adaptation of Integrated Pest Management programmes. The training is also expected to provide guidance on alternatives and substitutes for reducing and replacing the use of prohibited chemicals under the Orange List as categorized in the Fairtrade Standards Hazardous Materials List, and the development of chemical phase-out plans at the Producer Organization level.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

FTA, therefore, seeks to engage an expert to deliver training to selected Farm technical Managers and FTA Staff in a workshop, to enhance the implementation of IPM and HML Requirements of the Fairtrade Standards by:

· Building the capacity of Technical/Production Managers and Fairtrade Field support staff on how to minimize risks from the use and handling of pesticides;

· Promoting the use of the least toxic pesticides as economically and technically feasible;

· Guiding in implementation and improvements of Integrated Pest Management Systems.

· Building the capacity of Technical/ Production Managers and Fairtrade Field Staff in understanding the prohibited chemicals, especially products under Orange List as per Fairtrade’s Hazardous Materials list (HML), and existence alternatives in the reduction process.

The training aims to further instruct the trainees on how to design plans and effectively integrate other alternative methods of pest and disease control as approved by Fairtrade standards.

The training will be conducted physically in a 2-days workshop.

DELIVERABLES

· A comprehensive phase-out plan guideline with user-friendly templates.

· A training manual outlining course overview, topics covered and methodology

· Training materials /tools developed during the training.

· Develop IPM strategies for key pests and diseases that affect/infect flowers and plants

· Develop a procedure for compliance with the hazardous materials list

· Report on the activities undertaken with recommendations for improvement and future training.

CONSULTANCY REQUIREMENTS

The consultant will be expected to possess the following:

· Professional Knowledge, academic qualifications, and working experience in the areas of expertise including horticulture and crop management systems, integrated pest management approaches, environmental safety knowledge, and practices.

· Demonstrable experience in carrying out similar assignments in the horticultural sector

· Ability to communicate with learners having diverse academic orientations and able to impart knowledge that can assist them to advise their respective organizations in developing a comprehensive phase-out plan for restricted materials

· Demonstrable solutions-oriented approaches and flexibility in meeting varying producer needs.

· Professional and demonstrable experience working with Fairtrade certified flower producers in Uganda will be desirable

· Good interpersonal skills demonstrated the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. ability to work successfully as part of a team is essential.