Agriculture Market Development – Consultancy

Project Background

Oxfam is implementing a project entitled “Contributing to Economic Resilience in Central Iraq” with the financial support of BMZ.  The agriculture sector is a vital to Iraq’s economy but today accounts for less than nine percent of the country’s GDP. The size and productivity of the agricultural sector has been affected by decades of conflict, availability of cheap imports and a lack of government policies to effectively manage, protect or preserve Iraq’s natural resources. There are good reasons to believe that the agriculture sector could be a driver of economic growth in post-conflict Iraq in ways that favor the poorest populations. Both rural and urban households would benefit from increased production and lower prices, particularly vulnerable populations, such as female-headed households, which tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on food^[1]. Poor households dependent upon low skill labor would also benefit from increased demand for workers and increased wages. Supporting smallholder farming families and promoting linkages with market actors should generate jobs for farm laborers. In addition, Oxfam’s multi-sector needs assessment in Anbar (Feb 2021) found that 99% of people responded Yes when asked if there was a need for community livelihood support.

Objectives of Agriculture Market Development Consultancy

• Identify market development capacity building needs of Agro-business SMEs and SSPs in Anbar, through an in-deep review of findings of the Gendered and Enterprises Market study recently completed by Oxfam.
• Design market development training packages aligned with the GEM study findings and capacity building needs identified and addressing the following topics: 1. Market analyses & development, 2. Market mapping & opportunities, 3. Principal of marketing & marketing plan, branding, processing, packing, & advertisement and new product design and sell for vegetable, poultry, livestock products.
• Deliver training to a total of 200/300 Agro-business SMEs and SSPs owners, divided in 20 to 30 groups of 10 to 15 male & female individuals. Through the training, participants are expected to gain:
  • A fair understanding and in-depth information of market demand, market changes and challenges;
  • An increased capacity to develop strategies and approaches to find new markets and customers;
  • An improved ability to understand the factors of market development, risks and mitigations.
• Provide mentoring & coaching to the trained SSPs & SMEs owners to develop their business strategies to grow and expand their businesses

Methodology

Using the findings of the GEM study and taking into consideration the project objectives and rationale, the Agriculture Market Development consultant will develop a training package and provide in person trainings to 200 / 300 SMEs and SSPs (Male & female) in 3 locations Saqlawya, Sejer and Zaritual Ramadi of Ramadi & Fallujah districts and assist them to develop their market development strategy. The training should include presentation and practical sessions and will be delivered in Arabic language. The training manual and methodology will be approved by Oxfam technical team and other relevant stakeholders, like MoLSA and DOA prior conducting the training.

The consultant is also expected to provide at least 3 sessions of coaching to the 200 / 300 Agro-business SMEs and SSPs owners to provide support and feedback for the development of their market development strategy.

Oxfam will identify the SMEs and SSPs owners, will mobilize the training groups consisting of 10-15 male and female individuals (reaching a total of 200/300 SMEs and SSPs owners) with different skills and backgrounds and will organize all logistics matter of training sessions

Deliverables

Expected deliverables include: 

• Detailed training package in Arabic covering the following topics: Market analyses & development, Market mapping & opportunities, Principal of marketing & marketing plan, branding, processing, packing, & advertisement and new product design and sell for vegetable, poultry, livestock products. A draft version will be submitted to Oxfam for revision and feedback + a final version integrating Oxfam feedback will be submitted for validation.
• Training of 200/300 SMEs and SSPs owners using the validated training package.
• Training reports for each training sessions (attendance sheet, Pre and post training evaluation forms and training topics/agenda).
• Mentoring sessions for the 200/300 SSPs & SMEs owners (attendance sheet, Pre and post mentoring evaluation forms and mentoring sessions topics/agenda).

Time Frame

From Mid-February until December 2022. (Open-ended contract)

Budget

A financial plan will be submitted by applicants.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested individuals or consultancy firms, with relevant experience and skills based on the ToR, can submit their Expression of Interest (EOI), including the following:

1. Cover letter of no more than 2 pages introducing the consultant(s) / company and intention to deliver the assignment. The cover letter should also indicate the consultants’ availability for the proposed period.
2. Technical proposal should provide details on proposed methodology responding to the ToR and the deliverables; capacity in line with the competencies required for the assignment, including references to past experience with similar assignments; CVs of the consulting team directly involved in the assignment, including their specific roles; and three professional referees. A technical proposal should not be longer than 15 pages, excluding annexes.
3. Financial proposal includes a one-page budget of the offer
4. Statement on the willingness to follow Oxfam’s Code of Conduct and guidance regarding safe programming.

Please submit the EOI and other documents by 12:00 am Iraq time by 23 February 2022 to [email protected].org.uk with BMZ Agriculture Market Development in the subject line. No EOIs will be accepted after deadline.

All questions or clarifications of a technical nature are to be sent to: [email protected]  not later than 20 February 2022, 5 pm. Interested applicants can collect the Terms of Reference (TOR) at Oxfam in Iraq Country Office, starting from 15 February 2022 (during working hours). Alternatively, the Oxfam Logistics team can send the ToR via email upon request.