SHAMERTO project is designed to strengthen the skills, employability and income of workers/entrepreneurs of small, micro and cottage agro-food processing enterprises (SMCE) to achieve the goal, “to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable pro-poor growth” . Specifically, it aims to increase gainful employment of workers and job seekers, who will be counselled, trained and skill-tested, and receive satisfactory job placement by enhancing the competitiveness and capacity for employment of the targeted SMCE through better integration in the selected sub-sector value chains and improvements in the business environment. The focus will be on scaling-up value addition and increasing competitiveness of SMCE in the wheat, rice, groundnut, lentil, mug bean, spice and mustard sub-sector value chains in 7 districts, in three geographic clusters in the North West (Kurigam, Gaibandha Districts / 11 Sub-districts), North East (Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh Districts / 14 Sub-districts) and South-West (Barisal, Shariatpur Districts / 11 sub-districts).

The project planned to develop entrepreneurial, managerial and technical skills of 25’000 entrepreneurs, workers, job-seekers with a target of 30% women participation and seeks to ensure that 80% of the trainees will achieve gainful employment and 10% of the 20,000 taking up own business. Final beneficiaries will include approximately 90’000 household members of the employed graduates; about 250’000 family members of other workers employed in the targeted SMCE; about 200’000 farmer households increasing income from supply of raw material to the targeted SMCE; and about 10’000 traders, retailers and other forward/backward market actors active in the prioritised sub-sector value chains.

As a result of limited capacity to invest in technology and new and safer production methods these small scale agro-food processors in the target areas are engaged in low value adding manufacturing using inefficient labour, outdated technology with little consideration for compliance with decent work conditions, labour rights and norms, food safety standards and environmental regulations.

Therefore, the project planned to facilitate a close interaction between the SMCE, related BIO and the TESP to develop and implement not only market oriented skills training delivery models, but also to promote opportunities for a stronger integration of SMCE in the specific value chains to address other factors like compliance with decent work conditions, labour rights and norms, food safety standards and environmental regulations that limiting their business capabilities and productivity.

The selected  agro-food processing subsectors/value chains (above mentioned 7 value chains) have been analyzed in the targeted seven districts to find out the underlying/systemic constraints that limiting the growth and developments of the SMCEs by a reputed consultant. It also identified opportunities for value addition in the value chains and a detailed report has been submitted by the consulting firm. By analyzing the type and magnitude of the systemic constraints and as well as the scope of the opportunities the consultant identified some BDS topics on which training is required for SMCEs.   

Purpose:

The main purpose of this assignment is

• Designing and delivering training for capacity development of SMCEs on the 05 (five) selected topics of Business Development Services (BDS) with a view to address the constraints identified the Value Chain Analysis completed recently

Objectives:
The specific objectives of the assignment are:

• To internalize the effectiveness of recommended five BDS by analyzing the Final Report on “Value Chains Analysis and Identification of Skill Gaps in Backwards and Forward Linkages Industries”. The 5 selected BDS topics are:-

• Business Feasibility Study and Business Plan Development
• Access to Market
• Access to Finance
• Financial Management including Costing, Capital Budgeting, Cash flow management and Working Capital Management
• Legal and Compliance Issues including Certification Procedures

• To prepare Training Modules on these 5 selected BDS
• To Conduct 50 batches training on BDS (using the prepared training module) for enlisted SMCEs in targeted 7 districts in 3 geographic clusters.

The project has been implementing in 7 districts, in three geographic clusters in the North West (Kurigam, Gaibandha Districts / 11 Sub-districts), North East (Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh Districts / 14 Sub-districts) and South-West (Barisal, Shariatpur Districts / 11 sub-districts).

To meet the above mentioned objectives of the preparation of training module and conduct/facilitate trainings, the proposed methodology should include (but not limited to) the following steps

• A desk review/research of project information including the key documents like log frame, other relevant resources.
• Review the final report on Value Chain Analysis and Identification of Skill Gaps in Backward and Forward Linkage Industries.
• Review the other relevant modules and documents 
• Preparation and submission of draft modules and collect feedback on it
• Submission of final modules after adjusting the comments and feedback.
• Conduct 50 batches training in 7 districts under 3 geographic clusters (training in different clusters to be conducted in parallel).

The methodology and relevant tools should be adjusted in consultation with Project Management Unit.

• Detail report on Value Chains Analysis and Identification of Skill Gaps in Forward and Backward Linkage Industries
• Project Log frame
• Other relevant resources (if any)

The expected deliverables are

For deliverable 2 the lists of the topics which are expected to be included in each module are as follows

The development/preparation of the training modules and conduct/facilitate trainings as above mentioned topics have to be completed on a selected time frame. The consultant would need to work around the following dates:

Interested agencies/firms are requested to submit their Expression of Interest (EoI) electronically to the following address on or before 18 October 2017.

Mohammed Ashraf Uddin
TRAIDCRAFT EXCHANGE
Bangladesh Country Office
Apt. 1/B, House # 11, Road # 13 (New), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1209
Please email to: Mohammad.Ashrafuddin@traidcraft.org
Mobile no.: +88 01711 055308

The EoI must include:

• Contact details of the Consulting Firm i.e. mailing address along with name, mobile number and email address of primary contact person
• Profile and experience of the Consulting Firm highlighting similar experience in BDS training design or delivery and list of major clients
• Up to date and detailed CV of the Consultants and Resource Persons with brief descriptions of relevant assignments
• A clear overview of how this piece of work will be approached, the methodology proposed and the outputs generated, with a clear timeline
• A detail budget (Financial Proposal) for the assignment
• Two references

The EOI, excluding the CVs, should not be more than -10 pages long, should have 1.15 spacing, and use Times New Roman typeface with a minimum font size of 12.

On receipt of the EOI designated project management unit will evaluate the Technical and Financial Proposal. Selection of the consulting firm/agency will be based on:

• Total fees for the evaluation will be paid in three installments. The first installment (40% of the total fee) will be paid on signing the contract, the second installment (30% of the total fee) will be paid after submission of final module and training schedule, and the remaining amount (30%) will be paid upon acceptance of the final report after the completion of 50 batches training.
• The payment would be made in account payee cheque in the name of the organization
• Any VAT/TAX incurred from this assignment must be deducted at source as per government rule and policy.  

• Traidcraft Exchange reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal without giving any verbal and/or written rationale;
• All reports and documents prepared during the assignment will be treated as Traidcraft’s property
• The reports/documents or any part, therefore, cannot be sold, used and reproduced in any manner without prior written approval of  Traidcraft Exchange
• Traidcraft Exchange or its representatives reserve the right to monitor the quality and progress of the work during the assignment