Terms of Reference for Developing Training Module Design on 4 BDS Topics and Organizing training for SMCEs on BDS

Introduction:

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scale agro-food processors in the target areas are engaged in low value adding manufacturing using inefficient labour, outdated technology with little consideration for compliance with decent work conditions, labour rights and norms, food safety standards and environmental regulations.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.  
In the 1st year of the project five Training Modules have been prepared according to the recommendation of the report and 50 batches of training have been conducted following the module as per need and priority of the SMCEs in the last year.

Based on the gained experiences, findings and recommendations project planned of develop another four training modules on four different topics and also to organize 72 batches of BDS training in targeted 36 upazilas of 7 districts.

Application Process

Interested agencies/firms are requested to submit their Expression of Interest (EoI) electronically to the following address on or before 6 PM on 4 July 2018

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 -12 pages long, should have 1.15 spacing, and use Times New Roman typeface with a minimum font size of 12.

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