Consultant for Developing Module and Building Capacity of Master Trainers

Background:

Agro-Input Retailers’ Network (AIRN) is an independent organization that spun off a USAID Feed the Future project. It aims to build the capacity of agro-stakeholders in Bangladesh and ensure availability of quality inputs and technical information to farmers and households. AIRN will support USAID’s Strengthening Multisectoral Nutrition Programming through Implementation Science Activity (MSNP), of which FHI 360 is the prime implementer, for a two-year long intervention in selected unions to improve the nutritional practices of targeted women, children and their family members through homestead food production (HFP) and related nutrition behaviors. The MSNP is an implementation science project to test and refine multisectoral nutrition approaches, interventions and service delivery mechanisms in high stunting areas of Bangladesh, with a focus on rural pregnant and lactating women, and children under the age of two from poor and extreme poor households.

AIRN is seeking services of a consultant or consultants (managed by a lead consultant) to 1) develop the project’s comprehensive HFP module, and, 2) train the AIRN Master Trainers using the project module. However, the comprehensive module should not only be designed for Master Trainers, but for every trainer (Community Farmers, Input Retailers, Community Nutrition Promoters) who will use it in the field. The comprehensive module will consist of subsets of modules, based on specific project HFP and nutrition communication activities, which are overlapping and interrelated. But for convenience, the subsets of modules need to be compiled and presented as a single module.

Scope of Work:

The consultant(s) will have to design and develop a comprehensive module usable by all trainers, which will encapsulate the essence and explanation of four modules – 1) House Hold-level training; 2) Training for Community Nutrition Promoters (CNP); 3) Training for Community Farmers (CF); and 4) Training for Input-Retailers. Based on the comprehensive module, the consultant(s) will have to train about 18-20 Master Trainers through a residential training, most likely in Jashore or Jhenaidah.
Master Trainers are expected to build capacity of Community Farmers and Input Retailers through separate training, who, in turn, are responsible for training the household beneficiaries. In addition, the Master Trainers will also take turns to provide a better understanding to Community Nutrition Promoters on the content of HFP and their roles for ensuring better implementation. For effective knowledge transfer and capacity building, Master Trainers also need to be trained on facilitation and moderation techniques.

The purpose and topics for each training module are explained below:

Module for House Hold-level training: The project is expected to train poor and extreme poor households on Homestead Food Production through input retailers and community farmers in specifically assigned unions. Considering the literacy level of our project beneficiaries and locally available training venues (formal and informal), the module should be presented in flip-charts with visual content. Through a half-a-day long training, which will be attended by 25 pregnant and lactating mothers on an average in a batch, it is expected that the beneficiaries will understand the following topics:

1. Nutrition
2. Importance of dietary diversity and feeding frequency for children
3. Ways of managing the diversified diet
4. Homestead Food Production
1. Selection of varieties for gardening, poultry and fisheries
2. How to cultivate and taking care of vegetables, birds and fish (step-by-step, that starts from setting up of poultry coops and ponds)
3. Where to procure the inputs for gardening, poultry and fisheries
5. Where to sell in case of a surplus
6. Best practices for HFP
7. Proper Cooking Method
8. Water, sanitation and hygiene practices

Module for Community Nutrition Promoters: The project is expected to build the capacity of community nutrition promoters on Homestead Food Production so they can support the beneficiaries in implementing the knowledge they will receive from HH-level training. The CNPs will monitor the progress through household visits every month and should be competent to provide advisory support based on knowledge they are expected to gain from this module. It is expected that the CNPs, in addition to the concepts shared in HH-level training, will understand service linkages such as linkage with vaccinators, patilwalas, government extension service providers, agriculture collection points, etc.

The project will adapt two approaches to train project beneficiaries at the field-level – 1) through the community farmers, and 2) through the input retailers.

Module for Community Farmers: The project is expected to build the capacity of community farmers so they can train and mentor the project beneficiaries. The community farmers are individuals from the same community who possess small agro business (demonstration plots or nursery) and have leadership qualities and entrepreneurial characteristics so they can bridge between beneficiaries and input sources, not only in terms of information, but for inputs as well. So, the community farmers must be trained with the content for HH-level training. In addition, the Community Farmers need to know about market linkage, suppliers, facilitation, motivation and basic business coordination. In the course of project, besides the day-long training, selected CFs will be taken on a market exposure visit to meet hatchery owners, poultry farm owners, feed mills and other sources of input which will help them become strong intermediaries. The CFs will also be the focal point in selected unions for voucher-based support. Module should include their responsibilities for implementing the project voucher system for delivering inputs to beneficiaries.

Module for Input Retailers: The project is expected to build the capacity of input retailers so they can train and mentor the project beneficiaries. Input retailers are from the same unions who sell seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs. It is expected that the retailers, after being trained, will expand to inputs related to poultry and fisheries; therefore, the retailers will transfer the nutrition and HFP related knowledge to project beneficiaries, while they themselves become better aware of continuing their business as input sellers of poultry and fisheries. The module for Input Retailers must cover the technical sides of poultry and fisheries business, and the process of homestead production. Selected input retailers from the selected unions will be taken on a market orientation and knowledge trip to meet hatchery owners, poultry farm owners, feed mills and other sources of input which will help them become strong intermediaries.

The training must also address the specific needs of our beneficiaries who are mostly poor and extreme poor. So, quality inputs need to be sold in the right size for which the retailers must have a full grip on the supply side. In addition to the product-related information, the retailers are also expected to have a basic understanding on major components of HH-level training so they can provide advisory support during and beyond the life of project. The input retailers will be the focal point in selected unions for voucher-based support. Module should include their responsibilities for implementing the voucher-scheme, which should include record-keeping and cross-checking with project-approved product list. Due to a variety of topics that need to be covered in this module, the training will be conducted for 5 days in a row to a batch of 30 retailers on an average.

Expected Competencies:

The consultant(s) must have an excellent idea about Homestead Food Production, and its relevance with nutrition. We would like to see a positive change in the nutrition practices among project beneficiaries, and the consultant must be well-conversant on these issues. If needed, the consultant(s) may need to visit the project area to find varieties suitable to local soil and local context. In addition, the consultant(s) will have to demonstrate experience working with agro-dealers and retailers to build their knowledge on inputs related to vegetable production, poultry rearing and fish-farming.

Deliverables and Timeframe:

The first draft of the training module for CNP should be submitted by 30th of December, 2018. First draft of all other module should be produced and shared within 10th of January, 2019. Feedback will be provided within 5 days following which, the final module should be submitted within another 5 days.
Deliverables are the following:

1. Training Module:  The consultant(s) will develop training module in word document with appropriate pictures with proper reference for each of the individual topics, which should be submitted along with a detailed plan of training programs for the master trainers. The module will be reviewed by AIRN and upon approval, a final design will be submitted.
2. Training Programs: The consultant(s) must complete training of 18-20 master trainers in either Jashore or Jhenaidah. The training programs should begin latest by 27th January, 2019, if not earlier.
3. Final report: Upon completion of the training programs, the consultant(s) is expected to submit a final report on the training programs by 7th of February.

Mode of payment:
The payment will be made in 2 installments.

Evaluation Criteria:

The proposal from the consultant or the consultants (managed by a lead consultant) will be assessed with a total of 100 points based on the following criteria:
 (i) Technical competencies of the consultant(s) on the topics-  40, divided as:-

(ii) Previous experience of the consultant(s) - 30, divided as:-

(iii) Previous experience working with USAID-funded agro projects- 10
(iv) Financial Proposal including daily rate, travel, accommodation, and all other costs associated to complete this assignment, except for printing. (The project will design the module and print out separately). - 20

Submission:

The technical and financial proposals should be submitted as separate documents electronically to the email: workwithus.airnbd@gmail.com with subject line: MSNP Training Module and Capacity Building of Master Trainers.
Submissions after the deadline of 20th Dec 2018 will be treated as disqualified. Two different folders i.e. technical and financial should be submitted into one zip folder with a covering letter. If multiple people are involved, technical proposals must contain CVs and daily rates of all proposed personnel, and should clearly highlight the delegation of work. Please note that each consultant will be contracted and paid separately through bank transfer. Taxes will be deducted at sources per Government of Bangladesh law. Proposals should be submitted in pdf format.

Penalty Clause:

The consultant(s) is expected to submit the training modules and follow up with the training program and submit a final report as mentioned on the deliverables. If the quality is not up to the expected competencies, AIRN reserves the right to deduct 15% of the total agreement amount. If the consultant(s) fail(s) to submit the deliverables within the stipulated time, the consultant(s) should inform AIRN in time with valid and acceptable reasons, failing which may evoke penalty on the consultant(s) at the rate of 1% for each day of delay.

Contact Person:

For any technical issue related to the modules, please communicate with Zunaed Rabbani, CEO, AIRN at the following email address: info.airnbd@gmail.com

Ownership of Module:

It is comprehended and concurred that the consultant(s) will, amid and after the successful time of the agreement, treat as classified and not unveil any information throughout the execution of the Contract. Information will be made accessible for the experts on a need-to-know basis.

All proprietorship and copyright of the training modules will be held by FHI 360. The Consultant will treat as classified and not reveal any data acquired over the span of the execution of the task amid and after the end of the agreement.

Negotiation:

Once the proposals are reviewed, AIRN may begin negotiation with one or more consultant(s) for final selection. Should negotiations fail with the highest scoring consultant(s), AIRN will move on to the consultant(s) with the next highest score. If none of the proposals lead to an agreement, another Request for Proposal will be issued.

Disclaimer:

AIRN reserves the right to reject any or all proposals without assigning a valid reason whatsoever.                                            

Please take your time to see if this position matches with your skills.