Individual Consultant for Agribusiness and Associative Capacity Building

Please note that the deadline is based on Korean Standard Time Zone (KST, UTC+9)

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Project: Strengthening Capacities of Women and Youth for Implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in El Salvador

• Duty Station: San Miguel/Usulután, El Salvador

• Contract Duration: March 9, 2026 – August 31, 2026 (approx. 5.5 months)

• Estimated number of working days (internal purposes only): 90 days

• Consultant Level: Level 3 - Technical Assistance

• Total Rates: USD 11,500 (USD 127.78 x 90 days = USD 11,500.20)

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting "green growth", a model of economic development that simultaneously targets poverty reduction, job creation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

In El Salvador, GGGI is implementing the project "Strengthening Capacities of Women and Youth for Implementation of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in El Salvador." This initiative aims to bolster the entrepreneurial and productive resilience of farmers in climate-vulnerable regions, with a strategic focus on empowering women and youth to integrate effectively into sustainable value chains.

The Capacity Building Program

A core pillar of this initiative is the Program for Strengthening Productive, Entrepreneurial, and Associative Capacities. The program delivers a comprehensive support package, including:

• Specialized Training: Technical and business management education.

• Technical Assistance: On-site coaching and mentorship.

• In-Kind Seed Capital: Provision of tools, equipment, inputs, and productive infrastructure.

Program Evolution and Current Status

The program is executed in three distinct editions:

1. 2024–2025 Cohorts: 31 groups participated in foundational training. Following a competitive selection process, 26 groups advanced to receive technical assistance and in-kind seed capital.

2. 2025 Edition: 15 groups are currently in the final phase of technical assistance, scheduled for completion in July 2026.

3. 2026 Edition: 10 new groups are scheduled to begin their training phase in late March 2026.

Strategic Goals for 2026: Productive Clusters

Beyond direct group support, GGGI’s 2026 strategy focuses on long-term sustainability through the development of Productive Clusters. These clusters serve as articulation spaces for actors within the fruit and vegetable value chains, including commercial, financial, and educational stakeholders.

To achieve this, GGGI requires an Individual Consultant to provide high-level technical guidance to producer groups and facilitate strategic networking within the agribusiness ecosystem of San Miguel and Usulután.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The primary objective of this consultancy is to enhance the business viability and associative maturity of producer groups in San Miguel and Usulután. This will be achieved through a dual-track approach: providing specialized technical assistance to the 2025 cohort and leading the business development training and planning for the 2026 cohort.

The assignment focuses on empowering women and youth to promote sustainable food production, ensuring their seamless integration into local and national value chains while fostering strategic alliances within the regional agribusiness ecosystem.

Specific Objectives:

• Capacity Building & Curriculum Delivery: Design and facilitate dynamic training sessions based on GGGI-approved content, specifically tailored to address the business management and associativity challenges of rural producer groups.

• Structuring Bankable Business Plans: Mentor and empower producer groups to develop robust, "bankable" business plans. These plans must demonstrate financial and technical viability for their specific productive projects to attract investment or seed capital.

• Specialized Technical Assistance: Provide on-site business coaching to strengthen administrative, commercial, and financial management. All assistance must be adapted to the specific literacy and educational levels of the participants to ensure practical application.

• Ecosystem Linkage & Agroforestry Support: Guide farmers' organizations through the adoption of efficient agroforestry and silvopastoral systems. This includes providing expert recommendations for linking producers with key actors in the national agribusiness ecosystem.

• Strategic Problem Solving: Identify and evaluate operational bottlenecks during the consultancy, collaborating with partners and stakeholders to implement practical solutions that ensure the continuity and success of project activities.

• Accountability & Knowledge Management: Maintain rigorous documentation and reporting standards, delivering activity reports and follow-up metrics in strict accordance with GGGI’s schedule and quality requirements.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Individual Consultant will focus on three primary lines of work to ensure the fulfillment of project goals. While these represent the core functions, the consultant may perform complementary tasks as needed to achieve the project’s overarching objectives.

1. Technical Assistance (2025 Cohort)

Provide intensive, personalized business coaching to five (5) producer groups from the 2025 edition. This line of work involves:

• Personalized Sessions: Delivering approximately five (5) business technical assistance sessions per group.

• Field Follow-up: Conducting three (3) follow-up visits to each group’s production units.

• Logistical Routes: Assistance will be organized across two geographic routes (San Miguel Norte and Usulután Sur).

2. Training and Business Planning (2026 Cohort)

Lead the entrepreneurial development of ten (10) new productive groups through a structured training and competition cycle:

• Training Facilitation: Facilitate six (6) out of ten (10) scheduled training sessions.

• Business Plan Development: Directly responsible (in coordination with GGGI’s Agricultural Specialist) for the design and finalization of six (6) bankable business plans.

• Seed Capital Competition: Facilitate "pitch" practice sessions to prepare groups for the seed capital fund competition day.

• Weekly Schedule: Training sessions are held weekly on Thursdays (San Miguel) and Fridays (Usulután), with additional practice sessions coordinated as needed.

3. Development of Productive Clusters

Contribute to the long-term sustainability of the regional agribusiness ecosystem by:

• Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying and establishing links with key actors (private sector, buyers, financial entities, and NGOs) within the local and national agro-productive landscape.

• Knowledge Exchange: Facilitating specialized workshops or training sessions focused on business development within the cluster framework to foster collective growth.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

The Individual Consultant will work as an integral part of the GGGI technical team, collaborating closely with GGGI’s Agricultural Specialist. The consultancy is supervised by the Technical Coordinator of Agricultural Economics and Value Chains and is based out of the San Miguel office.

The following activities are categorized by their functional impact on the project:

1. Management, Coordination, and Compliance

• Team Integration: Establish fluid communication channels with the GGGI technical team to ensure operational alignment and efficient information exchange.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary liaison for participating producer groups, utilizing face-to-face, virtual, and telephonic channels to maintain high engagement and commitment levels.

• Regulatory Alignment: Ensure all field activities comply with GGGI internal policies, donor requirements, and Salvadoran national legal and sectoral frameworks.

2. Training and Capacity Building

• Curriculum Adaptation: Adapt GGGI-approved training modules to suit the specific socio-economic conditions and literacy levels of participants, ensuring sessions are dynamic and practical.

• Case Study Analysis: Identify and present local success stories and real-world case studies to provide actionable insights and inspire producer organizations.

• Learning Assessment: Implement tools to evaluate participants' comprehension and provide constructive feedback to improve learning outcomes.

3. Business Planning and In-Kind Seed Capital Support

• Model Acceleration: Refine and accelerate agribusiness models to make them "bankable" for private sector investors and seed capital eligibility.

• Plan Design: Provide tailored mentorship to six (6) groups to draft comprehensive business plans, ensuring technical and financial justification.

• Risk Mitigation: Conduct risk assessments for each business project and collaborate on the design of effective mitigation strategies.

4. Specialized Technical Assistance in the Field

• Direct Coaching: Conduct field visits to the 2025 cohort in Ciudad Barrios (San Miguel), San Simón (Morazán), Jiquilisco, and Concepción Batres (Usulután).

• Skill Development: Deliver training on financial management, market access, and commercial planning using andragogical materials.

• Group Dynamics: Facilitate team-building activities to foster collaboration and networking among participants.

• Strategic Linkages: Coordinate with GGGI to connect groups with commercial partners, service providers, or other actors in the agribusiness ecosystem.

5. Cluster Development and Knowledge Transfer

• Ecosystem Articulation: Facilitate connections between producers, processors, marketers, academia, and NGOs to strengthen the fruit and vegetable value chains.

• Thematic Workshops: Lead specialized workshops to promote knowledge transfer and collective efficiency within the emerging productive clusters.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Data Management: Maintain up-to-date digital backups (Google Drive) of all means of verification, including attendance lists, photographs, field logs, and tracking matrices.

• Impact Tracking: Support the systematization of key performance indicators (KPIs) such as generated sales, jobs created, and infrastructure received.

• Formal Reporting: Submit periodic progress reports and a comprehensive final report detailing results, lessons learned, and recommendations for future phases.

DELIVERABLES, SCHEDULE AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS

Disbursement of fees is strictly contingent upon the successful completion and formal approval of each deliverable by the GGGI Technical Coordinator. Payments are structured into five (5) installments of 20% each, following the schedule below:

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

The selected consultant must demonstrate a high degree of technical expertise and a proven track record in providing business support to agricultural enterprises. The following qualifications are mandatory:

1. Education

• Academic Background: A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Economics, Industrial/Business Engineering, Agronomic Engineering, or a closely related field; or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

2. Professional Experience

• General Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in business consulting and development, with a clear focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the Salvadoran agricultural sector.

• Specialized Project Experience: At least three (3) documented experiences in designing and facilitating training programs using an andragogical approach (adult learning) for rural populations.

• At least three (3) years of experience providing on-site technical assistance directly within agricultural production units.

3. Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Agribusiness Mastery: In-depth knowledge of agricultural entrepreneurship, marketing, financial analysis, and the structuring of bankable business models.

• Financial Literacy: Advanced understanding of rural accounting, taxation, risk management, and local mechanisms for accessing credit/financing.

• Digital Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (advanced Excel is highly preferred for financial modeling).

• Language Proficiency: Complete fluency in Spanish (written and oral) is mandatory. A professional working knowledge of English is required for coordination and reporting with the GGGI project team.

4. Availability and Logistics

As this is an Individual Consulting contract, the consultant is responsible for providing all necessary resources to execute the mandate:

• Legal Status: Must be a Salvadoran citizen or possess a valid, current work permit for El Salvador.

• Tools of the Trade: The consultant must provide their own laptop, specialized software, and reliable high-speed internet access.

• Mobility: Must possess a personal vehicle (4x4 preferred) or motorcycle and a valid driver's license. The consultant is responsible for all fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs.

• Geographic Preference: Residence in the Eastern region (San Miguel, Usulután, Morazán, or La Unión) is strongly preferred to ensure operational efficiency and deep knowledge of the local context.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

This assignment is structured as an Individual Consulting (IC) contract. The total contract value is a fixed lump sum, upon the approval of deliverables.

• Operational Autonomy: The consultant will work primarily in the field (territory-based) and is responsible for managing their own schedule to meet project deadlines.

• Resource Provision: The consultant must provide all tools necessary to perform the assignment. This includes, but is not limited to:

• A reliable vehicle/motorcycle, fuel, and maintenance.

• A laptop with licensed productivity software.

• High-speed internet access and mobile communication.

• Liability: GGGI will not be responsible for any equipment damage, travel risks, or third-party liabilities incurred during the execution of this contract.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit a comprehensive application package to be considered for this role.

1. Documentation Required

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): An up-to-date CV detailing educational background, professional history, and specific achievements.

2. Selection Process

• Eligibility: This call is open strictly to individual consultants. Applications from consortia, firms, or legal entities will not be considered.

• Shortlisting: Only candidates meeting the minimum technical and administrative requirements will be contacted for further assessment.

• Interviews: Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a technical interview. Please note that GGGI does not reimburse expenses related to the interview process unless explicitly authorized in writing.

3. Submission Deadlines

• Timeline: The closing date for applications is specified in the official vacancy notice.

• Time Zone: Please note that the deadline follows Korea Standard Time (KST). Applicants are responsible for calculating the time difference to ensure timely submission. Late applications will be automatically disqualified.

4. Bilingual Accessibility Notice

• Note: The Spanish version of these Terms of Reference is available for download via the link provided in the "General Information" section of this consultancy posting.