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Business Consultant to Assist in Establishment of Drying Facility and Provide Business Advisory Support for Cso Izbor in Strumica

Strumica

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Strumica
  • Grade: Consultancy - National Consultant - Locally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Refugee rights and well-being
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Population matters (trends and census)
    • Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
    • Sustainable Business Development
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally, the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year.

The UNDP office in Skopje employs a team of 65 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in environmental protection, good governance and social inclusion worth USD 15 million per year.

UNDP is seeking Business Consultant to provide to assist in establishment of drying facility and provide business advisory support for CSO Izbor in Strumica. The support is envisioned in all business processes related to starting of the business operations, input supply, access to market and sale, marketing and branding of products for CSO Izbor, and the related social enterprise with a drying facility. It also needs to follow and assist in implementation of the business plan that was specifically prepared for starting-up with production of the drying facility.

The social enterprise is established in cooperation with UNDP to provide vocational training and employment of persons with disability in Strumica region. It serves as a work rehabilitation center (REHA center) for training in the area of production of primary agricultural products, and also drying of fruits&vegetables and sale of dried and dehydrated products. Center for work-oriented rehabilitation and support of the employment of persons with disabilities established in partnership with CSO Izbor from Strumica. One of the services aims at labour market inclusion in delivering vocational training and skills development of the service users in the agriculture sector especially in the field of dehydration, processing and packing of fruits and vegetables.

Training center at the same time will address the training needs of the vulnerable groups and the business needs of the regional farmers related with processing, dehydration, packing and market placement of the land products to the final consumer throughout establishment and implementation of contract farming. UNDP has introducing the new innovative approach for land products processing, dehydration, the new technology for Modified Atmosphere Packing and the contract farming initiative targeting from one side persons in need for training and employment and the farmers from the Southeast region as help and support in overcoming the negative economic impact as result of the Covid – 19 pandemics.

UNDP is seeking Business Consultant to assist and mentor the implementation of the business plan of the social enterprise in CSO Izbor, Strumica and the implementation of the contract farming initiative as part of the business development and service created to support  the regional farmers facing the economy risks as result of the Covid-19 pandemic from one side and adjusting to the new ways of doing business related with the market and consumers needs for quality and safe packed products from the other side. The purpose is to deliver additional external support to the social enterprise in order to provide better market sustainability and opportunity for growth. The support is envisioned in all business processes related to input supply, access to market, marketing, e-commerce and branding of products for CSO Izbor, Strumica.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of the assignment is to engage the business consultant that will provide professional counseling  on how to run business and keys to start up success and provide support in development of contract farming as one of the ways that will address the business needs of CSO Izbor, Strumica and the farmers and producers from the Southeast region. He/she will mentor the establishment of contacts with farmers and producers from wider region, advise on the process of sub-contracting and follow up on the process of providing inputs from farmers.

The business consultant needs to provide support in marketing and branding of products and follow on realization of the business plan prepared specifically for this purpose. He/she needs to provide support also in access to new and potential markets. It is especially important in view to the COVID-19 crisis and the limited asses to market and sale for farmers and individual producers from Southeast region. 

Scope of Work

Under direct supervision of the Project Manager within the Social Inclusion unit, the Business Consultant will be deployed in training center for dehydration, processing and packing of land products in social enterprise in CSO Izbor Strumica.

The established training center for dehydration, processing, packing and selling of the dried products in Izbor, Strumica is unique and require a custom-tailored approach to consulting due to unique conditions influenced by location, current market conditions, market demand, competition, product/service lines planned, targeted market segments, technical and financial requirements, capacities of the enterprise and other conditions which makes this social enterprise unique.

The business counseling will involve services aimed at developing the company’s operations, market positioning, contacts with partners on a regional and national level, identifying suppliers and sub-contractors, marketing and promotion etc.

The engaged Business Consultant needs to provide professional support and follow:

Task 1: Check the business progress in establishing of the company and mentoring of the business management - Review of market performance, Review of the financial results and Review of the managing tools

Task 2: Increase   company’s visibility on the market - Enhance visibility of the company and operationalization of the business plan

Task 3: Sales and profit increase - Preparation for business growth, Delivery process of product`s portfolio, Identification of clients’ profile and potential value of clients, Guide communication and sales channels, Selling process, Financial plan and reporting, Strategic Marketing Planning and Execution  

Task 4: Sustainable business growth - Modification of business models, straightening basic business purpose, managing delivery process of products and services, Measuring consumers satisfaction, Development of sales plan to achieve business objectives, Financial plan and reporting, Approach to new resources etc.

Task 5: Business expansion - New resources mobilization, Partnership for new distribution and/or sales channels, Introduction of innovations and product development for new market segments, Promotion and mentoring of contract farming.

The assignment is set in a combination with another MAP Quality standards consultant engaged by UNDP oriented in setting up the dehydration, processing and implementing the modified atmosphere packing technology with a main aspect on securing the quality of the final products. The two consultants need to act together and will be directly coordinated by the main person responsible in CSO Izbor and related social enterprise on a daily basis. In addition, the Business Consultant will specifically mentor the Business Coordinator working in Izbor to distribute information and work with farmers on preparation and signing of the contracts.  An appropriate guidance will be provided also from UNDP office and persons responsible for this assignment.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The consultancy is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Deliverables

% of full contract amount

Tentative date

Indicate key indicators in the existing business plan and provide an appropriate plan for risk mitigation and support in successful attainment of the key business indicators (in written form of not more 5 pages);

20%

By 31st of July 2020

Provision of the services delivered to CSO Izbor covering all points described in the tasks (prepared written report for the first 3 months and the business results achieved so far);

20%

By 30st of September 2020

Mentor the process of contract farming in order to increase the portfolio of products and quantities – about 40 farmers to the end of December (certified with signed contracts between the two parties in cooperation with the business coordinator in Izbor);

20%

By 31st of December 2020

Search on new marketing possibilities and propose new opportunities for access to market including also export possibilities, and possibilities for branding of products (in written form of about 10-12 pages);

20%

By 31st of March 2021

Provide an appropriate plan on access to new and potential markets, with view on export possibilities (in written form of about 10-12 pages);

20%

By 15th of June 2021

All deliverables need to be finalized upon suggestions provided from UNDP representative.

Institutional arrangment

The Business Consultant will work under direct supervision of the Project Manager and Private Sector Specialist within the UNDP. He/she will be in regular communication with the supervisor through e-mail and will follow on regular progress on a monthly basis. All communication and reports will need to be prepared in English language.

In course of performing his/her job, the Business Consultant will get the business plan as a specific document prepared for CSO Izbor and related social enterprise. He/she needs to review and extract the main constraints and indicators for monitoring. The Business Consultant will need to meet with the relevant parties - farmers, producers and existing clients – buyers/traders and/or supermarkets in about 24 days throughout the full assignment.  The Business Consultant is solely responsible for scheduling of these meetings, organizing of travel and informing UNDP representative to possibly join the meeting schedule with at least 5 days in advance.

Duration of the Work

The duration of the Consultant’ work is estimated on 72 working days in the period 15th of July 2020 to 15th of June 2021.  

Duty station and travel

The assignment will be deployed as a resource to the Training center for work – oriented rehabilitation and food processing and packing in CSO Izbor. The Consultant is responsible to make his/her own travel arrangements, and to include travel related expenses in her/his financial proposal.

If unforeseen travel is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations.

Competencies

  • Proven ability to provide business and consultancy support in the agri-business sector, preferably in fruits & vegetable sub-sector;
  • Developed capability to successfully provide advisory services in inputs supply, marketing, branding and assess to market and sale;
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct and use different tools and techniques for research and analysis;
  • Equipped with skills to communicate with farmers, producers, and persuade also MSEs and other stakeholders in the value chain;
  • Enabled to work and perform well under time pressures and considerable workload.
  • Developed capacity to conduct and organize field/site research duties and desk reviews.
  • Report writing abilities.

Required Skills and Experience

The selected candidates shall possess:

  • A minimum of university degree in the field of economics, business management, business administration or a related field 
  • Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in the field of business advisory and consultancy services in the agri-business sector, preferably in fruits&vegetables sub-sector;
  • Comparative experience in conducting assignments in the field of inputs supply, marketing and branding, and also assess to market and sales expansion;
  • Evidence of experience in projects and initiatives related to monitoring and control of different business initiatives in the agri-business sector
  • Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF BEST OFFEr

The award of the contract shall be made to the offeror whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Being responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score based on the following weight of technical and financial criteria for solicitation as per the schedule below:

* Technical criteria weight: 70%

* Financial criteria weight: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70%) in the technical evaluation shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

For the considered offers in the financial evaluation only, the lowest price offer will receive 30 points. The other offers will receive points in relation to the lowest offer, based on the following formula: (Pn / Pl) * 30 where Pn is the financial offer being evaluated and Pl is the lowest financial offer received.

Technical Criteria:

Criteria

Maximum points

70

A minimum of university degree in the field of economics, business management, business administration or a related field.

University degree = 5

5

Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in the field of business advisory and consultancy services in the agri-business sector, preferably in fruits&vegetables sub-sector.

7 years = 15 points

8-10 = 20 points

Above 10 = 25 points

25

Comparative experience in conducting assignments in the field of inputs supply, marketing and branding, and also assess to market and sales expansion.

Good experience – 10 points

Very good experience – 15 points

Excellent experience – 20 points

20

Evidence of experience in projects and initiatives related to monitoring and control of different business initiatives in the agri-business sector.

Good knowledge – 10 points

Very good knowledge – 15 points

Excellent knowledge – 20 points

20

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

Interested offerors are invited to submit the following documents/information to be considered:

  1. Offeror’s letter, as per the following form LINK
  2. Most updated CV with focus on required qualification as well as the contact details of at least three (3) professional references;
  3. Annex A: Evidence of professional experience of project references of similar kind;
  4. Financial Proposal: The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of a lumpsum all-inclusive cost, supported by breakdown of costs expressed in MKD for this consultancy.

The submitted documents need to be provided in pdf format.

The financial proposal must consider various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel out of Skopje duty station (if required); communications, any other expenses related to this assignment.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Step 1

1. Click on the "Apply now" button

2. Input your information in the appropriate sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume, and motivation (cover letter). You can type in or paste your short Resume into the last box.

3. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. On the next page, you will be asked to upload other required documents listed in the step 2.

Step 2

Interested individual consultants must submit the documents/information listed in the “Documents to submit section” above.

The system will allow only one attachment. Therefore, please upload all required documents as one file.

Failing to submit any of these documents may result in disqualification of the application.

Please note that shortlisted candidates might be interviewed.

If the deliverables are not produced and delivered by the consultant to the satisfaction of UNDP as approved by the responsible Portfolio Manager, no payment will be made even if the consultant has invested man/days to produce and deliver such deliverables.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
This vacancy is now closed.
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