MESPT-DMDP-04-2022 – Consultancy for Translating Banana Value Chain Greening Training Manual At Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust

INTRODUCTION

Micro-Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) has since the year 2002 developed a niche in supporting the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing integrated business solutions for sustainable development. The Trust is a multi-donor entity jointly founded by the Government of Kenya and the European Union who later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA).

About Danida Market Development Partnership (DMDP) Programme

The Danida Market Development Partnership (DMDP) Programme is designed to give an opportunity to enterprises that are keen on delivering towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme brings commercial and non-commercial actors together in partnerships to promote sustainable business, development and employment opportunities contributing to SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 17 (Partnerships for Sustainable Development).

The overall objective of DMDP programme is to contribute to sustainable economic growth in developing countries within the framework of the SDG’s. Through broad partnerships, the facility contributes to the motivation and mobilization of private sector investments. The basis of a partnership project is a business idea driven by one or several private companies. The support is given to ensure more combined knowledge and resources from different types of actors to ensure more comprehensive development results with a focus on SDG 8.

DMDP Banana Programme – Spurring Job Creation in Kenya by Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Banana Sub Sector. The Market Development Partnership Project will contribute to increased and sustainable incomes and decent jobs within the banana subsector in Taita Taveta County with emphasis on women and youth. This will by extension contribute to poverty alleviation. The project will roll out interventions geared to enhancing the competitiveness of the banana value chain and hence improved market access for the targeted farmers. Production capacities of small holder farmers and service providers will be developed, and vertical and horizontal linkages facilitated thereby sustainably creating value and business efficiencies.

The project will deliver a socially and environmentally responsible fruit pulp processing factory that is economically viable. The factory whose annual processing capacity is estimated at 40,000MT shall be fully operational in the fourth year of the project cycle.

The commercial partners will set up aggregation centers and an ICT system for efficient management of the supply chain. They have and will continuously explore market opportunities for both fresh banana and pulp. They will invest in a 300-acre organic farm to ensure a consistent supply while also developing the capacity of small holder farmers on the same. The commercial partners’ interventions will be anchored on 2,000 small holder farmers organized in 40 farm estates and will oversee the aggregation centers (business hubs) and offtake farm produce. They will work closely with 20 farm estate advisors whose capacities are developed by the project. The smallholder farmer and various service providers will earn incomes from the opportunities generated by the commercial partners. It is expected that at least 2,000 farmers will have their incomes increased by at least 40% from the third year. An estimated 1,200 private service providers providing an array of services to the farmers and other value chain actors will also earn and or diversify incomes because of the opportunities generated by the project. At least 31,500 MT of quality bananas per year will consistently be produced and sold and at least 600 direct decent jobs created by the commercial partners.

The consortium will promote climate smart and regenerative agricultural practices among smallholder farmers and work with key stakeholders and market players to institute green compliance framework for organic/safe food production. 20 demonstration farms will be enhanced to integrate greening solutions with partnerships on inclusive green growth and circular economy developed and engagement mechanisms established. The activities will lead to reduced carbon emissions and sequestration, improvement of soil quality while also enhancing food security amongst targeted households.

Background of Banana Value Chain

Banana value chain has been identified as a potential driver of socio-economic development within the Taita Taveta County as per the 2018 -2022 County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). Out of the total population in the county, 60% are involved in banana production. As of 2017, it accounted for 32% of the total value of fruits and recorded 30% growth in revenues from USD 129.3M in 2016 to USD 169.77M in 2017. This presents a great investment opportunity in the banana value chain.

Due to its suitable agro-climatic conditions, Taita Taveta is a natural choice for an expanded banana industry. Bananas are grown either on rain-fed open fields or under irrigation. In the County, most farmers have been growing them traditionally. There are about 4,000 banana farmers in the county with acreage ranging from 0.25 to 3 acres. The County production per unit area is half the global average due to low adoption of improved agronomic practices, attack by nematodes and diseases, limited access to affordable quality inputs, extension and financial services, value addition opportunities and weak linkages to markets. Only 8% of Banana farmers in the county are in contractual relationship. The scenario demonstrates the need for support as elaborated in this proposal. This reflects the need for market development interventions for sustainable models and scale.

Smallholder farmers are struggling to make more productive use of their farmland. Most are unable to produce enough, to feed their families on an adequate nutritional diet and to sell in the market and generate sufficient incomes to meet other needs. Additionally, farmers are demotivated by market inconsistencies caused by the market players. Hence, there is a need for them to adopt good agricultural sustainable practices and access quality inputs to enhance production as well as linkages to consistent competitive markets to boost rural economies.

Previous studies have attributed these challenges to the following i) effects of climate change which are particularly evident in terms of unreliable and erratic rainfall patterns with shifts in planting time, moisture stress during the crop growing period and heavy rains during harvesting leading to increased post-harvest losses. Post-harvest losses also arise from the rejection of small finger sizes in banana bunches by the market, and poor handling during harvesting and transportation ii) unavailability and high cost of inputs attributed to poor distribution network across the county. Most farmers thus use uncertified seeds and other planting materials. There is also inadequate use of inputs such as fertilizers iii) poor marketing system which results from lack of accurate and timely market information and poor infrastructure across the county especially roads and post-harvest handling facilities iv) inadequate extension services due to a wide farmer to staff ratio. In addition, the extension officers lack access to emerging knowledge on modern farming practices.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Towards the end of 2021 the DMFA introduced a greening component to the DMDP aimed at enhancing the greening of both the commercial and development cases for improved sustainability. The banana value chain project will be seeking to do this by among other things increasing adoption of climate smart and regenerative agricultural practices in banana production amongst the smallholder farmers. Focused at improving productivity the project is already rolling a capacity development program for adoption of good agricultural practices amongst small holder farmers. Whereas GAP addresses certain aspects of the greening component there is need for a holistic training guide that in a more concrete manner supports the understanding and application (the theory and practice) of the greening concept to farmers and other key stakeholders. Most particularly intends to support the application of nature-based solutions to solve farming problems while also supporting farmers to adopt organic farming and related practices.

To this end MESPT facilitated development of greening training manual expected to facilitate a process that will help deliver a green ecosystem within a banana farming environment.

The training manual is to be available in English form (The training manual will be in English version) for use by farm estate advisors, lead farmers, extension staff and farmers themselves.

The purpose of this assignment is to translate the training manual to Swahili language (Version) to enhance its use and application by the users (trainers and more so the farmers).

SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

Reporting to the Programme Manager the firm’s scope of work will include the following at the minimum:

  • Reading and understanding the greening training manual including but not limited to a discussion with the developers of the manual.
  • Engaging technical experts to translate the materials/manual into Swahili language without losing the context.
  • Editing, formatting, and proofreading the translated training manual
  • Facilitate a key stakeholder forum for validation of the translated training manual.
  • Submitting the final translated training manual in both soft and hard copies
  • Submit a final assignment report

EXPECTED PROFILE (QUALIFICATION AND COMPETENCIES) OF THE CONSULTING FIRM

The scope of the assignment requires a competent team leader able to abide and implement the contract, to coordinate the work in consultation with MESPT and to ensure that timelines and milestones of the contract are effectively achieved. The bidding Firm is expected to be domiciled in Kenya with the following competencies: –

  1. The consulting firm should have a mix of experts with a background and experience in Natural Resource Management, Climate Change, Agribusiness and Food safety for at least 5 years.
  2. The consultants should have experience in developing Training manuals and Learning guides (Provide proof)
  3. At least one of the experts/team members should be well versed and highly experienced in green growth initiatives/ green transformation.
  4. At least one team members should have practical working experience in the banana value chain.
  5. The team members must be well versed and experienced in translation of English manuals/ materials into Swahili language.
  6. The firm should clearly demonstrate / proof involvement in similar assignments.
  7. The lead consultant should have high organisational and co-ordination skills.

How to apply

Download full tender document on https://mespt.org/tender-opportunities/

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