The Faryab, Afghanistan Women’s Development Department (WDD) was first established in 2008. The purpose of the WDD is to oversee ACTED’s gender mainstreaming work in Faryab province. Until now, this
work has concentrated primarily on a women’s self-help group (SHG) initiative whose goal is to empower women economically, politically and socially through a long-term program of development assistance . There are currently 68 women’s SHGs in operation in the Almar, Qaisar, Kohistan and Pashtunkot districts. The WDD will continue its work with these groups in 2012 and new groups will be added during this time, but the main goal in the coming year will be to consolidate and develop them in term of market linkage. SHG members will continue to benefit from skills training, group income generation activities and access to financial services but the focus will shift from start up activities to intermediate level efforts to build women’s capacity and opportunities. Currently, the SHGs incomes are low as they are only able to sell locally, mainly in Faryab province, occasionally in Mazar and Kabul. Early January 2012, SHGs have reached next level of development by creating a federation at provincial level, whose purpose is to allow them to get more effectiveness in selling. For improving the operations of SHGs a consultancy is called for.
Scope of work
1. Quality control and partnership development
 Undertake quality control of SHGs
 Make suggestions on quality improvement of SHGs
 Prepare and conduct training to ACTED staff on Quality improvement of SHG functioning and products produced.
 Identify relevant technical authorities and partners, and propose formal partnership and/or contracts.
• Explore domestic market
 Collect and analyse information associated domestic marketing opportunities for SHG products
 List the risks and threats related to SHG product marketing
 Prepare and submit report on opportunity and threats of SHG product marketing
• Explore international market
 Prepare a catalogue of International buyers and exporters of SHG products
 Prepare report on customs procedure of export of SHG products to different markets
• Preparation of SHGs for effective marketing At SHG level
 Create business and management tool kits for SHGs.
 Organize business and marketing training for SHGs.
 Mentor SHG Leaders in business plan preparation
 Suggest plans for development of the SHGs Maymana shop (current main selling point in Faryab).
At federation level
 Consolidate the establishment of the SHG federation.
 Prepare federation membership Charter
 Develop SHG federation international trade strategy.
 Prepare SHG federation business plan. (Support required staff recruitment – Logistic and finance manager ).
 Develop SHGs visibility plan at international level.
 Prepare plan for establishment of website for advertising SHG products and for getting market linkage
Expected Outputs of consultancy work
• Quality assessment of 68 SHGs conducted and report with recommendations prepared
• One training for improvement of SHG conducted for ACTED Moblizers at Maymana
• One Training conducted for SHG members and ACTED staff on SHG product quality improvement
• Information on opportunities and threat domestic marketing of SHG products collected and report prepared
• Catalogue of International buyers and exporters of SHG products prepared
• Report on customs procedure of export of SHG products to different markets prepared
• Create business and management tool kits for SHGs and organize business and marketing training for selected SHG leaders
• Suggest plans for development of the SHGs Maymana shop (current main selling point in Faryab).
• Prepare SHG federation membership Charter
• Develop SHG federation international trade strategy report
• Prepare SHG federation business plan. (Support required staff recruitment – Logistic and finance manager ).
• Prepare plan for establishment of website for advertising SHG products and for getting market linkage
• Develop SHGs visibility plan at international level.
Selection criteria
• Consultant has educational back ground in social science or rural development or related subjects
• She/he has more than 5 years experience in organising and managing self help groups
• She/he has good exposure and expertise in marketing of SHG products marketing or experience in commodity marketing
• She/he is well versed in conducting technical and managerial training related to SHGs
• Excellent report writing skills
• Experience in working in Afghanistan
• Proficiency in English is a must, basic understanding of Farsi is a added advantage (Knowledge of Urdu is also preferred qualification)
Eligibility
Freelance consultants or those working in some organisation who can obtain written permission from their organisation for undertaking the consultancy work can submit her/his bid with her/his qualification and her/his daily rate.
In case of a company applying for this consultancy work, the said company should inform the details of the person who will undertake the consultancy work. In this case the company will include its service charge/overhead expenses in the bid (rate per day) and it will negotiate the rate with the consultant separately.
Place of work: Maymana, Faryab with frequent travel to Sub bases such as Almar, Qaisar, Kohistan and Pustonkot
Condition of work: Accommodation, food and transport covered by ACTED which is outside consultancy fee
Duration and period of work Duration: 3 months (60 working days) – Friday and Saturday weekly holidays
Period: 1st April 2012 – 30th June 2012 REPORTING TO : Area Coordinator/Program manager
How to apply:
If interested please submit the details in English with covering letter, recent CV of the consultant with three references along with your quotation (Daily rate) for taking up this assignment to tenders@acted.org by email. Please mention ‘Self help group management consultant’ in the subject line of the email
Alternatively you can send your details by post or Fax to the following address ACTED Att: Human Resources Department 33, rue Godot de Mauroy 75009 Paris FRANCE Fax. + 33 (0) 1 42 65 33 46 Visit us at http://www.acted.org
Last date of application: 15th March 2012
