Consultancy services for Developing materials and ToT for Agri BDS providers

COOPERATIVE
SUPPORT PROGRAM

TERMS OF
REFERENCES

Consultancy
services for Developing materials and ToT for Agri BDS providers (Farming as
Business Enterprise)

1.0
Introduction

SPARK is an
International NGO that works to develop higher education and entrepreneurship
through empowering the young people with skills and knowledge to better
livelihoods in post conflict societies. In   Rwanda,
SPARK   is coordinating an extensive Cooperative Support Program
(CSP) within the four value chains of Maize, Beans, Irish Potatoes and
Horticulture. The program targets cooperatives, agribusinesses as well as
agricultural cooperative support networks and SMEs working along the four value
chains through two different, complimentary approaches all with the aim of motivating,
training and coaching target beneficiaries to improve their business skills, to
reach the most lucrative markets and enhance their income.  

One of the areas
identified during the last Mid Term Review (MTR) is to strengthen the linkage
between the individual members of the cooperatives and the cooperative agenda.
SPARK has planned to address this linkage through a training module called “My
Farm Enterprise” but has noted a gap in the available materials for the module
which does not address the linkage gap identified in the MTR. The MTR also
noted that strong cooperatives thrive on the strong entrepreneurial skills,
commitment and loyalty of their membership. Commitment and loyalty are
derivatives of entrepreneurial prowess among individual members who recognize
the power of collectivity.

1.1 Purpose

SPARK seeks to hire
the services of an Agri business development services consultant or consultancy
firm to review and readjust the FaB materials currently developed by SPARK to
include missing components needed to equip the individual members of the
cooperatives with agribusiness entrepreneurial skills and techniques needed to
start, manage and build a successful farm business enterprise and to cause
growth. It aims to strengthen collective action by addressing structural
elements of business management at the individual farm level and cooperative
organizational level.The Consultant will also conduct a ToT to equip the SPARK
coaches and BDS providers   with skills to implement the FaB training
components both at the organizational and individual member farm business
level.

1.2 Terms of
Reference

The consultant will
be expected to perform the following tasks;

1. Review
   the current FaB materials and develop additional material to incorporate
   the missing components needed to address the elements of individual farmer
   entrepreneurship addressing, these include;

1. Key
   business success principles and habits of successful farm entrepreneurs,
   the role of collective actions (Smallholder associations) and strategic
   partnerships and the tools for agribusiness management.
2. Managing
   individual and collective business growth; the structural elements of
   business management at the individual farm level and organizational level,
   investment planning, enterprise selection, return on labor management,
   business transitions and benefit sharing. 
3. Building
   trust, defining shared goals and individual goals mutual and reciprocity
   as a strategy to increase member participation, commitment and investment
   in the Farm Business Enterprise.
4. Develop
   pedagogical tools that can be used by the coaches and BDS providers to
   develop and strengthen the business capacity of cooperative organization
   and its members.
5. Conduct
   a ToT workshop for SPARK coaches working with the cooperatives and 
   BDS providers.
6. Develop
   a framework to be used by coaches to support cooperatives develop a
   membership recruitment, commitment and Retention
7. Establish
   results follow  up and lesson capitalization plan and report

1.3 The scope of work

The task will cover
development of training materials, a ToT workshop for SPARK coaches and BDS
providers in Rwanda. It will also require developing pedagogical tools within
the context of the CSP implemented by SPARK. These will also concern and
coaching guidance tool kit development. The overall consultancy operational
calendar should not exceed 14 days.

1.4
Deliverables

1. Training
   Materials for FaB
2. A ToT
   for SPARK Coaches and RICEM staff
3. A set
   pf pedagogical tools
4. A
   framework for building cooperative membership Recruitment, Commitment and
   Retention strategy
5. My farm
   Enterprise coaching took kit and application   Results
   monitoring

1. Application

Interested
consultants who fulfill the requirements can submit their CV, motivation
letters technical proposal and financial proposal until 14th April 2016
at 12 p.m.
to: csp@spark-online.org with a copy
to d.mushumba@spark-online.org

Only short listed
candidates will be contacted.

Done at Kigali on 31st
March 2016; Program Manager SPARK – Rwanda