Request for Expression of Interest for Provision of Business Coaching Services for Farmer Based Organisations

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(Individual Consultants)
NAME OF PROGRAMME: TRANSFORMING AGRICULTURE THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION AND ENTREPRENUERSHIP
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST  FOR PROVISION OF BUSINESS COACHING SERVICES FOR FARMER BASED ORGANISATIONS

Country: Malawi
Reference No. : TRADE/MWI-2000001600-0194-CS-ICS
Date of Issue : 18th September 2024

1.0. Introduction and Background
1.1. Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture is the lead implementing agency of a six-year Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) Programme. TRADE is a successor Programme of the Rural Livelihoods and Economic Enhancement Programme (RLEEP) and it is being co-funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). The goal of TRADE is to improve the sustainable livelihoods of rural people in Malawi.

1.2. The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD’s approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD’s rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with TRADE.

1.3. This request for expressions of interest (REOl) follows the general procurement notice that appeared on the IFAD website and the United Nations Development Business (UNDB) website on 17 March, 2022, and the Daily Times, Nation newspaper 17th March, 2022.

1.4. Interested consultants shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. Consultants with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund.

Consultants are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, or b) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client’s board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of the REOl, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. Consultants have an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOl, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations.

1.5. The following conflict of interest rules shall apply with respect to recruitment of government/client staff within the consultant’s proposed team:

1. No member of the client’s board of directors or current employees of the client (whether part time, or full time, paid or unpaid, in leave status, etc.) shall be proposed or work as, or on behalf of, any consultant.
2. Except as provided in sub-clause 8.6(d), no current employees of the government shall work as consultants or as personnel under their own ministries, departments or agencies.
3. Recruiting former client or government employees to perform services for their former ministries, departments or agencies is acceptable provided no conflict of interest exists.
4. If a consultant proposes any government employee as personnel in their technical proposal, such personnel must have written certification from the government confirming that: (i) they will be on leave without pay from the time of their official proposal submission and will remain on leave without pay until the end of their assignment with the consultant and they are allowed to work full-time outside of their previous official position; or (ii) they will resign or retire from government employment on or prior to the contract award date. Under no circumstances shall any individuals described in (i) and ii) be responsible for approving the implementation of this contract. Such certification shall be provided to the client by the consultant as part of its technical proposal.
5. In the case where a consultant seeks to engage the services of any person falling under ITC sub-clauses 8.6(a) – 8.6(d), who may have left the client within a period of less than twelve (12) months of the date of this RFP, it must obtain a written “no-objection” from the client for the inclusion of such a person, prior to the consultant’s submission of its proposal.

1.6. The Fund requires that all beneficiaries of IFAD funding or funds administered by IFAD, including the client, any consultants, implementing partners, service providers and suppliers, observe the highest standards of integrity during the procurement and execution of such contracts, and commit to combat money laundering and terrorism financing consistent with IFAD’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy.

1.7. TRADE intends to apply part of the proceeds for the 2024/24 financial year for the recruitment of Individual Consulting Services for Business Coaching Services for Farmer Based Organizations and now invites eligible Individual consultants (“consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing consulting services for business coaching of farmer Based Organizations.

2.0. Objectives and Scope of the Individual Business Coaching

Consultancy
The main objective of the assignment is to enable targeted FBOs to become sustainable commercial entities that provide horizontal and vertical linkages to their members and value chain players respectively.

2.1. Specific Objectives

2.1.1 Enhance FBO eligibility for ACIF

2.1.2 Strengthen Farmer Based Organizations

2.1.3. Promote business facilitation

2.1.4. Facilitate relationships in the 4P model

2.1.5. Informal and formal FBOs Commercialization through Coaching

2.1.6. Facilitate marketing arrangements within the value chain

2.2. Scope of the assignment
The Business Coaches will be expected to do the following:

2.2.1. Carry out a rapid capacity assessment of the specific FBOs targeted in the cluster to complement assessment conducted by TRADE in 2022

2.2.2. Undertake participatory processes to formulate each FBO’s vision and develop an improved and more feasible business model as well as financing strategies and take concrete steps towards planning and managing change within their organizations.

2.2.3. Conduct regular coaching and mentoring of the FBO leaders and members to handhold them to drive organisational change management processes and develop strategic business partnerships

2.2.4. List of clusters and corresponding names to be applied for are outlined in table 1 below:

TABLE 1: SUMMARY DETAILS OF BUSSINESS COACHING SERVICES

3.0. Deliverables

3.1. Overall Deliverables

The following are deliverables of the assignment:

3.1.1. An inception report
3.1.2. Rapid assessment report and coaching plan
3.1.3. Monthly Reports
3.1.4. End of Assignment report

3.2. Specific Deliverables
3.2.1. Improved leadership and governance of the FBOs
3.2.2. Improved service provision of FBOs to its members
3.2.3. Improved financial management capabilities of the FBOs
3.2.4. Share and membership growth of the FBOs
3.2.5. Increased volumes of commodity aggregated
3.2.6. Improved profitability of equipment hire schemes (if applicable)

4.0 Duration of the assignment
The assignment will be conducted between a maximum duration of 6 months.

5.0. Shortlisting and Selection Procedure
A consultant will be selected in accordance with the individual consultant selection (ICS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www. ifad.org/project-procurement. Interviews will not be conducted be conducted as part of the selection process. The client will evaluate the EOls using the criteria provided in Annex 2. The shortlisted consultants) will be provided with the detailed TORs and asked to submit a detailed technical and financial offer. The evaluation will include a review and verification of qualifications and past performance, including a reference check, prior to the contract award.

6.0 Further information about the Consultancy Assignment
Any request for clarification on this REOl should be sent via e-mail to the address below no later than 14 days thus by 3’* October 2024 before the deadline through email procurement@ tradeprogramme.org. TRADE Programme will have no obligation to respond to questions submitted after this day. Responses to all questions received by the 14* day (3″* October 2024) will be published on the TRADE Programme website.

7.0 Application and Submission of Expressions of Interest

7.1 Interested applicants should request for Detailed Terms of Reference for the specific business coaching Assignment by writing and/or emailing procurement@tradeprogramme.org or alinafe@tradeprogramme.org or downloading the Terms of reference from the TRADE website: https://www.tradeprogramme.org/procurement-update or contacting the Procurement and Contracts Specialist at address 8.4.ai) below

Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they meet the qualification requirements to perform the consultancy as indicated above.

7.2 Interested individuals should submit their curriculum vitae (CVs) indicating their educational qualifications, technical competences and previous work experience to the address in 8.4. (a) (ii) below.

7.3 Expressions of interest clearly marked “Expressions of interest For Provision of Business Coaching Services” and indicating the specific cluster being applied for must be deposited in the tender located at the reception at the address in 7.4.(d) (ii) below before Tuesday, 8th October 2024 at 14:00 hrs. Individual Consultants are expected to sign a submission register at the reception before depositing their Expression of Interest. Late submissions will be rejected Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address in

8.4.(a) i) below:

a. The addresses as indicated above are as follows:

i. for enquiries, clarification and request for information is;

The Procurement and Contracts Department
Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE)
Area 9/328, Multi-Choice Street
P.O. Box 2135
LILONGWE
Or Email: procurement@tradeprogramme.org
Attention: Procurement and Contracts Specialist
Tel: +265 999 492 014

ii. The address for Delivery and Submission of Expressions of Interest
The IPDC Chairperson
Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE)
Area 9/328, Multi-Choice Street
P.O. Box 2135
LILONGWE

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