CNFA-AMD Project
US-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development
SCOPE OF WORK
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Project Name
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CNFA-AMD / Project Number AID-391-C-15-00003
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Consultancy Assignment
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Support to HVOSV Hubs
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Consultant Title
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Cold Chain- Refrigeration Engineer
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Reports to
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Chief Technical Advisor – AMD
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Place of Performance
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Lahore, Pakistan with likely travel to vegetable production areas
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Est. Period of Performance
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40 Working Days
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Project Description:
The U.S.-Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development (AMD) activity in Pakistan is a USAID funded activity implemented by CNFA with the goal of supporting the development of Pakistan’s commercial agriculture, particularly through improving the ability of Pakistan’s agriculture and livestock sectors to meet both international and domestic demand and requirements in targeted product lines in citrus, mango, high value/off season vegetables and livestock. AMD envisions transforming the four targeted product lines into efficient, private sector led value chains that deliver competitive products to domestic and export markets. AMD’s targeted training, matching grants, and technical assistance will leverage private sector investment and encourage innovation. Together, these approaches will support upgrading, streamline supply chains, optimize profit margins, increase participation of women entrepreneurs, and ultimately make Pakistani mango, citrus, meat and HV/OSV more profitable and more competitive.
Background Information:
Over 35 kinds of vegetables are grown in various ecological zones in Pakistan. At the moment Pakistan is exporting very limited number and quantity of vegetables mainly to GCC, some European countries and neighboring Afghanistan. Vegetable production in Pakistan, especially HV/OSV, faces marketing constraints due to a lack of post-harvest handling facilities for grading, sorting, packaging, pre-cooling and cold storage. According to estimates, up-to 40% of fresh produce is lost at post-harvest stage. Amongst other reasons, the prime reason for these losses is the absence of field heat removal and cold chain management at all levels. AMD aims to strengthen the HV/OSV value chain by partnering with private-sector investors to upgrade or establish centralized grading, packing and refrigerated cold storage hubs.
As part of an integrated strategy to formalize a consistent and improved supply of produce, where appropriate, AMD intends to support competitively selected businesses to establish/upgrade cold chain facilities at processor level, which will reduce post-harvest losses and increase marketing time for the fresh vegetables.
Objective of the Technical Assistance
The technical assistance (TA) provided by the local Cold Chain- Refrigeration Engineer is aimed at reviewing the existing status of cold chain machinery and equipment (if installed) , recommend the requirements for upgradation of existing equipment, and installation of a new one providing detail specification including cost estimates for the selected vegetable processors/exporters. The STTA will work with the HV/OSV VC Manager to design the cold chain facility with all the required specification.
Assignment Scope:
The STTA tasks will include but not be limited to:
- Background reading of AMD Work Plan for HV/OSV and published studies on previous cold chain for HVOSV.
- Work with AMD VC Manager (HV/OSV) to specify the equipment needed for upgradation and installation of cold chain equipment as per requirements of the processor/s along with the estimated costs and sources of availability.
- Train relevant staff of the HV/OSV processor for maintenance and operations of the cold chain equipment.
- Provide a detailed account for performance optimization of the cold chain/refrigeration equipment.
Deliverables:
I. A detailed work plan for the period of this assignment within two days after the commencement of this consultancy.
II. Requirements’ analyses, equipment specifications, cost estimates for each selected HV/OSV processor
III. Training of HV/OSV processor in operation and maintenance of the refrigeration equipment.
IV. Link program staff with proposed industry in Cold Chain.
V. Share background calculation/information with AMD staff.
VI. Finalize working model, programmatic budget, implementing strategy for proposed intervention with an implementation timetable;
VII. Submit a detailed report with all of the above cited deliverables, recommendations and future course of action.
Estimated level of effort (LOE) for the assignment:
40 Days (detail given below) including background review, discussions with AMD staff, processors and travel to project sites in Pakistan.
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Months/Weeks
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M1
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M2
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M3
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M4
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M5
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M6
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Activity
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Background review, discussions with the AMD staff
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3
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Work-plan development for the assignment
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2
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Site visits, discussions with the selected processors, Need analysis, equipment specifications,
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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design and cost estimation
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2
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2
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2
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2
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2
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SOPs for running the cold chain/refrigeration equipment
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2
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Training of processors’ relevant staff
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1
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1
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1
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1
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1
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Submission of final report
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3
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Total STTA days per month
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11
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6
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6
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6
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6
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5
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Total STTA days
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40
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Timing of the Assignment:
The STTA assignment will commence in October 2016 and end in March 2017 with the review of background material, travelling to project sites and reporting on or about Mid October, 2016 for a period of 40 working days.
Qualifications:
The consultant should have:
- A university degree in the field of mechanical/refrigeration/food engineering;
- Practical knowledge of commercial refrigeration equipment and cold chain for fresh produce
- Hands on knowledge of Pakistani fresh vegetables and their period of production.
- Extensive experience of having worked with cold chain for fresh produce.
- Knowledge of Pakistan agriculture sector will be an added advantage;
- More than 10 years of professional practical experience working in the field of refrigeration /cold chain equipment design, specification, installation and maintenance.
- Prior experience of working on consulting assignments with USAID funded projects in Pakistan will be an added advantage;
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team;
- Documented excellent writing skills in English
- Oral fluency in English.
- Ability to travel to project sites in Pakistan.