Consultant – Horticulture Value
Chain Support

SCOPE OF WORK

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 interventions such as training, matching grants, and technical assistance will leverage private sector investment and encourage innovation. Together, these interventions will upgrade and streamline supply chains, optimize profit margins, increase in horticulture produce export,  enhancing participation of women entrepreneurs, and ultimately make Pakistani mango, citrus, meat and HV/OSV production and marketing more profitable and competitive.

Objective of the Technical Assistance:

The objective of this assignment is to support the technical team of AMD project in the execution of project’s interventions and related activities, including but not limited to grants disbursement onsite delivery of machinery and tools under in-kind grants, given to grantees in Lahore, Sargodha, South Punjab and Sindh, data recording and documentation  of citrus, mango and high value off-season vegetable crops, facilitation to other local and international consultants working in horticulture sector, managing field trainings as per requirements, and facilitation in  monitoring the water melon project in Sindh. Moreover, the consultant will oversee the other project activities, being executed in these regions / clusters, as and when required.

Duration of the Assignment:

The assignment is for 180 days LOE. The duration of assignment is Jan 01, 2017 – Sep 30, 2017.

Specific Activities:

Under the overall guidance of the supervisor of this assignment and in close coordination of project’s team, the consultant will  perform the following activities; using his / her education and experience, knowledge of sector and international best practices, and additional understanding gleaned from available project’s documents:

1.  Oversee the technical and operational aspects of training programs in the project area.
2. Develop and implement appropriate strategies / approaches to  facilitate and support program beneficiaries to implement  improved and best management practices in horticulture sector and to further link the producers / processors to the commercial exporters to get a better price for their product / produce.
3. To provide technical support and assistance to the project’s teamfor design, specifications,  fabrication and installation for the evaporative cooling systems for vegetables growers.
4. To supervise the installation of conveyer belt in mango processing facilities.
5. Assist project’s team in disbursement of grants to beneficiaries of  all three subsectors of horticulture in filed / commercial hubs.
6. Provision of support for onsite delivery of machinery, tools and equipment and in turn proper documentation of the grants articles / items along with their branding.
7. Facilitate the small farmers of the horticulture clusters to link with factories / processors for the marketing / sale of B & C grade produce for value addition.
8. Assist / support in arranging different events / meetings related to integrated supply chain management and other interventions / or to develop linkages with other donor agencies for the collaborative efforts. 
9. Support the AMD team for arranging various types of field events, Other tasks assigned by the COP or Chief Technical Advisor related to designing, execution and implementation of interventions to be initiated in vegetable production, processing and marketing.

Qualifications:

The consultant should have:

1. Master’s or higher degree in the field of  Horticulture, Food Sciences and Technology or Business Administration
2. Experience of value chain development / private sector development with the experience of mango, citrus and vegetable sub-sectors Sound knowledge and experience of agricultural sector of Pakistan and local & international market system of horticulture products.
3. Prior experience of working as long term or short term employee with USAID Projects  / donor funded project aims on agriculture value chains will be preferred Sound technical knowledge of machinery / equipment  used for fruit and vegetable production and processing
4. Excellent computer skills, particularly Word, Excel and Power Point
5. Extensive experience of report writing
6. Good interpersonal and communication skills; and
7. Knowledge of local languages will be an added advantage.