Background

The “Improving Trade and Productive Capacities of Moldovan Fresh Fruit Producers” project is funded by the Aid for Trade regional initiative and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova, in collaboration with Moldovan Investment and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO). The project helps fresh fruit producers and exporters to improve their international competitiveness and market access externally, both in the CIS and in the EU markets. The Project focuses on the promotion and pilot implementation of new technologies and practices that have the greatest potential to address the needs of the fresh fruits sector in terms of (1) improving product quality, (2) insuring product safety, (3) reducing unit costs and (4) increasing product shelf life. At same time, it provides tailored trainings on various topics that will contribute to better implementation of modern technologies, increased export capacities and knowledge of foreign markets, improved communication and negotiation skills, among others. It also supports the producers and exporters to participate to international and regional trade fairs and exhibitions, so that to promote local produce and get into direct contacts with producers and exporters of similar commodities and technologies from other countries and regions.

In order to meet its overall goal, the Project announces a competition for individual international expert able to deliver tailored trainings on the topic “Fruit harvesting – key element for quality assurance”, to be based on the European or international best practices, by using and adapting modern teaching curriculum and combining theoretical session with fully or partially demonstrative sessions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this consultancy service is to select and hire independent international consultant to develop new or adapt existing teaching module on fruit harvesting and train Moldovan producers and exporters in fresh fruits on respective topic. Training shall be tailored to the needs of the local producers and include theoretical and demonstrative sessions. The trainer shall take into consideration the best available regional or international teaching/training practices in the field and rely on well-structured teaching modules and materials.

In order to achieve such objective the consultant shall:

• Develop new or adapt existing training module on the topic “Fruit harvesting – key element for quality assurance” (the training module shall comprise all teaching materials needed to conduct the training and, upon necessity, list of training materials for demonstrative purposes);
• Share the training module with the Project and incorporate relevant comments and suggestions, so that to fully reflect the needs of the producers/members of the client associations;
• Develop the final version of all training materials needed to conduct the training, both its theoretical and demonstrative parts;
• Develop the list of training materials for the demonstrative sessions and undertake, in close collaboration with the Project, the sourcing of such materials on the regional market, ideally on the Moldovan market;
• Deliver 2, 1-day training sessions to the clients and ensure that the training is conducted at highest standards and collect feedback from the participants; Tentative locations of the training: Briceni and Edinet (northern part of Moldova). Estimated number of participants for each training: 20 people;
• Report on the conducted training and eventually fine-tune the teaching materials that will ultimately rest with the client associations and members;
• Actively participate in undertaking all needed logistical arrangements, so that to ensure qualitative training and consistent follow-up.

The theoretical module of the training shall include, but not limited to such topics:

• Basics of modern harvesting of apples, cherries and plums;
• Peculiarities of harvesting for each of the above commodities separately;
• Key factors for high quality products during the harvesting period;
• Techniques to determine optimal period for fruits harvesting, by each commodity;
• Harvesting rules for each commodity;
• Demonstrative exercises.

Practical module and simulation exercises shall be described in details by the consultant in his/her technical offer.

Note:

Deliverables are subject to amendment based on eventual further consultations with client associations; further guidance and amendment of the deliverables may be undertaken during the assignment, as needed and discussed.

Organizational Setting:

The international consultant will work under the supervision of the Project Manager. Contractor will work outside the project office. The Project and the client associations will offer logistical support for the implementation of all training activities.

Inputs:

The Project personnel will provide the consultant with the necessary information and materials for the fulfillment of tasks and will provide support in facilitation of the necessary meetings. The Project will also offer templates for the reporting on training activities.

Competencies

• Skills in delivering high-standard trainings tailored to the specific needs of the target audience; flexibility and creativity in delivering trainings and seminars;
• Developed skills in communication with various stakeholders in private sectors;
• Excellent skills in organizing and coordinating training activities.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in Agronomy, Horticulture and/or other relevant fields. Post graduate education will be considered as a strong asset;
• National or international certification(s) in training or ToT(s) is a strong asset.

Experience:

• Proven extensive experience (at least 5 years) in the implementation/administration of training activities for producers and exporters in fresh fruits;
• Minimum 3 years of proven experience in trainings on the training topic;
• Proven extensive knowledge of the advanced technologies and equipments in fresh fruits production and export promotion.

Language:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of the Romanian and/or Russian will be a strong asset.

Documents to be included when submitting the Proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Cover letter, explaining why he/she is the most suitable for the work;
• A brief methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the work;
• Financial proposal;
• Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references, or dully filled Personal History Form (P11).

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the training. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including daily fee, travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).
All envisaged travel costs to/from Moldova must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

The Project will ensure local transportation from Chisinau to the regions where the trainings will take place (Briceni and Edinet) and back. The project will also cover printing of training materials and oral translation for the training hours, if needed. In case the consultant will choose to accommodate outside Chisinau during the travel mission, he/she should cover such costs.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• University degree in Agronomy, Horticulture and/or other relevant fields;
• At least 5 years of extensive experience in the implementation/administration of training activities for producers and exporters in fresh fruits.

The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on the following methodology: Cumulative analysis.

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight – 60% (300 pts);
* Financial Criteria weight – 40% (200 pts).

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 210 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria and Scoring:

• University degree in Agronomy, Horticulture and/or other relevant fields. Post graduate education will be considered as a strong asset – 40 points;
• National or international certification(s) in training or ToT(s) – 20 points;
• At least 5 years of proven extensive experience in the implementation/administration of training activities for producers and exporters in fresh fruits – 30 points;
• Minimum 3 years of proven experience in trainings on the training topic – 45 points;
• Excellent skills in organizing and coordinating training activities – 30 points;
• Proven extensive knowledge of the advanced technologies and equipments in fresh fruits production and export promotion – 40 points;
• Skills in delivering high-standard trainings tailored to the specific needs of the target audience – 30 points;
• Flexibility and creativity in delivering trainings and seminars – 20 points;
• Developed skills in communication with various stakeholders in private sectors – 20 points;
• Proficiency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of the Romanian and/or Russian will be a strong asset – 25 points.

Maximum Total Technical Scoring - 300 points.

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 200
S – score received on financial evaluation;
Fmin – the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;
F – financial offer under consideration.

Maximum Total Financial Scoring - 200 ptoins.

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

For complete information about this vacancy, including detailed tasks and responsibilities, full and detailed description of the evaluation procedure which will be applied, as well as the UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract, please refer to the Terms of Reference and the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice published at the UNDP Moldova website, Jobs Section: http://www.undp.md/jobs/current_jobs.