Terms of Reference

For

Study onMarket Mapping Value Chain Analysis of Fruits and Vegetables in Thatta District

  1. Introduction and Background

PDI and Oxfam Novib in collaboration are promoting increased empowerment of poor and marginalized women and men in district Thatta Sindh through providing them with capacity building packages for improved agriculture production, easy access to markets and extension departments and organizing them into producer organizations for sustained livelihoods. The logic for doing all this is to facilitate the poor women and men farmers for improving their access to markets and developing rural and agriculture based micro enterprises and be accepted into the economic mainstream at local and regional level.

It has been learnt from different researches and studies that certain factors are very important for the success of proper access to markets as well as micro-level enterprises i.e. Quality of product (quality inputs, standard production and processing skills), market demand, competitiveness and compatibility, easy availability of raw material/inputs and market trends/polarity etc. Thus, it is essential that before launching micro-level enterprises, more significantly those to be managed by community based producer organizations, an extensive market assessment and mapping be conducted.

The proposed study will focus on analysis of the current market models as well as the value chain of fruits and vegetable in the project areas of District Thatta. The assessment would involve conducting a field survey, interviews with stakeholders, market survey and looking at the market environment, value chain and market services. It would also involve review and analysis of policies that affect market access including relevant Government policies, market liberalization, institutions for credit, insurance, transport etc.

  1. Audience and Use

The key audience of the study is the local communities of the project area as the study would support them in understanding the local market dynamic and also support those interested in value chain of their agriculture products especially fruits and vegetables. However, the assessment report will also be aimed primarily at multiple stakeholders like decision makers, public policy makers and important stakeholders. The research findings will be used to raise the awareness level of the policy makers at the strategic, tactical and operational levels and propose alternative mechanisms for small producers for better livelihood options.

  1. Research Objectives

The key objectives of the study are to carry out mapping of the agriculture including fruit and vegetable markets in and connected to district Thatta [including Karachi markets] to analyze the demand, supply and operational as well legal issues related to the markets and todevelop organizational holistic understanding of the current situation of fruit and vegetable value chains operated by the small farmers in district Thatta especially its Mirpur Sakro tehsil

The specific objectives are to:

Market Mapping

  • Map local potential markets of agriculture especially fruits and vegetables
  • Analyze current market trends in terms of market demand and supply, price-scheduling mechanisms, market determinant factors, supply chains and government market regulatory and control mechanisms
  • Analyze possible potential risks the project beneficiaries may face in market and suggest possible mitigation measures
  • Come up with innovative and possibly market accepted packing and packaging and marketing models that the producer organizations can adopt
  • Explore micro financing institutions in the area and illustrate how the producer organizations can be linked with them
  • understand the coping mechanisms and the current livelihoods practices of the target communities and recommend alternative approaches to diversified livelihood options

Value Chain Analysis of Fruits and Vegetables

  • Assess the resources, skills and capacities of small farmers related to procurement of inputs and production of fruits and vegetables;
  • Understand the existing market situation and nature of bargain taking place between different market players in the study area (relationships, attitudes and behaviors).
  • Understand the capacity of producers and their organizations (POs) to access services, credit, information and resources.
  • Suggest improvements in the value chain system for ensure direct linkages of the farmers with the major markets and increased incomes from their produces
  1. Research Methodology

The following methodology and research tools will be employed (but not limited to) during the assessment.

  • Literature Review

The consultant will have to review the existing market assessments in the target area and/or in Sindh, market regulatory and price control policies and/or laws and mechanisms, any documents on market trends in the target area and any other relevant literature where possible.

  • Market Mapping and value chain

The consultant will have to map potential local and regional markets in terms of type, size and volume of market, goods sold and bought, supply chain, type of producers, suppliers and vendors, women led businesses/trades, distance of the market from the target project villages, mode of transportation, market associations/trade organizations, security arrangement/situation especially for women and competitiveness (number of producers/suppliers/vendors versus items in demand)

  • Interviews with key informants (beneficiaries, producers, suppliers, vendors and consumers etc)

The consultant will have to interview the informants as per the following schedule:

-At least five beneficiaries (three women and two men) on random basis in 30% of the villages and villages selected on cluster sampling basis

-At least five each producers, suppliers, and vendors per market and that each should be associated with a different business/trade and to be selected on snow ball sampling basis

-At least five consumers in each market (three women and two men)

  • Focus Group Discussions

The consultant will have to conduct at least one FGD in each of the mapped markets and five in each of 30% of the target villages. In markets, the participants should be producers, suppliers, vendors, consumers and employers (the participation of women should be prioritized where possible). In villages, separate FGDs should be conducted with women and men (three with women and two with men) and the participants should be of same age. The group for FGD should consist of 7 to 10 participants.

  1. The Final Report

The Consultant shall document the assignment in a final report; which will be completed in English by the final day of the assignment. The report shall include:

A Preamble giving:

The principal features of the assignment shall include objectives and the plans of work of the assessment itself.

  • Executive Summary (no more than 1,500 words)
  • Details of the Assignmentmethodology and analysis
  • Conclusions and Recommendations
  • Lessons learned
  • Other emerging policy and research initiatives
  • Annexes:

The report should not exceed 50 pages excluding annexes.

  1. Time Schedule

On the basis of the proposed time schedule outline in these Terms of Reference, the consultant shall prepare a brief work plan. The work plan should set out the Consultant approach for conducting research activities.The period for the consultancy should not exceed 6 weeks starting with day of signing the agreement.

7 . Budget and Resources Required

The total consultancy fees will be Rs. xx/ liable to government tax (es). The payment will be made as 40% in advance, 50% on submission of the draft report and 10% on submission of the final report. PDI will not be responsible for any further expenses incurred by the consultant during the consultancy visits and for any loss and/or damage to him/her.

PDI shall facilitate the consultant to carry out field visits and meetings with local communities / project beneficiaries.

9. Mode of Payment

All payments will be made through cross cheques or online bank transfers in the name of the Consultant

10. Assignment Prohibited and Termination

The consultant may not assign or sub-grant any part of the activities without prior written consent of PDI. Where such prior written consent is given, it shall not relieve the consultant of any of its responsibilities under this agreement

PDI shall have the option to terminate this contract in the event that the consultant is unable to fulfill his/her obligations under the terms and conditions of this TOR for whatever reasons.

11. Conflict Resolution

In case if any conflict arises between the both parties, the Board of PDI shall discuss and resolve of the conflict.

12. Miscellaneous

PDI shall not be made liable for any damage, loss, illness, injuries or death which may occur to or be caused by the consultant during the course of the present assignment.

13. Submission of Proposals

In order to achieve the objectives of the assignment, the consultant will be expected to take complete responsibility for all the activities identified in the attached TOR. The Technical Proposal should contain inter alia; a complete description and explanation of the proposed methodology for the Assignment (work plan), time-line, staffing, names and qualifications of allocated personnel and any other resources that the consultant will make available to execute the assignment and achieve the objective.

The Financial Proposal should stipulate the fees for the assignment. All fee and costs are to be expressed in Pakistan Rupees only.The Technical and Financial Proposals shall be evaluated by a technical committee in PDI.

12. Selection Criteria

Research proposals will be selected on the basis of:

•Evidence of the researcher’s in-depth knowledge of the sector / issue

•Previous studies and written publications in this or relevant fields;

•Clarity of analysis and written expression;

•Fluency in English.

•Skills in research methodology in particular access to data and information sources, including contacts within government and industry;

13. Taxes

All the taxes will be deducted as per laws of Pakistan

14. How to Apply?

Those interested should sent their proposals to Participatory Development Initiatives [PDI] no later than Friday March 15, 2013 at the email:

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