Company Profile

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in agriculture, energy, and WASH to local contexts. SNV has an annual turnover of €130 million, over 1,250 staff in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.

SNV has worked in Ghana since the 1992 and currently has offices in Accra, Tamale, and Nandom. 

For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.org

Job Description

Terms of Reference

Organizational Development Training and Association Strengthening – HortiFresh Fruits and Vegetable Clusters

1.Introduction

SNV is implementing the HortiFresh programme in a consortium with Resilience B.V., Advance Consulting, SENSE and Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI) lead implementer. The programme is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana.

The programme aims to reach 15,000 farmers and have a 20% increase in productivity by 2021.

Ghana and Ivory Coast demonstrate a strong growth potential and opportunities for private investments in the vegetable and fruit value chain. The two countries have had steady economic growth with a burgeoning middle class demanding quality and healthy food. The ability of the domestic and regional horticulture sector to meet this increasing demand, substitute and connect to export markets requires enhanced agronomic and marketing skills, access to finance facilities, quality produce, increased entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities.

To this end, the HortiFresh programme seeks to establish a competitive and professional horticulture market that contributes to inclusive economic growth and has the capacity to continuously innovate in terms of products and services in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The programme’s objectives include improving productivity in the fruit and vegetable sector; facilitating more efficient markets, linking producers and other value chain operators with the Dutch private sector, improving the business climate and further professionalizing the value chain for fruit & vegetable production and consumption in West Africa.

The programme includes a capacity strengthening component which is aimed at improving knowledge and practices of stakeholders in the sector. The programme is structured to build the capacity of stakeholders through agronomy trainings, technical assistance and knowledge sharing through independent research and development on issues relevant to the sector.

As part of its objectives, HortiFresh aims to improve the professionalism of farmer-based association in its fruit and vegetable clusters. A key challenge is the lack of professional management as well as financial management due to limited management capacity. To address this, HortiFresh aims to start an Organizational Development Training and Association Strengthen that supports farmer-based organizations reach their next stage of development. The training is expected to provide them with sessions focused on financial management, leadership, group dynamics, gender & youth mainstreaming and good administration.

To this end, HortiFresh seeks to engage an experienced Organizational Development company to execute the training in cooperation with the HortiFresh team.

2.Objectives and Scope of Assignment – Fruits Sector

The activities of the Scope of Assignment shall include, but are not limited to:

• Perform a needs assessment specific to each of the associations within the HortiFresh Clusters.
• Develop the training programme and material for the training in close cooperation with the HortiFresh team.
• Facilitate group trainings for the associations in the fruit and vegetable clusters on developed curriculum.
• Support the fruit and vegetable cluster associations with drafting of their constitutions and a business plan, if applicable.
• Support cluster associations with financial management and link with a finance expert who will provide relevant training for farmers.
• Provide training on gender and youth inclusion in association activities.
• Monthly visits to each association to assess adoption of lessons learned, assist with development of business plans, as well as provide tailored advice.
• Provide monthly verbal and written reports on progress to HortiFresh.
• A lead association should be selected to be a model to mentor other associations

3.Objectives and Scope of Assignment – Vegetables Sector

• Perform a needs assessment specific to each of the associations within the HortiFresh Clusters.
• Develop the training programme and material for the training in close cooperation with the HortiFresh team.
• Support the vegetable cluster associations to become stronger
• Support the vegetable cluster associations with drafting of their constitutions, if applicable.
• A lead association should be selected to be a model to mentor other associations.
• Provide training on gender and youth inclusion in association activities.
• Monthly visits to each association to assess adoption of lessons learned, assist with development of business plans, as well as provide tailored advice.

4.Expected Results or Deliverables

• Improved management in each HortiFresh Cluster Associations in the areas of financial management, gender and youth mainstreaming, leadership and group dynamics and administration.
• Training material on association strengthening.
• Training material on organizational development.
• Training material on youth and gender inclusion.
• Needs assessment Report for each of the HortiFresh Cluster associations.
• Group trainings for each of the HortiFresh Cluster associations according to their identified needs.
• Business plan for a 5 -acre mango farm for each of the associations to use.
• Updated or New constitutions for each of the associations within the HortiFresh Clusters.
• Monthly visits to each association to assess adoption of lessons learned, assist with development of business plans, as well as provide tailored advice.
• Monthly verbal and written reports on progress to HortiFresh.
• End of Project Report.

5.Location of Associations and Clusters

• Onion Cluster: Keta and Denu
• Tomato Cluster: Akumadan, Afrancho, Tuobodom
• Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association
• Mango Cluster: Sunyani, Wenchi, Techiman, Nkoranza and Kintampo (Pamdu)
• Greater Accra Peri Cluster: Korle bu, Tuba, Fiesta
• Tamale Peri – urban cluster: Tamale

6.Budget

The maximum budget for this assignment is EUR 25,000 paid in Ghana Cedis (GH¢), in an agreed manner between SNV and the Consulting company and subject to all statutory deductions in line with the Ghana law and SNV policies.

7.Reporting

The Consulting Company will liaise with SNV assigned officer on the project. Activities and progress on deliverables will be reported to the designated Officer on a monthly basis, to ensure deliverables are attained as targeted.

8.Timelines

This assignment is for a duration of 3 months, from February 1, 2022 to April 30 2022.

Required Skills or Experience

9.Qualification and Experience

• Minimum of five years’ experience in Organizational Development, Association Strengthening and/or related topics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the agriculture sector, specifically the horticulture sector.
• Demonstrated knowledge of providing training on financial management, professionalizing farmer associations and good group dynamics.
• Demonstrated knowledge, professional and practical experience working with farmer associations and providing training and coaching services.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with gender, youth and agriculture.
• Preferably, but not necessary, exposure to a range of professionalizing farmer associations and knowledge about best international practices.
• Excellent report writing and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.