Business Service Provider for the Implementation of Caravan

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Business Service Provider for the Implementation of Caravan to support the Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA) initiative.

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

Background

MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of business professionals, MEDA partners with the poor to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world.

In the Philippines, MEDA is implementing a five-year initiative Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA). This initiative strives for more resilience and inclusive economic growth for both women and men cacao smallholder farmers (SHFs) in Mindanao focusing on the Davao Region. MEDA through RISSA project work partners such small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, business service providers, government, and other stakeholder in the cacao sector. RIISA responds to multiple challenges in the cacao sector and draws on MEDA’s experience in market systems development, gender lens investing (GLI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and environment and climate change (ECC).

To address the socio-economic challenges within the cacao sector, MEDA piloted an innovative market systems development approach. This include identifying gaps and addressing barriers in the cacao market system; mobilizing investments that are focused on Gender, Environment, Social, and Governance (GESG) for SMEs and financial intermediaries (FIs); strengthening the capacity of local FIs and business service providers (BSPs) in areas such as GESI, Human rights (HR), and ECC; strengthening the capacity of cacao cooperatives and smallholder farmers (SHFs) in environmentally sustainable and inclusive farming and business practices; and improving key enabling environment actors’ awareness of ESG practices in the cacao market system.

On strengthening the capacity of RIISA partner cooperatives and SMEs in facilitating support to increase adoption of environmentally sustainable and inclusive business and farming practices to increase cacao yield and generate living income for the cacao smallholder farmers, a Business Service Provider will be engaged for this purpose.

Scope of Work

MEDA seeks an experienced business service provider (BSP) to provide mobilization and training support to 15 cooperatives and their target cacao farmer-members to participate in Cacao Caravan and the Digital Farming training focusing on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Practices and E-commerce and ensure that learning is cascaded to cooperative members through step-down training and actual applications. The BSP will also provide mobilization and training support to target 14 SMEs to participate in the E-commerce training to provide them with digital learning and marketing opportunities for business growth. One BSP will be selected and engaged to provide the needed mobilization, event organizing, and training support to RIISA cooperatives and SMEs in Davao region.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage in discussion with RIISA team to plan and develop the program design of the two-day Cacao Caravan for each area of the target 15 cooperatives, and the support to the implementation of Digital Farming Program (DFP) with PLDT-SMART and Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), and the 15 cooperatives and 14 SMEs of RIISA.
• Mobilize support of the Regional Crop Protection Center, Organic Program of the Department of Agriculture Davao Region, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, PAG-ASA Davao Regional Office, Davao Region Soils Laboratory, and relevant LGUs (including the Public Market decision makers) in target locations, for the Cacao Caravan for the 15 cooperatives of RIISA.
• Make plan with the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC), Organic Program of the Department of Agriculture Davao Region, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIS), Regional PAG-ASA, and Bureau of Soils for the Cacao Caravan with the 15 cooperatives of RIISA. Participants in the Caravan are cooperative members engaged in cacao or other agricultural crops.
• Make a plan with PLDT-SMART, DA-ATI, and the 15 cooperatives and 14 SMEs of RIISA, for the implementation of DFP 101, 102, and 103.
• Implement the work plan (for the Cacao Caravan, and the DFP) agreed with participating organizations and agencies, cooperatives, and SMEs.
• Prepare and submit activity reports detailing the achievement of key milestones, such as the completion of the activities and target outputs with the required documentations—photos, attendance records, and production inputs/support provided to cacao farmers, cooperatives, and SMEs.
• Finalize and submit the final report based on the RIISA suggested reporting template upon concluding the engagement.

Deliverables

A. Inception report with the Work Plan and program design of the Cacao Caravan, for the release of mobilization fund.

• Discuss with RIISA team to plan and develop the program design of the two-day Cacao Caravan, and the support to the implementation of Digital Farming Program (DFP) with PLDT-SMART and DA-ATI, and the 15 cooperatives and 14 SMEs of RIISA.
• Timeframe: 24-May-2024 (35%)

B. Agreed Work Plan with the participating agencies and organizations and their specific support to be provided during Caravan and beyond.

• Mobilize support of the Regional Crop Protection Center, Organic Program of the Department of Agriculture Davao Region, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, PAG-ASA Davao Regional Office, Davao Region Soils Laboratory, and relevant LGUs (including the Public Market decision makers) and develop a plan with these organizations/agencies for the Cacao Caravan with the 15 cooperatives of RIISA.
• Timeframe: 7-June-2024 (5%)

C. Agreed work plan with roles and responsibilities for the implementation of DFP 101, 102, 103, with PLDT-SMART, DA-ATI, and the RIISA cooperatives and SMEs.

• Make plan with PLDT-SMART, DA-ATI, and the 15 cooperatives and 14 SMEs of RIISA for the implementation of DFP 101, 102, and 103.
• Timeframe: 7-June-2024 (5%)

D. Activity reports of the 15 Cacao Caravans with photo documentation, attendance records using the Client Registration Form of RIISA.

• Implement work plan for the 15 Cacao Caravans
• Timeframe: Between 10-June & 30-September-2024 (25%)

E. Activity reports of the Training of Trainers, and the step-down training activities with 15 cooperatives and 14 SMEs.

• Implement work plan for the DFP 101, 102, and 103 with 15 cooperatives and 14 SMEs
• Timeframe: Between 10-June & 30-September-2024 (25%)

F. Final report with the signed release form after the feedback survey.

• Finalize and submit the final report
• Timeframe: 20-December-2024 (5%)

Qualifications & Selection Criteria

A. Generic and Mandatory:

• Legally registered in the Philippines and been providing business services to cooperatives or other organization for at least three years. To provide a copy of the SEC or DTI registration or CDA registration, Business Permit, and BIR registration.
• Preferrably BSPs that have business presence or providing business services in Davao Region.
• Can partner with MEDA, and willing to work closely with MEDA staff.
• Committed to the development and progress of cacao cooperatives and SMEs in the Philippines.
• Committed to contribute to the development of cacao sector in Mindanao.
• Fulfill MEDA’s due diligence requirements:
  • BSP and staff are not involved in terrorist, illegal or criminal activities, including but not limited to drug, arms or sex trafficking, money laundering, violation of women’s rights and human rights.
  • BSP does not appear on the US, UK, UN, or EU lists of terrorist organizations.
• Local and financially stable organization/company. Need to provide 2-3 years audited FS.
• Has a contingency plan and mechanism in place to adapt to any health or travel restrictions.

B. Specific Expertise:

• Demonstrated expertise and experience in delivering business development services to cooperatives and SMEs in partnership with market system actors who have commercial interest to support the smallholder farmers.
• Experience and specialization in mobilizing support from government agencies, local government units, and private sector to work with cooperatives and SMEs in responding to the cacao production needs using environmentally sustainable and inclusive practices.
• With experience in organizing events and training activities focusing on cacao production using environmentally sustainable and inclusive practices, involving cacao farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, national government agencies, LGUs, and private sector.
• Experience and technical competency in Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Practices and working knowledge on digital technologies and platforms.
• Preference is given to the proponent that has exposure to the RIISA cooperatives and SMEs in Davao region, and has good working relationships with national government agencies, local government units, cacao cooperatives and SMEs.

Funding

• Funding will be discussed once an applicant is identified successful in the initial stage of assessment and selection.

Application Procedure

Interested BSPs to send application to MEDA via email at RIISA_Submissions@meda.org and cc: darceo@meda.org  with the PROPOSAL as attachment, by 5:00pm on May 10, 2024. Please indicate “BSP Support to Caravan and DFP” in the subject line of your email.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of MEDA staff. Qualified BSPs will be selected and announced by 15-May-2024**.** Upon selection of BSPs, MEDA will enter a contract for the engagement.

Proponent shall follow the prescribed proposal format below and submit in electronic copy with the following information.

A. Contact Information

1. Organization’s Legal Name:
2. Mailing Address:
3. Main Contact Person and Title:
4. Telephone:
5. Email address:
6. Website, if available (Facebook, twitter):
7. SEC/CDA/DTI Registration Number:

B. Proposal Outline

1. Introduction (maximum half page): provide understanding of the ToR and how your organization or company can respond to the ToR’s requirements. Proponent to add a brief explanation on their motivation to partner with MEDA.
2. Capability Statement (maximum of one page):

• Briefly describe your organization or company’s business services provided, in relation to the expertise required by this ToR, in the last three years with specific information on the beneficiaries, contracting company/organization, and results of your engagements.
• Briefly describe the financial position of the organization/company.
• Briefly discuss the organization/company’s contingency plan and mechanism in place to adapt to any travel restrictions.
• Please include the contact details (contact person, phone, and email) of at least three (3) organizations/companies/cooperatives who can speak to the capability and credibility of your organization.
• Describe the qualifications of the personnel who will possibly be involved in the engagement.

1. Proposed Methodology (maximum of one page).

• Describe how the proponent will implement the identified and agreed strategies to ensure that the deliverables in Section 3 are achieved within the timeframe provided given any restrictions.
• Discuss the strategy to ensure participation of women, youth, and Indigenous peoples in the implementation of strategies and work plan.

1. Proposed Work Plan (maximum of one page). Outline the activities, timeline, expected outputs, resources and the expertise needed.
2. Estimated Cost of the Engagement (in matrix format): Itemized cost and unit, and total cost.
3. Annex:

• SEC Certificate of Incorporation or DTI Certificate of Registration or CDA Registration, 2024 Business Permit, and BIR Certificate of Registration
• Audited Financial Statement for the past two to three years.
• Resume or CV of BSP staff who will work on this engagement.
• Work sample/s of BSP and the assigned staff

Keywords

Business Service ProviderImplementationCaravanResilienceInclusionInvestmentSustainable AgrikulturaMarket SystemsFinanceTechnical ExpertiseAgri-food Market SystemsDecent JobsExcluded GroupsEconomyGender Lens InvestingGender EqualitySocial InclusionEnvironmentClimate ChangeCacao SectorMarket Systems DevelopmentCapacity BuildingEnvironmentally SustainableInclusive FarmingBusiness PracticesCacao YieldLiving IncomeMobilizationTraining SupportCooperativesSMEsCacao CaravanDigital FarmingE-commerceRIISADavao Region