CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Consultancy, Research Jobs
- Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ)
- Expires 22 Jun 2023
- Bulawayo
- Full Time
Job Description
Digital marketplace to link smallholders and offtakers for selected crops
Deadline: 22 June 2023, 1pm
This is a call to support work under the EU-funded and Government of Zimbabwe supported Strengthening the Competitiveness and Potential for Export of Inclusive Value Chains (SCOPE4IVC) project, implemented by Welthungerhilfe and partners Empretec and Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe, to assist linking non-timber forest products (NTFP) and traditional crops’ producers to markets.
Project Summary
The SCOPE4IVC project seeks to contribute towards improving the competitiveness and export capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in selected value chains. Whilst the project has a national outlook, its implementation sites are in Umzingwane, Bubi, Gokwe South and Chivi districts working with 1,000s of smallholder farmers and wild collectors.
Duties and Responsibilities
Expression of Interest
As part of SCOPE4IVC’s focus on supporting robust markets, emphasis has been on increasing productivity and linking farmers to markets. If farmers do not have a market, their yields will not translate into improved incomes and livelihoods. Buyers of indigenous and traditional commodities still heavily rely on personal contacts to find products, which limits efficiency and creates unmet need.
To contribute to addressing market linkage challenges, the project seeks to develop a digital marketspace, beginning with a pilot phase providing about 1000 farmers in 4 value chains (marula, wild melons, small sour plum and bambara nuts) in Chivi with a service that allows them to connect with potential buyers. Farmers should be able to find offtakers in a timelier manner and buyers find the available products they seek.
During the pilot phase, the digital marketplace should be accessible on any phone, no matter how basic. This will allow marginalized groups such as youth and women to have an equitable means of access to market information and to be autonomous in their activities. The project is looking to support the 2023 buying season during this trial phase, with the idea of extension through a self-sustaining model where farmers and buyers pay-to-participate. If the service indeed manages to link farmers and buyers, the project believes farmers and private sector will be prepared to cover the costs for it post-project.
Farmers should be able to communicate when they have minimum amounts of produce for sale. This information should then be aggregated for buyers to access current information on produce available for sale. When a buyer plans a buying trip, days, times and venues should be communicated to the farmers.
Qualifications and Experience
N/A
How to Apply
The estimated time frame to complete the action is September 2023.
To Apply
Prospective partners should provide a 2-page overview of their company, and their experience and capacity designing and delivering similar systems, as well as a basic cost estimate. The EOI should also include contacts of traceable references highlighting previous experience in developing similar solutions.
Submissions are to be sent via email to: info@bio-innovation.org.
