Consultancy for Data Analysis and Processing to Establish Farm Level Feedback for Enhanced Production Planning

Terms of Reference

Data analysis and processing to establish farm level
feedback for enhanced production planning

1. Introduction & context

As one of the world’s biggest coffee producers, Vietnam, has a high demand for measuring the adoption of sustainable practices’ to support the local coffee producing community in reaching domestic and international markets with high quality products. That’s why in 2017 and 2018, the Global Coffee Platform (GCP) developed a digital tool named GCP Progress Tool. The aims of this tool is to support adoption of sustainable practices. Over the years, by replicating this tool in coffee regions, we aim to (i) create a database of smallholder coffee farmers in Vietnam, (ii) enhance the transparency in the coffee value chain, and (iii) promote digital management of the coffee sector. The GCP Progress tools covers a set of questions including farm indicators and sustainable practices to assess how far Vietnamese farmers understand and adopt good practices of coffee production, while improving their knowledge of sustainable issues in coffee farming. Additionally, learnings from the information collected will become a source for government’s agencies and coffee actors such as traders and
roasters to provide necessary support for farmers in the areas where gaps exist.and to make their intervention activities more impactful.

Since 2018, with strong support from District People Committee of Di Linh district (Lam Dong province) and Krong Nang district (Dak Lak province), the Vietnam Coffee Coordination Board (VCCB), the Ministry of Agricultutal and Rural Development and in alignment with the

private sector, GCP has successfully piloted and implemented this tool in the Di Linh and Krong Nang districts. The next phase aims toanalyze and interprete the data gathered with the tool and present insights and lessons learned to coffee stakeholders.

2. Objectives of this assignment

a. Analyze data

Since 2018, GCP has piloted and replicated the GCP Progress Tool in 2 districts of Central Highlands. After 5 years of implementation, we’ve gathered information of 6.800 farms in Krong Nang district (Dak Lak province) and nearly 7.000 farms in Di Linh district (Lam Dong province). The consultant will analyze the information available with the GCP tool, based on this the consultant will develop a report presenting strengths, challenges, opportunities of coffee sectors in the 2 districts in particular and make recommendations for the whole Vietnamese coffee sector.

Please see annex 1 for a list of suggested indicators to be analyzed and interpreted.

b. Tailor information package

We suppose that coffee actors (government, traders, roaters, farmers, etc.) require interests and requirements on data aggregation, based on their situation and the findings from given data. Thus, we expect that under this assignment several information packages will tailored and shared to different groups of coffee actors later on.

3. Research methodology

The research is mainly an analysis of the data collected with the GCP Progress Tool in the districts of Di Linh (Lam Dong province) and Krong Nang (Dak Lak province).

Data analysisactivities will include:

• Accessing GCP data resources from the GCP Progress tool for relevant data for use in descriptive statistical analysis;
• Secondary literature on coffee standards and initiatives, institutional context of coffee including review of national initiatives related to coffee, and national level policies and sustainable coffee strategies in Vietnam;
• Interviews with experts in the sector (if necessary).

4. Deliverables and timeline

The deliverables of the research will include:

• A0 maximum 10-page discussion report both in English and Vietnamese, excluding annexes, bibliography and executive summary). Data will be presented graphically in the paper;
• A 2-page summary (both in English and Vietnamese) presenting main results of the report.
• A PowerPoint presentation (both in English and Vietnamese), visually presenting the core findings and data.
• Document with recommendations for potential future uses for the GCP tool.
• 01 debriefing meeting with GCP team

The estimated timeline for the deliverables will be:

5. Documentation of research

It is expected that:

• The consultant will work with GCP staff to determine the appropriate research methods.
• The consultant must make any assumptions in research design explicit.
• The work must undergo a review process that includes internal GCP review. The consultant is expected to meet thedeadlines outlined above, unless the consultant negotiates alternative deadlines with GCP, in which case GCP will revise the TOR to express the new deadlines.

6. Payment

The payment will be madein VND in 02 instalments, 40% as an advance payment after signing of this agreement, 60% after the satisfactory completion of this assignment.

In case the Consultant is an organization or a research institute, the consultant shall invoice the amount to the GCP address according to the following payment terms. If an individual consultant is chosen for this assignment, GCP will withhold 10% of total amount for Personal Income Tax (PIT).

7. Qualifications

The consultant(s) must possess the following essential qualifications:

• A minimum of 10-year experience in data processing and data analysis
• Solid knowledge of agricultural, coffee production
• Experience in database technologies and at least one reporting tool
• Credibility and broad networking with the Vietnamese coffee sector, public and private sectors and key international institutions working in sustainable coffee;
• Ability to work independently, to prioritize tasks and to set schedules to meet specified deadlines
• Proven ability to synthesize complex information to show good judgement and to generate approaches
• High level of computer literacy Excellent written communication skills, including proven ability to write clear and concise documents, including reports, message to share with farmers and briefing documents
• Good written and verbal communication skills in Vietnamese and English;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

8. Submission of proposal

The consultant(s) are expected to submit the Expression of Interest (EOI) in English, including:

• A proposal that sets out detailed methodology, budget and timeline to undertake this research;
• Up-to-date CV(s) of the consultant(s). In case the applicant is an organization, add an up-to-date portfolio of the organization; and
• Examples of previous research undertaken that might relate to this project.

9. Application Deadline

Interested consultant(s) are requested to submit their EOI demonstrating their ability to deliver this assignment based on their qualifications and experience.

The EOI should be sent to Ms. Doan Thi Nhung at [email protected] and/or [email protected] with the title “Consultancy for GCP Progress analysis” by 5pm on 05 August 2021.