National Consultant(s) for Carrying Out an In-Depth Study on Cardamom Producers Social and Organizational Needs in the Province of Lao Cai

IPADE Foundation in Vietnam & Lao Cai Agricultural Extension Center National Consultant(s) for Carrying out an in-depth study on cardamom producers social and organizational needs
1. Background
Fundación IPADE is a Spanish NGO working in 14 countries around the world. The foundation is supporting the implementation of a 4 -year Regional Program on “Biodiversity Conservation and Promotion of Sustainable Economic Activities in Rural Communities depending on National Resources and Living in Fragile Ecological Areas in Vietnam, Philippines and Cambodia - Convenio Asia 07-CO1-032” funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID)
AEC Lao Cai is the Vietnamese Institution. Under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lao Cai Agriculture Extension Center’s mandates include providing guidelines and support to agriculture, forestry and fishery farmers as well as developing rural business. The agriculture extension center activities focus on 5 main sectors as following: (i) Information provision and propaganda; (ii) training, coaching; (iii) establishing models and technologies transfer; (iv) Consultancy and service; (v) International cooperation in agriculture extension. Since 2008, IPADE, in collaboration with SNV (The Netherlands Development Organization) and the Lao Cai Agricultural Extension Center (AEC), has been supporting sustainable development in the cardamom sector in two Northern provinces (Lao Cai and Lai Chau), promoting environmentally sustainable systems of production and systematically supporting the key actors and structures in this product’s value chain.
The final objective of the intervention is to increase incomes of poor cardamom producing families through the development of cardamom business, a better integration of producers along the value chain, the improvement of product’s overall quality and the promotion of environmentally-friendly production techniques that respect protected forests’ regenerative cycle.
Among numerous intervention activities carried out since 2008, a study on “overview of the cardamom value chain in Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province” and another one on “the black cardamom world market and the Chinese market for Lai Chau cardamom” were already conducted. Besides, in order to strengthen vertical linkages among different actors of the cardamom value chain, the Lao Cai cardamom Association has been formulated and supported under support from SNV. Members of the organization include not only cardamom traders but also cardamom producers/processors as well as representatives of local authorities at three levels.
Despite of those actions taken up to date, it is essential to do another in-depth study identifying the needs of strengthening horizontal linkages especially among cardamom producers/farmers in Lao Cai province. It is expected that the study results will come up with recommendations on what can be done and how it should be done for a better integration of producers in the cardamom value chain, which contribute to their competitiveness and bargaining power.
2. Objectives of the Study
This study will provide AEC Lao Cai and IPADE with:
(i) A quick scan of the current cardamom market in Lao Cai province.
(ii) A comprehensive analysis of current situation of cardamom producers in 7 districts of Lao Cai province, which are Sapa, Bat Xat, Van Ban, Bao Yen, Bao Thang, Muong Khuong and Lao Cai city focusing on districts with mayor area and production, which are Sapa, Bat Xat and Van Ban.
(iii) Information on local government’s policies in the line with cardamom sector development
(iv) Recommendations on how to appropriately and effectively support the cardamom producers for a better integration in the market, helping them to improve their negotiation power. Those recommendations will be used for designing the intervention in the next implementing period of the program. Regarding the second output of the study, and considering the recommendations expected for the fourth output, six main quantitative and qualitative information/data groups are expected to include in the final report. Details are below:
(1) Current situation of cardamom producers in Lao Cai province: total area, production, yield, quality, households participating in cardamom cultivation, No., % poverty, % ethnic minorities, etc., how the disaster risks affect the cardamom producers recently?
(2) Information on cardamom harvesting and processing, especially if they are doing those work individually or collectively/in groups.
(3) Cardamom sales at household level: where do producers sell cardamom? To whom? When? At what price? Collectively or Individually? How do they negotiate the price? How is the price information sharing among producers?
(4) Cardamom producers’ incomes as well as credits: Average incomes generated by cardamom production? Who, men or women, control those incomes in the family? What do they use incomes for? Do they have to ask for credits from cardamom collectors/traders? (if yes) why? Types of interest? How do they pay the credits? In kind? In cash? What are the risks? Etc.
(5) Cardamom producers’ difficulties in market access
(6) Needs of being organized in farmers’ groups or cooperatives or farmers networks – different from the official Farmers’ Association, or any other type of organization which could help producers to have a better and more profitable access to the market. What are difficulties and challenges taking into account social and cultural context of mountainous area and ethnic minorities?
3. Approach and Methodology:
IPADE foundation is working in an environmental-friendly and gender-respected way. For that reason, the study team should take in consideration those mainstreaming issues when choosing the methodology and designing tools as well as looking for team members.
The methodology used alongside the study could be: desk research, focus group discussion, semi-structure interviews or any others that are suitable and helpful to collect both quantitative
and qualitative data/information.
4. Geographical Area of the study:
The study will cover the area of 7 districts (Sapa, Bat Xat, Van Ban, Bao Yen, Bao Thang, Muong Khuong and Lao Cai city) of Lao Cai province, especially focusing on those districts with mayor production, which are Sapa, Bat Xat and Van Ban.
5. Expected products:
Final Report in English and Vietnamese (max.20 pages, not including tables and annexes which are, but not limit to, list of cardamom wholesalers in Lao Cai, cardamom collectors/buyers per
district, list of interviewees, questionnaires) with clear and detailed recommendations for orientation and designing of the intervention in the next years is expected to send AEC Lao Cai and IPADE. The reports can be submitted in soft version in both PDF and Word formats via email.
6. Qualifications of consultant(s)
Education: - Master/University level education in a field of economic or equivalent and market service development.
Skills:
- Proven skills in organizational design and institutional strengthening
- Knowledge on value chain approach
- Knowledgeable in marketing and international trading
- Knowledge on Institutional Development and Organizational Strengthening, agriculture/agro forestry in northwest Vietnam as well as related context is an advantage.
Experience:
- At least 3 years experiences on market linkages development.
- Having experience of working in mountainous regions of Vietnam
- Experience in providing consultancy and technical advice in organizational development and institutional strengthening to government or private sector.
Language: - Fluency in written and spoken English and Vietnamese.
7. Application
Interested Candidates are invited to send IPADE and AEC Lao Cai technical and financial proposal together with his/her CV for consideration before 30th October 2011 via: Ana Barreiro (Ms), Vietnam Country Coordinator, Fundación IPADE, S? 10D, Ngõ 11, Ph? Tây H? - Hà N?i, Tel/fax: (+84 4) 3 71 99 758. Email: [email protected]
With copy to:
Lê Tân Phong, AEC director, Tr? s? kh?i VIII, ph??ng Nam C??ng, Tp.Lào Cai, t?nh Lào Cai.
Email: [email protected]