Proposal Writing Consultant(s) for IFAD Funded Projects

1.    Background

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands nearly 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in 38 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organizations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995. Using market-based approach, SNV is committed to reducing poverty by catalysing environmentally - sustainable solutions for the poor in Agriculture, Energy, Water & Sanitation, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.
SNV’s Inclusive Business Accelerator Program (IBA) is the first one-stop shop in Vietnam for various services needed by businesses which include low-income groups in their operation. We use innovative acceleration models to make the businesses investor-ready. Our scope of services including Market Intelligence & Opportunity Identification, Business Design & Readiness, Investor – Investee Match making, Impact Measurements & Scalability.

We currently have clients who need support with project proposals to International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded projects.
IBA is currently supporting a cocoa company to expand their UTZ-certified cocoa plantation areas in selected provinces of Mekong Delta. However, the project proposal will be developedfor Ben Tre province only.

2.    Objectives of the consultant’s work:  

The Consultant(s) is to analyze the background and potential growth of the Applicants and then write the project proposals for them to apply to the IFAD-funded projects.

Detailed description of work:

The Consultant will work closely with IBA members for the proposals.

The Consultants’ work includes:

• Conduct an analysis of applicants so that the Funder can see the following key selling points:
  
  • The improvement of incomes and reduction of vulnerability of rural poor households in the area
  • The project’s benefit distribution within chains, future market prospect and local comparative advantage
  • The sustainability and feasibility of applicants
  • The commercial viability of applicants
  • The applicants’ commitment to impact on livelihoods and rural development

• Develop Project Proposals to submit to IFAD funded projects based on currently-available templates including, but not limited to:
  
  • Executive summary of project, including current obstacles and solutions
  • Analysis of commercial viability of the project including potentiality analysis, market competition, distribution and marketing channel and commercialization
  • Environmental and social impact issues in the proposal
  • A set of expected Monitoring and Evaluation activities covering impact, outputs, activities to achieve indicators to measure applicants’ performance and sustainability
  • The analysis of applicants’ capacity on human resources, finance, cooperation amongst parties
  • Risk analysis and mitigation solutions
  • Short-term and long-term plan to implement the project

3.    Tasks of consultant and time allocation

The consultants are expected to undertake the following tasks, in consultation with the IBA team, during the tentative period from March 01 to April 10, 2016.

4.    Qualifications of Consultant(s)

Essential Qualification:

• Master’s in Business Administration / Finance / Innovation/Economics or related fields;
• Having experience in writing Project proposals;
• Familiar with IFAD-Funded Project’s approach and its requirements for funding applications;
• Familiar with financial guidance and regulations from the Ministry of Finance;
• Experience  in project management using log-frame  approach, social impact assessment;
• At least 5 years of experience working in rural financial services, and market and value-chain investment;
• Having expertise/knowledge in cocoa value chain;
• Having experience in finance and budgeting;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.

Desirable Experience:

• Ten years’ experience in Programmes for SMEs;
• Managerial Strategy Development experience with Private Sector;
• Consulting experience in developing Innovative Business / Market Development initiatives for SMEs;
• Experience in rural trade enterprises and value-chain entrepreneurs.

5.    Outputs and deliverables:

The consultant(s) needs to deliver the following outputs in both Vietnamese and English:

• Full sets of grant (or loan) applications to IFAD funded projects in accordance with their provided formats and templates including:
  
  • The summary of applicant’s idea and current obstacles, description of business model and planned solution/s;
  • The analysis of the applicants’ capacity in project implementation (background, human resource, business capacity, competitiveness) based on currently available information to be provided by SNV and the consultant’s meetings with the applicants and working with the applicants to produceall documents required by IFAD-funded projects;
  • The budgeted financial plan including fixed and variable cost, R&D cost, expected revenue and profit, future cash flow and payback period; 
  • The technical analysis of the business value chain fromthe management of raw material inputs to the sale of products;
  • The comprehensive project proposals to submit to IFAD funded projects;

• Submitting the proposals by email with scanned full set of application as required by IFAD funded projects, in addition to hard copies in accordance with IBA guidance;

• Collection of all needed documents needed for the application, such as company profile, certified business registration, financial reports and other reports as a part of IFAD application.

6.    Templates

6.1.    Financial Analysis Template
6.2.    AMD Proposal Template
6.3.    IFAD funded projects Activities Plan, Procurement and Budget
6.4.    Full set of application forms from Funders (to be provided to the appointed Consultants)
6.5.    Check list of deliverables (to be provided to the appointed Consultants)
6.6.    Progress report and work plan measurement (to be provided to the appointed Consultants)
6.7.    Scoring sheet to measure the proposal’s merits versus IFAD requirements (tobe provided to the appointed Consultants)

7.    Application

Consultant(s) are invited to submit a competitive proposal for this assignment, including:

7.1.    Technical proposal to conduct the assignment (understanding, team structure and profiles, summary approach, and draft work plan should be included);
7.2.    Financial proposal;
7.3.    Relevant qualifications and past experience, including CVs and at least 3 references.

Please submit your proposals and questions to: [email protected] by March 1, 2016 with the title “Proposal Writing Consultant(s)for IFAD-funded projects”.