ActionAid Australia

ActionAid Australia is a humanitarian aid agency and currently operates in the Province of Aceh through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in the form of social welfare development cooperation under the Reference Sub-Grant Agreement Nr.59/AEDFF/AAA/VII/2010 aimed to "Improving Competitiveness of Aceh Cocoa Value Chain to Increase Farmers' Income, Create Jobs and Alleviate Poverty". Based on the above-mentioned agreement between the Government of Aceh and ActionAid Australia, AEDFF-MDF provide a grant through the World Bank in Sub-Grant Agreement No.TF.093358/P109024 (70,839,501). Currently ActionAid Australia are seeking a National Market Linkage Consultant. Terms of Reference (ToR) Procurement Consultant Package: AAA-KMG 3.11 National Market Linkage "Improving competitiveness of Aceh cocoa value chain to increase farmers' Income, Create Jobs and Alleviate Poverty" Overall: This project targets interventions along the entire value chain of cocoa farming, including the input, supply, farming management, harvesting/post-harvesting, handling, processing and marketing based on good agriculture practice principles. This process will be supported by an extension service to create a conducive business environment. There are four outputs of the project: (1) Increased quantity and quality of cocoa production in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner; (2) Farmer institutions (primary cooperatives) established and their capacity in management, organization skills and processing techniques developed; (3) Quantity and quality of processing (managed by secondary cooperatives) increased and product development for export improved; and (4) Market linkages along the value chain are improved and Aceh cocoa promoted. The project has supported the secondary cooperative with improved processing facilities including office equipment, drying facilities, storage, grading, cleaning and packaging facilities. Through this support, the secondary cooperative will be able to manage cocoa production in line with international and national standards. A medium scale-processing unit with better storage capacity, drying technology, grading and handling facilities is been established. The unit will have the infrastructure and the capacity to separate the product for national and international markets. These facilities belong to the secondary cooperative at the end of the project. Added-value for the farmers, local processors and traders will be achieved by enhancing market and business linkages. A consultancy service will be engaged to develop the national market linkages for Aceh cocoa through involving the farmers and the cooperatives (Secondary Cooperative). Scope: The aim of this consultancy is to help the farmer initiatives (Secondary cooperative) to market their products in a sustainable way. The focus should be on practical issues, e.g. (1) National market review, (2) promoting "Kakao Aceh" to several national markets/buyers and to establish and link business connections; (3) finding clear requirements of cocoa quality and quantity from the markets/buyers and (4) advising the cooperative on quality improvement of the farmers' cocoa products. Duties: Duties include (but not limited to): 1. Carrying out rapid market survey of fermented and unfermented cocoa in Indonesia. 2. Initiating concrete business contact and establishing linkages between interested buyers and secondary cooperative. 3. Giving support to secondary cooperative to communicate with national buyers. 4. Assessment of marketing channels and methods for promoting Aceh Cocoa Nationally 5. Produce a list of potential importers, manufacturers and processors. 6. Writing a final report. Duration: Expected starting assignment August 16 and to be completed by August 30, 2012. Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Excellent oral and written English communication skills; • A good understanding and knowledge of cocoa marketing and the industry; • Strong analytical skills. Minimum Education and Professional Requirements: • A first degree in Marketing, Agribusiness, Post Harvest Technology or related discipline (master degree is an asset). • At least five (5) years of experience in Cocoa Marketing, or Cocoa Industry, or Research and Development in Cocoa. Applicants are invited to send a letter of introduction to: hr.aaaindonesia@gmail.com. Deadline of Applications: August 13, 2012.