Farmer Field Schools Expert in Lebanon

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Farmer Field Schools Expert in Lebanon

GREEN&FAIR: employability and entrepreneurial capacities in ecologically relevant sectors for women and youth from vulnerable communities in Egypt Lebanon and Palestine funded by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)
 

COSPE is looking for an expert to provide TOT (training of trainers) to members of Fair Trade Lebanon as a part of the implementation of Farmers Field Schools (FFS) in the project "GREEN&FAIR: Employability and Entrepreneurial Capacities in Ecologically Relevant Sectors for Women and Youth from Vulnerable Communities in Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine," funded by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

The selected expert will implement a ToT on the FFS methodology. This will include a focus on sustainable agricultural practices, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), eco-friendly production techniques, agroecology, soil management, and organic farming.

Background

The leading organization
COSPE is a private, secular, and non-profit association established in 1983. It operates in 23 countries around the world with about 80 projects, alongside thousands of women and men for a change that ensures equitable and sustainable development, respect for human rights, peace, and justice among peoples. COSPE works for the construction of a world in which diversity is considered a value, a world of many voices, where the encounter enriches everyone, and where social justice is achieved through the access of all to equal rights and opportunities. COSPE has been engaged in the southern Mediterranean country for several years, focusing on gender equality and women empowerment, promotion of economic and social rights, and support of cooperatives and small enterprises.

The partners

1. Fair Trade Egypt Foundation (Egypt)
2. Fair Trade Lebanon (Lebanon)
3. ACAD - Arab Centre for Agricultural Development (Palestine)
4. The Lebanese Association for Development - Al Majmoua (Lebanon)
   Project duration: 12 months
    

Project description
"GREEN&FAIR: Employability and Entrepreneurial Capacities in Ecologically Relevant Sectors for Women and Youth from Vulnerable Communities in Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine", funded by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), aims to enhance income-generating opportunities for vulnerable women and youth by developing their skills in sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship. The 12-month project focuses on empowering participants to adopt socially and environmentally sustainable practices aligned with Fair Trade principles, fostering a green transformation in local economies.
The overall objective is to improve employability and entrepreneurial capacities in ecologically relevant sectors, while the specific objective targets the enhancement of sustainable agricultural practices among women and youth, including refugees and migrants. The intervention focuses on delivering technical capacity-building for at least 60 women and young agricultural producers in Lebanon through the Farmers Field School (FFS) methodology. The goal is to enhance their skills in sustainable agricultural practices, such as agroecology, organic farming, and Fair Trade principles. Participants will engage in practical, participatory learning sessions in demonstration plots, covering topics like soil management, pest control, and climate adaptation. The training promotes peer-to-peer learning, environmentally sustainable techniques, and better resource management. Additionally, the project aims to promote Fair Trade standards, enabling producers to improve market access through fair and sustainable production methods. The action will support the development of a regional network of Fair Trade organizations, promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange across Palestine, Egypt, and Lebanon to strengthen market integration and advocacy for sustainable agriculture.

Objective of the Consultancy

The consultant will be responsible for designing, organizing, and delivering Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions on the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) methodology for approximately 10 participants. The training will equip participants to effectively implement the methodology with beneficiaries in the field, fostering knowledge exchange and practical application. The total amount of this consultancy is 3,000 Euros. In designing the training programme, it should be borne in mind that in the specific area, the practising crops are:

1. Tomato
2. Cucumber
3. Lettuce
4. Fava beans

   The consultant will ensure the training materials and sessions are tailored to address the specific needs and priorities of the target groups.
   The maximum budget for this consultancy is 3,000 Euros.

Methodology

The Farmers Field Schools (FFS) methodology is a participatory and experiential learning approach that emphasizes peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. Originally developed by the FAO and adapted to various contexts, this methodology fosters active engagement and practical learning among beneficiaries.
To ensure the successful training of facilitators, the following optimal requirements for the FFS expert are outlined:

Technical Competence:

• Knowledge of Agroecological and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP): Expertise in sustainable farming methods, including organic farming, permaculture, crop rotation, biological pest control, and composting.
• Fair Trade principles: knowledge of the values ​​and principles of Fair Trade certification, accreditation, and standards and the ability to explain them to participants.
• Climate Change Adaptation:  Knowledge of climate-resilient farming practices and techniques to mitigate the impacts of climate change on small-scale farming
• Food Security and Sovereignty: A deep understanding of these concepts and their application in local contexts.
• Soil and Water Management: Expertise in techniques for improving soil health, composting, and conserving water, particularly in areas facing water scarcity.

  Experience with farmers and vulnerable communities

Given the project target groups, the expert should have experience working with:

• Smallholder Farmers: Awareness of the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Lebanon, including limited access to resources, markets, and technical support.
• Vulnerable Communities: Experience in working with vulnerable groups such as women, youth, refugees, and migrants, with an understanding of their specific needs and challenges in agricultural activities.
• Local Context Awareness:  Knowledge of local farming conditions, environmental issues, and socioeconomic factors that affect farming communities in Lebanon and Palestine.

Training
The expert must have prior experience conducting agricultural training courses or capacity-building workshops using the FFS format.

Organizational and planning skills

• Session Planning: Proficient in planning and organizing field sessions, which includes selecting training topics, arranging field plots for experiments, and managing all logistical aspects.
• Curriculum Development: Experienced in developing or adapting training programs to address local needs and specific agricultural challenges.
• Evaluate and analyze trainees' performance and understanding of topics using relevant pre- and post-tests.
• Submit timely reports on post-training for each session conducted
• Submit training and activity reports.

Experience with FAO FFS methodology

• Knowledge of FFS: Experience with or facilitating a FAO Farmers Field School is essential.

Gender sensitivity and social inclusion

• Gender awareness: The expert must possess a deep understanding of gender issues, promote women’s leadership in agriculture, and ensure that gender equality is a fundamental component of the training.

Timeframe and location

The ToT, consisting of six sessions, on the field and in the office, must be implemented in February 2025.
Project location: Damour - Rmaileh region.

Qualifications and experience requirements

• A degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Certification or training in sustainable farming practices, and agroecology, is essential.

• At least 5 years of experience in training and coaching, with a specific focus on delivering Training of Trainers (ToT), particularly in sustainable agriculture or rural development.
• Knowledge of Fair Trade principles
• Proven experience working with agronomists, farmers, and agricultural cooperatives, preferably in Lebanon or similar contexts.

• Farmers Field School (FFS) course attendance.
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with the ability to engage agronomists and farmers in participatory, hands-on learning.
• Knowledge of the Lebanese agricultural sector and its challenges, including access to markets and sustainable production methods.
• Excellent communication skills in Arabic and English (both written and spoken).

How to apply
Anyone interested can apply by submitting the following documents via email to Rania Njeim at rania.njeim@cospe.org

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover Letter highlighting your experiences and knowledge related to the Farmer Field Schools Methodology

Please note that the maximum budget for this consultancy is 3,000 Euros.

The selection process is ongoing, but please note that it may close earlier than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is identified. Therefore, we encourage interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Please also be advised that only candidates who are shortlisted for the next stage of the process will be contacted. If you do not hear from us, it means that your application was not selected.

Payment
The payment for the expert will be structured in tranches, linked to specific milestones to ensure alignment with project deliverables. An initial payment of 30% of the total contract value will be made upon signing the contract, allowing the expert to cover preparatory costs, such as planning and material development. A second tranche, comprising 30%, will be released after the successful completion of the initial training sessions and submission of progress reports that detail participant feedback and progress.
Following the completion of all training sessions, a further payment of 40% will be made, contingent on the delivery of all planned activities and the provision of a comprehensive training report.

Exclusion criteria

• Submission Deadline:
• Applications submitted after the deadline of 30th January 2025 will not be considered.
• Knowledge of FFS Methodology:
• Applicants who do not demonstrate sufficient knowledge or expertise in the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) methodology will be excluded from the evaluation process.