Expert in preparation of technical guidelines on Crop Rotation importance (Re Launch)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Expert in preparation of technical guidelines on crop rotation importance

(Proc. Ref.: C8/2019)

Country:                     Republic of Lebanon

Project Name:            Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL)

Loan No./Grant No.: C-AF-1-LB

Assignment Title:       Expert in preparation of technical guidelines on crop rotation importance

Reference No.:           C8/2019 – CQS (Individual Expert)

(as per Procurement Plan)

The Republic of Lebanon represented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has received a Grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) toward the cost of the Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this Grant for the recruitment of Consulting Services provided by an Individual Consultant: as part of the Post of Expert in preparation of technical guidelines on crop rotation importance for the Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI).

The objectives of this assignment are:

The main tasks under this consultancy include:

• Desktop review of existing literature, articles, and reports related to crop rotation, its challenges, principles, impact of climate change and role in adaptation to climate change, etc.
• Interviews with experts in the field (LARI, ICARDA, Academic institutions, Ministry of Agriculture, etc.) and farmers in major production areas (Akkar, Beqaa) to depict the current practices, success stories, advantages and challenges of the crop rotation of different agriculture systems (see below)
• Guidelines preparation

The Ministry of Agriculture now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Bachelor agriculture engineer in plant production or protection, soil fertility management, integrated pest management or related fields. A PhD in any of those fields is a plus (20 points).
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in activities related to crop production, plant protection, soil management, adaptation to climate change, or related fields (45 points);
• Proven knowledge in agriculture systems of Lebanon (field crops or greenhouses) (10 points)
• Demonstrated ability to plan and conduct and interpret research results through publications in ISI peer-reviewed scientific journals (10 points);
• Excellent time-management skills (5 points);
• A collaborative and team-oriented approach to work (5 points);
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (5 points).

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to IFAD’s policy on conflict of interest situations that must be avoided as described in IFAD’ Project Procurement Guidelines – September 2010.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualifications Selection (CQS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Guidelines – September 2010.

Further information can be obtained at the email address [email protected] during office hours 08:00 – 15:00.

Expressions of interest in the form of Curriculum Vitae (CV) must be delivered in a written form to the email address [email protected] with the job title in the subject not later than December 7^th, 2021. The top-ranked consultant will be invited to submit a technical and financial proposal.

Terms of Reference

Name of the consultancy services: Expert in preparation of technical guidelines on crop rotation importance

Proc. Ref.: C8/2019

1. Background of the Project

The Adaptation Fund Board approved in June 2012 the Full Sized Project Grant entitled “Climate Smart Agriculture: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of the Rural Communities in Lebanon (AgriCAL)” submitted by IFAD. The Project aims to increase community resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change in the Project Area. The objective of the Project is to support the implementation of climate change adaptation measures in the agriculture sector in the Project Area through four components: (i) increased water availability and efficient use through water harvesting and irrigation technologies; (ii) increased adaptation to climate change for crop production; (iii) increased resilience of shepherds and small ruminants to climate change through sustainable rangeland management; and (iv) climate index insurance initiated, policy influenced and lessons learned and shared through a knowledge management system.

2. Scope of the work and expected outputs/deliverables

Agriculture is affected with the impact of climate change. Besides adopting new resilient crop/variety, integrated pest management, and soil management practices, crop rotation can help in mitigation or even build resilience to climate change. In order to realize this, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Green Plan and LARI scientists with the support of IFAD are working for having a technical guideline on crop rotation.

The main tasks under this consultancy include:

• Desktop review of existing literature, articles, and reports related to crop rotation, its challenges, principles, impact of climate change and role in adaptation to climate change, etc.
• Interviews with experts in the field (LARI, ICARDA, Academic institutions, Ministry of Agriculture, etc.) and farmers in major production areas (Akkar, Beqaa) to depict the current practices, success stories, advantages and challenges of the crop rotation of different agriculture systems (see below)
• Guidelines preparation

The expert shall deliver a document with the necessary illustrations and outreach information covering the following aspects:

• Impact of climate change on crop rotation and the role of crop rotation in adaptation to climate change
• Principles of crop rotation
• Main constraints towards the application of crop rotation in Lebanon, and how to overcome those challenges (socio-economic, climate change, and natural resources aspects)
• Major suggested crop rotations and their respective guidelines in Lebanon according to the cropping pattern and agriculture systems, based on available literature, studies and expert opinion:
  • In greenhouses (vegetables mix)
  • In open field in Akkar and in the Beqaa for irrigated crops
  • In open field in Akkar, south Lebanon and Bekaa for rainfed crops

The consultant shall submit the following deliverables:

Deliverable # 1: First Draft

The consultant should submit the first draft to AgriCAL Project Coordinator and LARI focal point for approval. They have five (5) working days to send their comments to the Consultant.

Any changes in the draft content at any stage of the assignment should be submitted to the PCU for AgriCAL Project Coordinator.

Deliverable # 2: The Final Guideline

The Final Guideline submitted by the consultant shall not be protected by copyright and it will become the intellectual property rights of LARI

3. Time Frame

The assignment shall begin upon contract signature.

The Consultant shall work in close coordination with AgriCAL Coordinator and LARI focal point and scientists. The Consultant shall submit in English the guidelines to the Ministry of Agriculture in three hard copies each in color and one digital copy according to the following time frame:

- First draft # 1: maximum Two (2) months after the beginning of the assignment.

- Final guideline # 2: maximum Six (6) months after the beginning of the assignment.

4. Expert qualifications and profile

• Bachelor agriculture engineer in plant production or protection, soil fertility management, integrated pest management or related fields. A PhD in any of those fields is a plus (20 points).
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in activities related to crop production, plant protection, soil management, adaptation to climate change, or related fields (45 points);
• Proven knowledge in agriculture cropping systems of Lebanon (field crops or greenhouses) (10 points)
• Demonstrated ability to plan and conduct and interpret research results through publications in ISI peer-reviewed scientific journals (10 points);
• Excellent time-management skills (5 points);
• A collaborative and team-oriented approach to work (5 points);
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English (5 points).