Needs Assessment Expert

1. Objective

Tawazon Tabie project is designed to strengthen the resilience of farmers and producers in Lebanon's Bekaa region in tackling climate change. This will be achieved through activities centered around raising awareness, providing education, and providing economic support. The project aims to assist 180 farmers and 120 producers through training programs and provision of equipment and inputs for better access to means of production and practices adapted to climate change. FTL is seeking a national consultant to identify the value chains present in the Bekaa region, and assess their challenges and needs.

First, the expert will conduct a literature review to gather information and data on types of agriculture, various food sectors and primary productions, different production zones, as well as the cultivation and production environment (climate, temperature, etc.), and climate-related challenges. Information will be collected from various sources such as documents from ministries, municipalities in the Bekaa region, UNDP, FAO, and other organizations (international, local, UN agencies, universities).

Second, the expert will draft the questions, and prepare the interviews that will be conducted with farmers and producers in the region to complement the literature review by addressing the challenges and needs of the different food sectors in Bekaa. In collaboration with the expert, Tawazon Tabie team will conduct these interviews with the farmers as well as with key stakeholders in the region such as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Chamber of Commerce, LARI, and experts in the field.

1. Estimated duration of the mission

Desired Period: 9 days between April and May 2024.

1. Deliverables

The assessment should be done in a participatory approach, engaging actively all the stakeholders and partners in Bekaa, and should benefit from previous studies and assessments done to avoid any duplication and build upon existing information.

The expert is expected to:

1. First submit a timetable and an inception report
2. Report the findings of the literature review (supporting documents)
3. Report on the interview outputs (survey and analyses)
4. Develop a map based on the above including:

• Various stakeholders in the agricultural and production sectors open to introducing new crops that are more adapted to climate change and to diversifying their production while reducing non-resilient crops.
• Different types of agricultural land (soil type, climate, etc.)
• Potential climate-resilient crops in the Bekaa region
• Units producing organic and local inputs
• Local nurseries

1. Qualifications

The project partners are looking for:

1. Good knowledge of the agricultural sector and food value chains.
2. Good knowledge of the local context (Bekaa region).
3. A consultant with expertise in needs assessment for value chains in Lebanon.

1. Skills

He or she must have the following qualities and skills:

• • • Significant experience in agricultural development projects.
    • Good understanding of key agricultural and food value chains.
    • Strong pedagogical and synthesis and communication skills.
    • Proven experience in data collection, analyses and needs assessments.
    • Proficiency in the English and Arabic languages as the data collection will take place in Arabic considering the participants' profiles and the reporting in English.

The expert must include the following elements in their technical offer, without being exhaustive:

• Their CV

• Documents attesting to their references and service record

• Justification of the relevance of the methodology to be used

1. Payment terms

• Payments will be made bank fresh cheques
• The price will be paid in USD while the VAT will be paid in LBP based on the official exchange rate on the date of the invoice.
• Payment will be made within 15 business days of invoice receipt.