CARE Myanmar

Consultant – Market Study and Value Chain Analysis of Agriculture Commodities

Date 19 May 2023

CARE International in MYANMAR

TERMS OF REFERENCE: Market Study and Value Chain Analysis of Agriculture Commodities

Location of assignment:           Mon State / Remote

Duration of assignment:           Estimated 15 – 20 working days 

Responsible to:                       Sarah Letts (Project Director – GRO Myanmar Project)

CARE International in Myanmar

CARE is an international development and humanitarian aid organisation fighting global poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. As a non-religious and non-political organisation, CARE works with communities to help overcome poverty by supporting development efforts and providing emergency assistance. We believe supporting women and girls is one of the most effective ways to create sustainable outcomes in poor communities.

CARE International in Myanmar’s programs focus on gender-based violence; food and livelihood security; disaster risk reduction; sexual reproductive health rights; peace-building; and policy and law reform in related areas.

Background

CARE International in Myanmar is implementing the Generating Rubber Opportunities (GRO) Myanmar Project, a Market Systems Development (MSD) project. 

GRO intends to develop a more resilient, competitive, environmentally sensitive and inclusive rubber economy in southeast Myanmar through engaging with the public and private market actors, policy makers, international and national think tanks and other relevant stakeholders. The project also focuses on Women’s Economic Empowerment and environmental sustainability.

In its second phase GRO has partnered with farmers for experimentation with integrated farming in rubber plantations, focusing particularly on inter planting of crops to measure resilience to the climate/weather patterns and soil conditions in Mon State, income potential for rubber farmers and impact of inter planting on productivity of rubber trees.  

Recognising that smallholder farmers with limited acreage will experience constrained productive, resource and financial capacity, the project has experimented with a variety of low and high value commodities to also measure input and labour costs, rate of return on investment and income. 

Objectives

The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out a Market Study and Value Chain Analysis of agricultural commodities in Mon State to provide evidence-based information on the viability and income potential of selected commodities existing and potential markets and determine income generation potential for rubber farmers.

The specific objectives are:

  • Review any existing Value Chain Analyses and Market Assessments for specific commodities as follows:
    • Mangosteen
    • Mango
    • Rambutan
    • Durian
    • Pineapple
    • Pomelo
    • Jackfruit
    • Acacia mangium (mangiumcia)
  • Draft an appropriate methodology for primary data collection and develop data collection tools (e.g. market survey, interviews with market actors, key informant interviews) that will be used to conduct the Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis (to be reviewed by CARE). The methodology should specifically consult, and identify opportunities for both women and men.
  • Plan and conduct a Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis focusing on:
    • identification of major local and regional markets
    • assessment of size of markets, volume of sales, markets rates
    • local market structure and enabling environment (e.g. security issues or policies affecting market access)
    • gender representation at all stages of the value chain
    • market actors (consumers, sellers, traders, middle-men, employers) 
    • procurement mechanisms, market requirements (standards, conditions for delivery) and prices, and wage rates
    • Other areas as identified by the methodology and data collection
  • Draft a Market Study and Value Chain Analysis report, which includes an executive summary, weak links of the value chain and practical recommendations that can be used to inform rubber farmers in Mon State on financial viability and income potential of specific commodities.

Outputs

  • Consultation meetings with the project team in Mawlamyine the consultancy
  • Draft report  o Final report  o Cover page o Table of contents
    • List of abbreviations and acronyms 
    • Introduction o Background o Findings and discussion o Conclusion o Recommendation
    • Annexes

Timeline

The consultancy will start on 1st August 2023 and will be completed on 30th September 2023.

Selection criteria

Essential areas of expertise:

  1. Qualifications in marketing or related field
  2. Proven experience conducting market and value chain analysis for agricultural commodities, particularly in Myanmar
  3. Familiarity with Myanmar context and understanding of rural livelihoods in Myanmar
  4. Fluency in Myanmar and English languages

Application

GRO requests that interested parties are requested to submit the following as an Expression of Interest

  • CV/organization profile detailing relevant qualifications and experience as well as information on human resources
  • Examples of previous similar assignments undertaken in the last two years              Indicative Daily rate (in USD)

Expressions of Interest should be sent to mmr.procurement@careint.org  not later than 16th June 2023. Please mention “GRO Value Chain Analysis” in the subject line.