Background: MEDA/EMERTA Project
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is an organization dedicated to creating business solutions to poverty. MEDA’s Global Affairs Canada-funded EMERTA project (meaning leaping to a great height in Amharic) has the objective of contributing to increased income and employment opportunities for entrepreneurs and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) focusing on three value chains: rice, vegetables and gemstones.
In the rice sector, MEDA is committed to support MSMEs (rice processors/traders) to improve the business performance and enhance competitiveness through building technical capacity and creating access to finance. One of the key factors that help to improve competitiveness of rice processors in the market is efficient production of improved quality milled rice. To realize this, building MSMEs knowledge and upgrading their skills on quality processing of rice is crucial.
Among other rice value addition interventions, processing/milling function is highly contributing for quality deterioration problems. This is due to various factors such as: the type of processing machines commonly used are old models with poor quality and less efficiency, many of the machines in use are not timely maintained, spare parts are not periodically replaced, machines are operated with unskilled labor, knowledge of machine operation and maintenance is limited and the like.
As a result, the quality of locally processed rice is often substandard which makes it difficult for the local rice to compete with the imported ones. To this purpose, the project plans to organize a training to support rice processing business owners improve their knowledge and skills of machine operation, processing techniques and maintenance. The training is targeted for 50 rice machine operators pulled from Fogera, Libokemkem and Dera Woredas of South Gondor Zone, Amhara Region.
In pursuit of the above, MEDA requires the services of a qualified rice processing machine operation and maintenance trainer.
Objective of the training
The training aims to equip rice processing business owners and their machine operators with enough knowledge and skills on better ways of processing rice and properly maintaining the machines. The training will help to improve the quality of processed rice and pave ways for processors to start supplying table grade quality rice to the market. More specifically the training aims:
- To share information for trainees about types of improved rice processing machines available in the market
- To improve trainees’ skills of processing rice with minimum breakage
- To enhance participants knowledge of the different parts of their machines, enhancing its operation efficiency and become knowledgeable on timely maintenance.
Expected results of the training
- Trainees knowledge and skill on processing, value addition, grading, machine operation and maintenance improved
- Participants skill improved in how to process good quality rice with the machines
- Participants become aware of the importance of upgrading their processing machines, enhancing its operation efficiency and become knowledgeable on timely maintenance.
Scope of work
The consultancy task is expected to achieve the following activities:
- Introduction about the modern types of rice processing machines and how they are different from the old machines currently in use.
- Explanation and demonstration of machine parts, and how to maintain them and keep record of maintenance
- Conduct pre-training assessment and understand the types of rice processing machines currently under use by processors.
- Prepare training manual in Amharic on rice processing machine operation and maintenance, and safety rule for the types of machines processors have
- As of most of the training should be practical, the trainees will be grouped into two with each group having 25 trainees
- Trainer should share plan and sample of training materials 10 days before the training schedule to incorporate feedback timely
- While providing the training demonstrate operating procedures for different processing machines
- The training shall include safety rule and precautions while operating and maintaining the processing machine
- Provide list of maintenance tools that should be available with the processors
- Provide List and timeline of regularly required spare parts replacement (if possible,
- supported with pictures)
Venue and Date
The training will be conducted in Woreta town of South Gondor Zone, tentatively from September 20-25,2019 for six days.
Job Requirements
Required competencies
The consultants /trainer must have:
- Qualifications in one of the following fields, BSc/MScs in agricultural mechanization, processing machine operation, processing machine maintenance.
- Broad experience, preferably five and above years good knowledge and skills on processing machine operation, processing machine maintenance and related subjects
- Experience of working with grass root people in the areas where EMERTA project operates, especially in Amhara Region is an input
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
- Documentation and computers skills and excellent Amharic and English language skills.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should provide the following: –
- Cover letter and current resume/CV. The cover letter must demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of and interest in the subject matter, describe the applicant’s capability for completing the assignment, include a timeline for completing the work, include examples of previous experience with similar activities (maximum two pages).
- In addition, the consultant should submit a sample of training materials in processing machine operation, processing machine maintenance and safety rules use
- Work plan or detail activity plan which shows the number of days
- Financial information in breakdown which includes daily rate/fees and budget to accomplish the task.
** Note
- Please note that MEDA will cover daily perdiem for the required days (as per MEDA’s scale), accommodation and airfare (double trip air transport) and therefore this cost should not be included in the financial breakdowntable as shown below.
- Applicants who doesn’t have renewed business license will be subject to a withholding tax, which is 30% of the contract amount.
- Applicants should clearly indicate, whether their financial projection includes tax or not, (VAT 15% or ToT 10%) and should submit copy of the certificate, VAT registration.
** Evaluation Criteria
- MEDA will use the following to evaluate every proposal submitted.
- Technical proposal – 70%
- Financial proposal – 30%
We will accept expressions of interest until the August 25, 2019. All submissions should be sent to by email [email protected]. Applicants can drop their application and supporting documents to MEDA office at Addis Ababa, Kirkos Sub-City, Woreda-02, House Number 324/33, in person or can contact us through +251114705902/+251114706039/ +251114705945. Applicants may also apply in person to MEDA Bahir Dar office located at Kebele 13 or behind Bureau of Education or you may contact us with +251583206489.
MEDA is willing to answer any questions of the applicants regarding this TOR prior to the submission deadline.
Physical workplan
| No | Description of activities | Days required | Time/Schedule |
| 1 | Conduct pre-training assessment to understand the types of rice processing machines currently under use by processors | ||
| 2 | Submit a sample of Amharic training manual in processing machine operation, maintenance and safety rules use | ||
| 3 | Produce 52 Amharic manuals | ||
| 4 | Provide the training | ||
| 5 | Report submission |
Financial plan
| No | Description of activities | Unit | No of days | No of persons involved | Unit price /daily rate | Total price |
| 1 | Conduct pre-training assessment | Assessment | ||||
| 2 | 52 Manual preparation | Manual | ||||
| 3 | Trainer professional fee | ETB | 6 | |||
| 4 | Assistance trainer professional fee | ETB | 6 | |||
| 5 | Trainers transport as per the receipt | ETB | ||||
| 6 | Trainers accommodation expense | ETB | ||||
| Total | XXXXX |
More Information
- Job City Addis Ababa
