Agricultural Cooperative Assessor

About Chemonics
Chemonics International is an international development company based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to promote meaningful change around the world to help people live healthier, more productive and more independent lives. Since 1975 we have worked in 149 countries around the world, and currently implement 113 contracts in 68 countries. Our main partner is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), but we occasionally work with foreign donors as well. We have over 600 staff based in our Washington, DC office and over 3000 staff in our project offices around the world.

USAID/Lebanon Community Support Program (CSP)
This 5 year project aims to support municipalities and underserved and vulnerable communities in providing better services and enhanced economic opportunities to improve lives and reduce tensions that contribute to conflict and violence in Lebanon. We’re a regionally based program, based in Beirut with activities in Bekaa, North, and South Lebanon. Chemonics is the sole owner of the Lebanon Community Support Program IDIQ contract. We currently have two Task Orders. Task Order 01 (which covers Operations and Management) and Task Order 02 (covers our technical community support work). We may be awarded more task orders in the future.

1.  Objectives, Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of CSP’s support to women members of the cooperative is to grow their potential in making preserves and dairy products to enhance their livelihoods and engage them with the local market in Fissane.

• Visit the cooperative to asses its current situation and the general economic feasibility of its activities, namely production of preserves and dairy products
• Evaluate the cooperative’s physical space and advise on needed equipment for its sustainable development into a lucrative model for its members
• Assess the cooperative’s needed measures to abide by food safety and hygiene standards as well as provide basic training for existing members
• Provide CSP with specifications of machinery and equipment to be purchased with projected plans for equipment for follow-on interventions in Fissane
• Recommend next steps for programming noting the activity objective for growing the cooperative’s membership base and scope of activities 

2.  Specific deliverables:

• Detailed assessment of cooperative’s current state, including compliance with food safety and hygiene standards
• Detailed assessment of needed equipment with specifications to kickstart CSP’s procurement processes
• Full report on prospective challenges, feasibility, hygiene/food safety, and utility of equipment with recommendations for strategic expansion and development of the cooperative

3.  Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant expert area such as agricultural engineering, agribusiness, economics, finance, or agricultural development.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in grassroots cooperative model analysis and/or agro-development.
• Extensive knowledge in agricultural equipment, preserve-making, and dairy products, with strong preference for Beqaa-centered experience   
• Ability to analyze details, report, develop, and present recommendations to promote agro-development using problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills, reasoning skills and ability to articulate ideas in written form
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English required.

4.  Level of Effort and Period of Performance

This assignment will take place from March 18 to April 1. The consultant will work on a part-time basis and will be eligible for up to 7 days of LOE during the period of performance.

1-2 days: assessing needs for coop’s technical equipment, defining specifications

1 day: assessing feasibility/financial aspect of managing and sustaining the cooperative

2 days: schematizing operations, food hygiene and safety standards

1-2 days: write report with projections, recommendations, and next steps with well-documented and detailed suggestions for equipment

5.  Place of Assignment

The assignment will entail visits to cooperative’s space in Fissane Valley, Hermel District, Baalbek/Hermel governorate.

6.  Reporting

The agricultural cooperative assessor will report directly to the Regional Program Manager in Beqaa.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment based on their qualifications without discrimination.