Expression of Interest (EoI) for Three-Day Training on “Group and Cooperative Production and Marketing Planning” Aligned with Agroforestry Product Buyers’ Demand

Expression of Interest (EoI) for Three-Day Training on “Group and Cooperative Production and Marketing Planning” Aligned with Agroforestry Product Buyers’ Demand

Date of Publication: 13 August 2025

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international humanitarian agency (NGO) based in the United States working to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries regardless of race, religion or nationality. CRS programs in Nepal currently supports four strategic areas, including Homes and communities, disaster risk reduction and climate change, agriculture and livelihood, and anticipatory actions and emergency response. CRS strives to improve livelihood and resilience of marginalized and vulnerable communities by catalyzing innovation, excellence and system strengthening efforts toward improved integral human development. CRS aims to catalyze transformative changes in lives of marginalized and vulnerable households in country through improved access to safe and dignified housing, improved community resilience to disaster, shocks and stresses, and diversified livelihood opportunities, especially to women and youths. CRS Nepal has been instrumental in implementing multifaceted emergency

Based on previous studies to identify potential climate-resilient solutions aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of communities heavily dependent on natural resources, CRS has plan to promote market-based multistory agroforestry value chain model called SPICES (Securing and Protecting Investments & Capacities for Environmental Sustainability). SPICES in Nepal puts the ginger and cardamom value chains in the center as part of its strategy for promoting climate-smart agriculture and resilient livelihood building at vulnerable communities. Though ginger and cardamom are focused value chains, SPICES embraces integrating other crops like coffee, citrus, cinnamon, and broom grass which has strong market demand. These crops are well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions, and they have significant potential to improve income and livelihood opportunities for smallholder farmers. By supporting the cultivation, processing, and marketing of identified value chain commodities, SPICES will help smallholder farmers

CRS, through the SPICES project, plans to establish linkages between producers, cooperatives, and private traders to promote the agroforestry value chain, specifically focusing on ginger, turmeric, and cardamom. In the initial stage, the SPICES project will organize a three-day training for partner staff in Palpa, scheduled for 19-21 August. The trained staff will then facilitate producer groups and cooperatives in preparing production and marketing plans aligned with traders demands. For more details, please refer to the ToR provided in the link below for more detail:

Link: Terms of Reference (TOR) for Three-Day Training

CRS will cover travel costs, including airfare and accommodation. The consultant is requested to submit the trainer’s CV along with the fee and associated costs for the three-day training only.

Required criteria: Mandatory documents to be submitted with EOI

1. Valid PAN or VAT Registration certificate.
2. Curriculum Vitae – CV
3. Copy of Citizenship Certificate
4. Financial Proposal with per day rate for the consultancy period (Justifying that the proposed rate is based on the expertise and experience of the consultant, present market context, previous service engagement with other development/international organization, we would appreciate it if you could share with us few documents and evidence.

Preferred Criteria:

• Experience working with women, youth, and vulnerable and marginalized farmer.
• Individuals or firms with experience working on high-value agroforestry crops, such as ginger, cardamom, and turmeric, are eligible to apply.
• Proven experience in private sector engagement and marketing.
• Strong understanding of household and  group production planning 
• Proven  experience in facilitating training 
• Having  training materials in given subject

EOI Submission email to: np_procurement@crs.org before 1 PM (NST) on 15th August, 2025 (Friday).

Click on the link below for Appendix A:

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1Vb2TFNWxiGpKWCEg_4H6USXn5_NJHY2p