Agri-food (Cocoa) Export Pilot Project Design

A firm will be recruited to design an Agri-food (Cocoa) Export Pilot Project and will be responsible for consulting with stakeholders and designing a pilot project on developing Indonesian cocoa exports, either directly to Australia, or through “powerhouse” linkages, to third markets. The advisory firm will have experience working with large agricultural and food businesses and across agricultural value chains to improve competitiveness and develop trade. The firm will consult with
multiple stakeholders, including national and local government, the business community (including large and small businesses and associations) and academia, and bring a Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) focus to the work.

The advisory firm will have technical knowledge and networks in the Indonesian cocoa industry and have experience with the practical challenges, opportunities, and issues associated with improving competitiveness, productivity, and exports. The overall objectives of the activity are to:

• Prepare a high-level situation assessment that summarises cocoa production, market trends and exports, identifies key stakeholders from the business community and government for engagement, and identifies important issues and impediments impacting the competitiveness of cocoa exports
• Identify opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between Indonesia and Australia to support cocoa export growth by conducting research and interviews with selected key stakeholders and arranging Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
• Develop an Indonesia (Sulawesi) cocoa exports pilot project Activity Proposal in Katalis format, approved by the Katalis management team, for implementation in 2022.

Background

To access the Terms of Reference detailing the role, responsibilities and selection criteria for this position, please click here.

Scope of Services

Under the leadership of the Market Integration Lead Adviser, the firm will:

• Prepare a high-level situational assessment (10-15 pages maximum), draft and final reports that summarise information on recent cocoa production, market trends, forecasts, and exports
• Prepare a list of cocoa value chain participants (in Indonesia and Australia and potentially third markets), such as farmers, processors, exporters and exporter associations, importers and importer associations, and other business associations for engagement during the pilot project and ongoing Katalis business communications
• Identify relevant Government Ministries, local government, and other programs and organisations which have a direct interest in the success of the Indonesian cocoa industry
• Identify important issues and impediments impacting the competitiveness of cocoa exports to Australia and any measures that the government and the business community are now taking or planning in response
• Identify opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between Indonesia and Australia to overcome impediments to growth in profitable cocoa exports that benefit all value chain participants
• Identify and review plans, publications, regulatory reports, and policy statements in designing and implementing the pilot project
• Conduct interviews with stakeholders and desktop research for gaining a deeper understanding of specific issues (e.g., specific impediments or opportunities) of interest
• Collaborate with Katalis to plan, prepare for, and attend two FGDs (e.g., one with value chain firms and business associations and a second with government participants) that will inform the design of the pilot project
• Provide tailored background briefings for Katalis prior to the FGDs and, if requested, contribute to Katalis briefings with government representatives
• Provide documentation used for the two FGDs with cocoa stakeholders to extract insights for drafting of the cocoa pilot project Activity Proposal
• Identify current and potential opportunities in cocoa value chains for female employment and leadership and people with disability
• Consider the current and evolving role of SMEs in cocoa value chains and any market integration implications (e.g., skills) to incorporate in the pilot project design
• Engage with Katalis Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) staff for input and advice on activity development, designing and implementing evaluations and reporting.
• Develop an Activity Proposal (Katalis Activity Proposal template is available upon request) that satisfies the Katalis investment criteria and would help with accelerating cocoa exports from Indonesia (Sulawesi) to Australia and/or other markets.
• Other tasks as requested and agreed with the Katalis Market Integration Lead Adviser.
• The Adviser will work closely with Katalis advisers in conducting the work and Katalis will support in organising the FGDs.

In addition to the activities and tasks specified above, the selected firm will, inter alia, have the following
responsibilities:

• Comply with timelines as agreed in the inception meeting
• Carry out the services with due diligence and efficiency; and
• Exercise such skill and care in the performance of the services as is consistent with recognized professional standards

In addition to these formal responsibilities, the selected firm will be required to comply with all DFAT and Cardno policies, including Child Protection Procedures, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) Procedures. Any contractual offer will require criminal record clearance.

To access the Terms of Reference detailing the role, responsibilities and selection criteria for this position, please click here.

All submissions must be received in electronic copy, each proposal separately, by email to giant.praceka@iacepa-katalis.org no later than Friday, 11 February 2022, at 17.00 (Jakarta time).