Cotton Value Chain Consultant Full-Time

Description

Background:

TechnoServe is a US-based non-profit organization which works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. TechnoServe has been operating in Mozambique for 20 years, and is well known for its work in developing inclusive agricultural value chains such as cashew nut, poultry and soy, as well as working with urban entrepreneurs.

Women IN Business (WIN) is a program launched by TechnoServe and the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in 2018. WIN seeks to help women in Mozambique become more economically empowered by developing high-potential growth sectors where women can benefit. WIN works with carefully-selected partners who can positively influence the lives of women and women entrepreneurs through their roles in the private sector. The program is applying a market systems development (MSD) or making markets work for the poor (M4P) approach, addressing system-level constraints for gender-transformative impact on the lives of women.

WIN is currently seeking opportunities with partners in the textiles and garments sector, due to its high potential for women. WIN provides time-bound, technical support to partner organizations to develop new ways of working that improve the partner business and the lives of low-income women. Partners also contribute some of their own resources into shared initiatives, sending a clear signal of their intent to sustain improved ways of working well into the future.

Objective and Scope:

The objective of this assignment is to:

• Evaluate the potential for development of artisanal and/or industrial downstream production of cotton lint into yarn and fabric in Mozambique, in a way that clearly benefits women;
• Identify partners and stakeholders with a clear incentive to bring this vision to life;
• Provide a road map for implementation

Note that WIN has already conducted a preliminary market assessment that found this sector to be favorable to the WIN program objectives. The current assignment would build on this by bringing specific industry knowledge and a road map to implementation.

Activities

The Consultant will be expected to conduct the following activities:

1.Assessment of the potential for the development of artisanal and/or industrial downstream production of cotton to benefit women

• Use of the consultant’s own knowledge of the sector to clearly identify the requirements for downstream production to be successful;
• Review of success stories from other countries with semblance to Mozambique including Ethiopia (artisanal production) and Uganda (industrial production);
• Discussions with stakeholders within Mozambique: cotton ginners, investors, government stakeholders, existing textile and garment manufacturers;
• Critically assess and review the current environment compared with the necessary conditions;
• Clearly articulate the roles that women can play in a more developed textiles sector.

2. Describe and prioritize the most viable partners and initiatives to develop the sector in a way that will provide inclusive growth for low-income women

• Identify partners who could play a role in downstream production (manufacturers, stakeholders, potential investors). Conduct meetings and review to critically assess and review their capacity and willingness to engage with WIN;
• Describe the potential initiatives in detail, including the potential partners, investment required, market / clients, competition, the way that women would be engaged and benefit, and the critical assumptions behind the initiative;
• Prioritize the initiatives based on an assessment of the feasibility, and the potential impact on low-income women.

3. Provide written report with implementation plan and next steps

The written report should cover:

• Partners to engage, inside and outside of Mozambique;
• Financial contributions required;
• Gender strategy and approaches to ensure women can both access and benefit from the development of the sector;
• Environmental considerations and green growth;
• Risks and mitigation plans.

The final report should be delivered as either a word document of c. 20-30 pages or slide presentation of equivalent length.

Proposed Timelines and Deliverables

The expected time period is a total of 8-10 weeks, between January and April 2019.

A draft report should be submitted to the WIN program team four weeks prior to the end of the assignment. The final written report is due at the end of the assignment.

Remuneration

The consultant will be paid a daily rate, plus any expenses which will be reimbursed separately and subject to TechnoServe policy as applicable (this includes maximum per diems, economy-class airfares and preferred suppliers for hotels).

Selection criteria

Consultants will be evaluated on the following criteria, assessed through the Consultant’s proposal and subsequent interview with WIN team.