TERMS OF REFERENCE Job Title: Duty Station: Project Reference: Type of Contract: Duration of Assignment: BACKGROUND The Improving

Trade and Productive Capacities of Moldovan Fresh Fruit Producers project is funded by the Aid for Trade regional initiative and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova, in collaboration with Moldovan Investment and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO). The project helps fresh fruit producers and exporters to improve their international competitiveness and market access externally, both in the CIS and in the EU markets. The Project focuses on the promotion and pilot implementation of new technologies and practices that have the greatest potential to address the needs of the fresh fruits sector in terms of (1) improving product quality, (2) insuring product safety, (3) reducing unit costs and (4) increasing product shelf life. At same time, it provides tailored trainings on various topics that will contribute to better implementation of modern technologies, increased export capacities and knowledge of foreign markets, improved communication and negotiation skills, among others. It also supports the producers and exporters to participate to international and regional trade fairs and exhibitions, so that to promote local produce and get into direct contacts with producers and exporters of similar commodities and technologies from other countries and regions. In order to meet its overall goal, the Project announces a competition for individual national experts to develop a comprehensive register of fresh fruit producers and exporters from the Republic of Moldova. Such register, as described below, would further increase the visibility of national producers and exporters, promote business contacts, increase and diversify exports. CONTEXT The fresh fruits segment in the Republic of Moldova is one important and dynamic contributor to the overall value generation in agriculture and agri-food business. The segment is represented by a myriad of small and medium sized companies that can hardly withstand competition from abroad and that require further support for reaching higher degrees on National consultant to develop the register of fresh fruit producers and exporters from the Republic of Moldova Chisinau, Moldova Improving Trade and Productive Capacities of Moldovan Fresh Fruit Producers Individual Contract (IC) Up to 15 working days during October-November, 2013

association and cooperation to compete and survive. The existing professional associations of fresh fruit producers regularly update the lists of their active members, but the collected information is unfortunately insufficient for the Project, the associations and individual producers to conduct further research on the current and prospective needs of the segment, for further promoting diversification in terms of production and export markets, for better connecting potential partners from abroad and existing local companies. Unfortunately, such a comprehensive register was not yet produced in similar previous projects, due to the fact that this is a time-consuming task and not all small sized producers are willing to cooperate, partially due to still high degree of informality in the segment. SCOPE OF WORK The main goal of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive register with the main producers and exporters in fresh fruits that would contain updated information on key business variables related to quantities, quality and price of the fresh produce for internal and external markets. The value added of such register consists of: a) it will include detailed and consolidated information on producers and production, including data on quantities and quality estimated by the individual producers; b) data shall be provided for at least 100 producers and exporters in fresh fruits; c) such information shall be public and available to producers, professional associations of producers and exporters, potential business clients and importers from abroad; d) such register would increase the visibility of the individual producers, the entire segment, promote business contacts for the benefit of Moldovan producers and exporters, increase the visibility of the Moldovan fresh produce; e) promote the cooperate of small producers for export; f) ultimately it would promote the exports in fresh fruits from the Republic of Moldova to diversified target markets. The register would include the following broad categories of data: infrastructure-related information (overall surface, surface by type of orchard, by commodity, to also include data on existing technological endowments such as anti-hail systems, irrigation, etc.); productionrelated data (including overall harvesting by key commodity, quality of the fresh produce, etc.); sales/export-related data (key markets for sales/export, price and price-related conditions, etc.). Data shall be validated at the level of the existing professional associations of fresh fruit producers and exporters. KEY EXPECTED DELIVERABLES The below key deliverables are envisaged by the current consultancy: Deliverable Develop a tailored complex questionnaire, to include broad categories of data, key related indicators and validation mechanisms Connect to the existing professional associations to overtake the existing lists of producers with key contact details Validate the questionnaire with the producers and associations and fine-tune it in line with the needs and constraints of the respective segment Collect relevant data and validate it at the level of the associations Consolidate collected data in one single register and submit Due date 30 October 2013

5 November 2013

8 November 2013

22 November 2013 29 November 2013

the final version to the Project (the register shall be presented in English, Romanian and Russian) METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH The national consultant shall collect and consolidate collected data from individual producers following the below key steps: Develop a tailored complex questionnaire, to include broad categories of data, key related indicators and validation mechanisms Connect to the existing professional associations to overtake the existing lists of producers with key contact details Validate the questionnaire with the producers and associations and fine-tune it in line with the needs and constraints of the respective segment Collect relevant data and validate it at the level of the associations Consolidate collected data in one single register (in English, Romanian and Russian)

The national consultant shall make best usage of the existing fragmented lists of producers and exporters in fresh fruits. No travel missions are envisaged by the current TOR. Data shall be collected via available communication channels. Some data could be retrieved directly from the existing professional associations of fresh fruit producers and exporters. CONTINGENCY PLANS In undertaking the above methodological steps, the national consultant shall consider the existing constraints in collecting, validating and consolidating data on fresh fruit producers and exporters. In particular, such constraints derive from informality still present in this segment to asymmetries of information related to available quantities, price and price conditions and limited data on market prices for exports to the key markets, among others. The consultant shall be prepared to implement contingency plans, so that to overcome such risks and limitations. Taking into consideration the above, the technical proposal of the applicants shall contain a specific chapter related to such contingency plans. ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING The consultants will work under direct supervision of UNDP Policy Unit and UNDP Aid for Trade Project Manager. Technical assistance and logistical support to the consultants will be provided in the framework of the Aid for Trade Project. The Ministry of Economy/MIEPO and the two existing professional associations of fresh fruit producers and exporters will provide necessary assistance in the facilitation of the consultative process, liaising with relevant public actors, among others. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED University degree in Economics, Agriculture or other relevant fields; At least 5 years of proven experience in working in the local agri-food business; In-depth knowledge of the Moldovan fresh fruit segment; Ability to interact with local producers and associations in fresh fruits segment; Skills in analyzing, generalizing, and systematizing information; Excellent communication and teamwork skills;

Knowledge of Romanian, Russian, and English is requested.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Contractors performance will be evaluated against timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and overall quality of the delivered products. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS Payments will be disbursed in at least two instalments, upon submission and approval of deliverables mentioned in the Section Key expected deliverables and certification by UNDP Project Manager that the services have been satisfactorily performed.