Events

Create Linkage between certifying bodies and Interested Companies and Associations

Friday, Jan 19 2018

Reporting to: Project Coordinator NEHHPA

Place of assignment: Kathmandu, Dang, Surkhet, and Pyuthan

Reporting Date: 25, JAN, 2018

Contract Period:    21 days    


A.    Background

        Nepal Herbs and Herbal Products Association (NEHHPA)   is an umbrella organization of Nepali herbal collectors, producers, manufacturers and traders in the sector of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), particularly Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs). Established in 2002, NEHHPA now accounts for more than fifty member herbal companies. The main goal of NEHHPA is to promote Nepal’s high-quality herbs and herbal products at the national and international levels and strengthening responsible business through producing and marketing quality products. NEHHPA activities include marketing and networking, business development, capacity building, research and quality assessment and advocating for its member's companies. NEHHPA aims to improve the livelihood and provide farmers with market access to create income opportunities for poor rural households. Therefore, NEHHPA provides necessary support to the rural community for producing and marketing quality products. NEHHPA achieves its goal through conducting various programs, events and activities that are supportive to have extended marketing capabilities of its members as well as the entrepreneurs in this sector.

        NEHHPA has financing agreement to carry out the activities of "Sustainable Business Promotion for Accessing International Market for the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in MAPs Sectors of Nepal Project which is financed Enhanced Integrated Framework/United Nation Office for Project Services (EIF/UNOPS), German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Government of Nepal. On behalf of BMZ, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) to execute the IN-MAPs project. The IN-MAPs project is being implemented in central level in Kathmandu and major activities in its prioritized districts i.e. Banke, Dang, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Pyuthan and Surkhet. The project aims to improve production, processing and marketing practices of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) for their sustainability, strengthen the private sectors and facilitate the MAPs trade in Nepal.
         The value-added products such as organic products have a higher price in European and developed country markets. Collection of wild MAPs was found to be widespread in Nepal, but many farmers still don’t exploit the opportunity of by-default organic products of MAPs that is available in the wild state.  Many farmers still practice the conventional method of either collection or farming and trading in the markets. This practice is not sustainable in the long run as it reduces soil productivity, increases infestation of diseases and pests and even doesn’t fetch a good price of the MAPs products. The organic farming and organic certification of MAPs can foster significant advantages in the sustainable production and marketing of herbs and herbal products. It is expected that the market of the organic market of the organic products is growing globally. There, after the organic products offer trade opportunities for farmers, traders and suppliers especially in the developing countries. Increasing the organic farming opportunities also supports the value chain of MAPs and improves market access in Kathmandu and in the European cosmetics industry. The organic farming is biodiversity-friendly, more resilient from pests and the products give a higher economic return. Increasing the supply of these products as well as developing new natural and organic ingredients will add to family income, create employment opportunities as well as increase the potential for local production and processing of organic products in Nepal. 

        Therefore, there is need to support MAPs cultivators/farmers to aware/orient them about organic certification and about internal control system and its importance in organic certification. It is necessary making aware of the process and documentation to be completed by farmers for applying for organic certification. Besides that, it is also necessary to orient farmers on the procedures to sustain the certification.


B.    Details of Assignment 
1)    Strategy:

       The main objective of this activity is to increase the area of organic certification considering the two IN-MAPs project species that is Cinnamon and Timur of the three IN MAPs project district (Surkhet, Dang and Pyuthan). The Local Resource Persons (LRPs) and the farmers will be oriented about the organic certification and the detailed procedures to be maintained for the organic certification. The consultancy Firm or consultant has to aware and train LRPs for the documentation process and clearly state and orient them about the tasks to be performed. The firm or consultant will work closely with the community forest users groups.  
Following are the details of the assignment. 
The main objective of this activity is to increase the area of organic certification considering the two MAPs species that is Cinnamon and Timur of the three IN MAPs project district (Surkhet, Dang and Pyuthan). The Local Resource Persons (LRPs) and the farmers will be oriented about the organic certification and the procedures to be maintained for the organic certification. The consultancy Firm or consultant has to aware and train LRPs for the documentation process and clearly state their tasks to be performed. 

Following are the details of the assignment. 
1.    Support NEHHPA to develop the criteria for Local Resource Person (LRPs).
2.    Prepare ToR for Local Resource Persons. 
3.    Train the selected Local Resource Persons with the brief of their tasks at NEHHPA office. Train them to prepare the documentation needed to apply for certification. 
4.    Develop internal control system and any documents needed for the certification process.
5.    Assist NEHHPA to finalize the farmers for orientation.
6.    Field visit and Orient farmers and LRPs in the field (one day for each district).
7.    Assist LRPs with frequent communication in documenting the ICS.
8.    Finalize the application and documentation by having a meeting with LRPs.
9.    Prepare the application to be submitted for certifying company.
10.    Submit the application to the certifying company.
11.    Follow up continuously with the certifying company on the progress.
12.    Estimation of the total cost for the certification and send it to NEHHPA.
13.    Take the complete responsibility for the certification process.

Following are the expected results of this assignment:
•    Farmers/cultivators of MAPs and LRPs are oriented on the organic certification process and documentation process needed to certify the products.
•    An application will be filed with the certifying company for organic certification.
•    An internal control system will be developed for three districts.
•    Two products Cinnamon and Timur will be certified in three identified districts.
 

C.    Cooperation

        Discussions/meetings with the government line agencies i.e. District Agriculture Office (DADO) , District Forest Office (DFO) , District Plant Resource Office (DPRO); commodity associations like Nepal Herbs and Herbal Products Association (NEHHPA),  Jadibuti Association of Nepal (JABAN),  Herb Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (HEAN) and Federation of community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), Dang; Sundar Nepal Shanstha and FIDRO Pyuthan, ANSAB local farmers and cooperatives , private entrepreneurs at local level are the stakeholders to provide inputs for implementing the assignment. Specifically, farmers, entrepreneurs, and actors from the MAPs supply chain are the key stakeholders in this activity.

D.    Process:

        Resource Person/Consultant in close consultation with NEHHPA will design the all overall framework. S/he will take the lead on overall assignment. The methodology and materials will be presented to and discussed with NEHHPA and INCLUDE/IN-MAPs team before actual implementation. The resource person/team of a consultant is expected to follow the following methodology: 
•    Prepare training contents for three days to coach LRPs. The training contents/curriculum should be submitted to NEHHPA before implementation. 
•    Prepare the checklists of documents needed to be filled by farmers. Based on the checklist develop the documents/forms and submit to NEHHPA. 
•    Develop orientation content to orient farmers and LRPs at field area. 
•    Prepare application process in close coordination with NEHHPA and after getting permission from NEHHPA filed the application to the certifying company.
•    While field inspection if any document is missed then assist in documentation.
•    At the end, submit the deliverables including the narrative report to NEHHPA.  

E.    Steering: 

        For fulfilling this service, the resource person/consultant will closely work together with the NEHHPA. NEHHPA in close coordination with GIZ/INCLUDE (IN-MAPs) Program team will take the relevant decisions; steer the overall assignment and inform the consultant on due diligence process. Regular updates and interaction on the current status are expected.
    All information collected during this study is to be treated strictly confidential.

F.    Learning and Innovation: 

       The documentation process needed for organic certification will be established and fulfilled which will specify the area to be certified. The internal control system developed will help in keeping the records of farmers. From this assignment, the Timur and Cinnamon will be certified in certain productive areas of Surkhet, Dang and Pyuthan. The knowledge of farmers will be shared with other farmers of other products. Apart from that LRPs will help to assist farmers of other products and transfer the knowledge about organic certification.

G.    Key Requirement of Consultant(s)

        The resource person/consultant will have a responsibility of designing the process and material for the activity in consultation with NEHHPA team and GIZ/INCLUDE (IN-MAPs) team. The resource person/consultant will be responsible for overall coordination and facilitation of the assignment with quality output. The consultant should have:
•    University Degree in Agriculture, Botany, forestry-related natural resource field, and/or equivalent certified degree. 
•    Sound knowledge of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) sector 
•    Having more than seven years of experience in the documentation for organic certification. 
•    Experience in preparing internal control system.
•    Proficient in both English and Nepali
•    Experience in approaching, coordinating and familiarizing with concerned stakeholders is expected.

H.    Timeframe for the consultant

S.N Activities Days
1

Prepare ToR for Local Resource Persons and assist NEHHPA in developing criteria for LRPs.

Prepare training contents and other needed documentation 

Submit ToR and training contents to NEHHPA

4
2 Train the selected Local Resource Persons with the brief of their tasks 2
3 Submit the training report 1
4 Orientation to farmers and LRPs at field 8
5 Orientation report 1
6 Documenting the documents for application and filling the application 4
7 Submit the application 1