Azerbaijan Republic Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project

Loan No. 8286-AZ

Assignment Title: Business development support to agribusiness value chains

Reference No. B1/CS-5

The Government of Azerbaijan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services include establishing productive partnerships in selected agribusiness valued chains and provision of advisory support for the development of investment proposals by the value chain participants. The component will help agro enterprises, farmers and others to actively engage in the development of commodity value chains by facilitating partnerships between interested partners and partially financing their demand-driven investment proposals.

The Project will contract a firm which will be functioning as the Service Provider for facilitating partnerships in selected value chains and developing proposals for the project investment support. The Service Provider (SP) will be an institution with an established track record in implementing mobilization activities in rural areas, strong expertise in Azerbaijan agribusiness and experience in agribusiness development programs. Functions of the SP will include identification of value chains for the project support, mobilization of interested participants of the selected value chains, establishing the productive partnerships, identification of sub-project and assisting farmers, agro-processors and other value chain participants in formulation value chain development proposals, and providing back up support for implementation of sub-projects.

The SP will carry out analysis to identify competitive value chains to be targeted by the Project. The SPs will identify farmers, processors, input suppliers, operators of post-harvest facilities and others interested in cooperating as partners for preparing and implementing sub-projects which would fund the development of their common value chain. This will be done through information campaigns and/or workshops or other outreach and mobilization tools in selected zones. The SP will assist the value chain participants to establish productive partnerships between interested partners. The assignment will run from September 2015 until November 2018.

The Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: (ı) knowledge and experience in agribusiness development projects and agricultural extension activities; (ıı) specific experience with agri-food value chain development including facilitating linkages of producers with processors and buyers; (ııı) good knowledge of agricultural sector (incl. agribusiness); (iv) a proven record with outreach/mobilization activities in rural areas; (v) experience in developing complex business plans and feasibility studies; (vı) availability of staff with specific expertise in agribusiness development projects (marketing, food safety, etc); and (vıı) experience in Azerbaijan and knowledge of local conditions is highly desirable.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers January 2011 edition  (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.   Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications. In this case of association the roles and responsibilities of each partner should be clearly indicated.  

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality-Based Selection (QBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 18:00.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, by mail or by e-mail) by July 3, 2015.

Project Management Unit/Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project State Agency on Agricultural Credits under the Ministry of Agriculture

 Mr. Zaur Aliyev, Deputy Director-General  80, U. Hajibeyli Str., Government House, Room 803 AZ1000,

Baku, Azerbaijan

Tel: +99412 4937108

Email: [email protected],[email protected]