Consultant for a FEF-R Project ‘Capacity building of the Zambian Department of Forestry in supporting community micro-enterprises in the non-timber forest products sector’

Job description

Request for Proposals

Consultant for a FEF-R Project ‘Capacity building of the Zambian Department of Forestry in supporting community micro-enterprises in the non-timber forest products sector’

Organization: Agronomes & Veterinaires Sans Frontieres (AVSF Zambia)    

Duration of the consultancy: 50 days spread over 8 months

Expected Starting Date: 1^st of September 2026

Budgeted amount: maximum of ZMW 170,000

1. Project Goals and Background

Agronomes & Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF) is a French NGO implementing a project entitled ‘Capacity building of the Zambian Department of Forestry in supporting community micro-enterprises in the non-timber forest products sector’. This project, which is being funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has the following objective:

·      Creation of a training course (content, methods, tools) for agents of the Zambian Department of Forestry adapted to the specificities of SMEs in the non-timber forest product (NTFP) sector.

Against this background, AVSF Zambia is requesting proposals for a consultancy to support the implementation of this project.

1. Objectives

The consultancy will support the design and delivery of training to Forestry Department staff, tailored to equip them with the skills and tools needed to support rural SMEs operating in the NTFP sector. While Forestry Department staff are the direct recipients of the training, the ultimate beneficiaries are rural community members, cooperatives and other community-based enterprises, with particular attention to women and youth, who will benefit from the support and services provided by the trained staff.

1. Scope of Work

·       Component 1: Design of the training course (26 days)

Activity 1.1: Creation of Training content, methods, and materials

1.1.1 Review of existing training materials for rural micro-enterprises (Zambia and sub-region), of the training manuals developed by Bush2Business project and of the syllabus of Copperbelt University and Zambian Forestry College to identify training gaps

1.1.2 Surveys of Forestry Department staff (at District, Provincial and Headquarters levels) and Zambian Forestry College staff to assess expectations, needs, potential difficulties

1.1.3 In collaboration with the Forestry Department and with Zambian Forestry College, and based on training already developed by Bush2Business project, creation of a first version of the training content and materials for business management adapted to community-based enterprises (business plan, basic accounting, administrative aspects, access to financing, investment management)

Activity 1.2: Training, Testing, Adjustments and Validation

1.2.1 Presentation of the training content and materials to the FD staff (HQ, Province and 2 districts) and to Zambian Forestry College to validate the content, the materials, and to collect feedback, validation and adjustments

·      Component 2: Final production of the training materials (12 days)

2.1. Delivery of training to Forestry Department staff from HQs and Province

2.2. Production of training content and final materials for dissemination

·      Component 3: Project Management (12 days)

3.1. Preparation of workplans and reports

3.2. Preparation, participation and reporting of 2 steering committees

4.       Deliverables

·       Deliverables for Component 1

1.1.1.    Consolidated report combining (i) summary of existing training materials with identified gaps, and (ii) capacity needs assessment highlighting potential difficulties and including a list of persons interviewed.

1.1.2.    Report on Validation meeting for the training content and materials organized

·       Deliverables for Component 2

2.1.         Report on Training of FD staff

2.2.         Training content and materials produced for distribution within the FD

·       Deliverables for Component 3

3.2.     Detailed workplan, detailed reports (including end of project report) and minutes of each steering committee meeting.

1. Budget

The proposal should only include the consultant daily fees.

The FEF-R project will cover all the following expenses – upon approval- related to the completion of that consultancy:

–       Rental of venues when necessary (in Lusaka, most of the meetings will be organized at the Forestry Department)

–       Fees related to the organization of the steering committees

–       Accommodation, meal allowance and transport to target Provinces outside Lusaka for the consultant

–       Allowances for Government staff when necessary

–       Transportation for Government staff when necessary

–       Printing fees

–       Necessary stationaries for meetings and trainings

6.    Consultant qualifications and experience

·      At least a Master’s degree in forestry field, rural development, agribusiness, adult education, or a related field

·      At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in rural enterprise development, SMMEs support, value chain development, or community economic development

·      Proven experience in designing and delivering training programmes, including Training of Trainers (ToT), and developing training materials and curricula

·      Experience working with community-based enterprises, cooperatives, or rural micro and small enterprises

·      Experience working with government institutions and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes

·      Strong facilitation, communication, report-writing, and stakeholder engagement skills

·      Familiarity with TEVETA and/or forestry sector institutions will be an advantage.

·      Proven track records of past activities related to the contract (adult training experience in enterprise development and community support)

1. How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications by Email with title ‘Proposal – Technical Facilitator to implement a FEF-R Project’ to the following addresses: c.bwalya@avsf.org and copy to k.mukoma@avsf.org and ophelie.robineau@expertisefrance.fr. 

Applications should include:

• detailed CV,

• a three paged technical and financial proposal (AI-written proposals will be automatically rejected)

Deadline for applications: 10^th of August 2026