UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

GREEN TRADE INITIATIVE (GTI)

Project number SAP 100089
Terms of reference (TOR) UNIDO/GTI Improving the quality of Pomegranates production in
Assuit and Noubaria areas
Deadline: 15th April 2016
Scope of work: Providing technical assistance to small and medium size pomegranate producers to
improve the quality of production and increase their integration into the local/export
value chain accordingly.
1. Project background Information
In the last decade, UNIDO has supported several initiatives to develop the Egyptian agribusiness
sector. UNIDOs past projects in this field provided detailed insights into the challenges, bottlenecks
as well as hidden opportunities of the agro-industrial sector in Egypt. Bottlenecks identified include
the disconnection between primary production and further processing, low degree of value addition,
high post-harvest losses as well as lack of technical knowledge and market information.
UNIDO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and SMEs, is addressing these
bottlenecks, using a number of innovative tools aiming at improving the capacities of producers to
increase productivity, quality, compliance and value addition, strengthening the linkages of value
chain and supporting clusters and producers groups, as well as enhancing access to international and
domestic market.
The Green Trade Initiative, funded by the Egyptian-Italian Debt Swap for development Program, is
meant to increase trade levels by enhancing exports of quality agro Egyptian produce towards the EU,
through Italy.
The Project components are:
1) Quality: Creation of an Egyptian quality and monitoring system for production and export of
high-value fresh agro produce, and increase its volume
2) Logistics: Integration and strengthening of logistics and transportation infrastructures
3) Finance: Funds mobilization and increased investment in agriculture and
4) Market access: By guaranteeing a stable presence in target EU markets and continuous direct
access to market information and innovation
2. Activity Background information
Pomegranate is historically the most important cultivated horticulture crop (mainly small & medium
producers) in Assuit Governorate (El-Badary, Sahel Selim, Refea El-Tahtawy) and cultivation has been
more recently extended also to El-Noubaria region.
Main available varieties are Manfalouty, Assiuty and Wonderful and the production is either sold to
local markets or exported to EU, Russia and Arab countries.
However, export of pomegranates is negatively affected by a broad variety of problems, such as:

Limited marketing channels, limiting pomegranates prices;

Absences / lack of add value activities;

Pesticides residue in final product caused by misuse of regular pesticides and/or use of
adulterated/irregular pesticides
Lack of appropriate logistics services like cold storage units, transportation, etc, resulting in
high post-harvest losses

3. Objective of the present Service Agreement

The main purpose of the proposed service is therefore to improve the quality of production to meet
with export markets requirements, building the technical capacities of small and medium producers,
knowledge agents (Lead producers- Extension officers Supervisors) to acquire sufficient knowledge
about:
1- Planning and applying IPM programs.
2- Improving irrigation and fertilization programs.
3- Improving the current harvest / post-harvest practices.
4- Improving the existing add value units.
The intervention shall benefit:
- Small and medium producers by (1) applying the good agricultural practices concerning
pomegranates production (irrigation, fertilization, canopy management, harvesting and post
harvesting), (2) applying principles of IPM to increase the productivity per production unit,
reducing losses, improving product quality & safety to have better access to high value markets.
- Entrepreneurs, small and medium investors, inputs suppliers, technology providers, existing agroindustrial companies;
- Exporters will get production free of pesticides residues.
4. Deliverables and general time schedule
The below listed activities shall be finalized in 8 months after the contract is awarded.
Here below the expected plan of the activities for the assignment with related deliverables.
Activity
1) Define and deliver a technical assistance program for
selected beneficiaries, through field days in the
targeted locations during production, covering all
GAPs related to:
-

Flowering and setting phase

Irrigation and fertilization programs.

2) Conduct by-weekly field visits1 to follow up on the

implementation of the recommended GAPs (see
activity 1), focusing on the selected producers in the
targeted locations

Number of
man/days

Deliverables

(24 man/days )

At least 4 Field days in each

of the 4 targeted areas (3 in
Assiut and 1 in Noubaria),
covering at least 30
participants per each field
day

Over 6 months

By-weekly TA visit to key

producers in targeted
locations: at least 100
producers in total, 25
producers/ each 3 locations
in Assuit and 50 producers
in El-Noubaria

36 man/days

All field visits mentioned in this TORs should be conducted in production areas, inviting lead farmers and
knowledge agents to ensure a larger outreach.

3) Define and deliver an intensive IPM program

covering the following topics:

4)

IPM concept and application

Safe use / application of different kinds of

pesticides

Calibration of spraying machines.

Formulation of integrated control program

24 man/days

At least 4 Field days in each

of the targeted areas (3 in
50 % in Assuit
Assiut and 1 in Noubaria),
and 50 % in Elcovering 30 participants
Noubaria
each field day

Conduct by-weekly field visits to follow up on the

implementation of the recommended IPM programs
(see activity 3), focusing on the selected producers
in the targeted locations

36 man/days

By weekly TA visit to key

producers in the targeted
locations to follow up with
100 producers, 25
producers/ each 3 locations
in Assuit and 50 producers
in El-Noubaria

5) Prepare a practical farm note book for IPM program

for pomegranates production, including topics of
activity 1 and 3, field agenda. The farm note book
should be in line with the IP guidelines developed by
UNIDO/GTI2

5 man/days

IPM program farm note

book delivered and
accepted from GTI technical
committee

6) Conduct Technical assistance field visits to follow up

on the application of GAPs during harvest and postharvest and recommended solution to reduce sun
burn effects and enhance internal fruit colouring

20 man/days

By-weekly TA visit to key

producers in the targeted
locations to follow up with
100 producers, 25
producers/ each 3 locations
in Assuit and 50 producers
in El-Noubaria

7) Provide food safety awareness sessions to operators

of new and existing adding value units.

10 man/days

By weekly TA visit to existing

and new units

8) Provide final report including all documentation

related to activities 1 to 7, in particular:

2 man/days

Final report approved by

UNIDO

Training material produced

List of attendees to training sessions

Complete calendar of field visits conducted

(name of expert, list of attendees, brief
description of activities conducted and
recommendations provided)

5. Supervision and reporting

The service provider will work in close cooperation with the Project technical team and will report to
the UNIDO Project manager.
Upon completion of the activities, the service provider will be responsible for submitting all material
shared and referred to throughout the implementation. Final document will be provided to
UNIDO/GTI project with 1 electronic copy, consisting of the following electronic files:
2

GTI will give copy of Pomegranates IP guidelines as soon as the contract is awarded

PDF file
Original work files (WORD, POWER POINT, EXCEL, etc.).

The electronic copy can be provided via e-mail, if the nature and size of the files make it possible.
Otherwise, the electronic copy will be provided in a CD or DVD copy. Deliverables and related
documents progress will be provided in English.
6. Guidelines for applicants
In response to the present solicitation, interested institutions should bid for all the required scope of
work, as detailed in the present Terms of reference. The service provider will present in the proposal
a work schedule, while the final work schedule, including milestones, will be agreed with the project
team immediately after contract is awarded.
The submission will have to include:

Brief methodology (maximum 5 pages) with sufficient details to show the understanding,
competencies and compliance with the TORs. Steps to carry out the proposed assignment
should be described.

Timeline (proposed timeline, with clear milestones).

Names, qualifications ad specific tasks of the key staff/experts to be assigned to this work.

A short account of similar assignments previously undertaken by your organization or any

other relevant experience.

A detailed breakdown of the costs to perform the different activities divided by main
categories (e.g. personnel, travel and local costs, printing and other related costs broken down
by item). Please note that the quotation should be inclusive of all cost items foreseen to
perform the work.

A minimum of 3 reference persons who might be contacted (with name and contact details
phone and email)

The respective experts assigned to this service by the selected provider must possess the following
skills and qualifications (at least 3 CVs to be provided within the proposal):
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

A proven expertise in the preparation of such training programs.

Lead experts are expected to have 10 years of working experience in relevant fields
University degree in the field of Economics/Agriculture
Experience in similar assignments
Excellent command of the English language (spoken and written). Arabic is an asset.

Eligibility to apply: NGOs, consultancy firms, civil society organizations, universities, research centres,
private sector. Groups/consortia of companies are also allowed to participate
7. Languages requirement
All written material (Arabic and English) submitted to UNIDO should be of such quality that no
additional technical editing is required.
Service providers meeting the above requirements are invited to submit their proposals via email
to s.berlese@unido.org (specifying in the subject line UNIDO/GTI Improving the quality of
Pomegranates production), no later than 15th of April 2016.