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SNV
SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation. Founded in the Netherlands 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in 39 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors works with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.For more information on SNV's  operations, visit our website: www.snvworld.org  Background about the Project: Feed the Future Ethiopia: Livelihoods for Resilience Activity (GRAD II project) is a five-years USAID funded project designed to reduce food insecurity and increasing resilience for households (HHs) in highland areas of the three regions. Scope of the consultancy should cover the following:  The consulting firm will conduct cooperative capacity assessment that cover the functional, governance/structure and enabling environment and identify needs for improving the performance of model cooperatives focusing in three regions (Tigray, SNNPR and Amhara). The consultant need to review selection (prioritization) reports of the respective regions to identify three candidates (model) cooperatives per cluster (zone) by name, intended functions (input/output market services) and location. The cooperatives selected in each regions should be those engaged or have potential to be engaged in input and output market services that cover subsectors selected in each zones. That is the selected cooperative need to have potential to provide a combinations of market services directly relevant to one or more of the sub-sectors selected in each cluster/zone.  i.e                         o    crop value chain: wheat, red haricot bean and Lentil                         o    Horticulture value chain: Potato, onion and pepper                         o    Livestock  value chains: meat (shoat, cattle), poultry-egg and honey The focus of the training modules should be tailored to addressing specific knowledge and skill challenges of cooperative member, leaders and support providers (experts) identified during the capacity assessment. The training should to be backed up by well-developed training material/s that consider the illiteracy/numeracy levels of the target groups;   Technical support will include coaching and mentoring cooperative leaders and support providers in preparing tailored business plan for accessing finance from MFI and innovation fund and should be completed within one months after the training. DeliverableThe firm will be expected to deliver the following outputs:An inception report that indicates the methodologies to conduct the study including the  time framework;  A comprehensive report of cooperative capacity assessment that show gaps and potential solutions in input and output market services;  Training manual and module responsive to the identified gaps, gender and literacy level; Tailored training and technical support to three cooperatives per cluster    Brief proceeding/meeting notes , training reports and technical support reports; and   An innovative business plan for three cooperatives per cluster.