Consultants & Internships at Rainforest Alliance

Specifically, this will be:

• To propose a simple yield estimation methodology for cocoa which can be used by CHs and how this can be verified by CBs during an audit.
• To determine the average yields of the different cocoa production areas in Ghana.
• Present the characteristics of the soil, climate and vegetation and the dominant cocoa variety of the different zones within the production areas.
• To produce a map highlighting the different cocoa yields within the production areas.

 
EXPECTED RESULTS/ DELIVERABLES

• Report on the zoning of cocoa production within the 6 production areas, including their pedoclimatic characteristics, vegetation and dominant cocoa variety produced
• Report with supporting map, presenting the different yields determined in each of the 6 production areas, including how this was calculated
• Proposal on what methodology CHs should use to determine yield and how this can be verified by CBs

 
METHODOLOGY

• The duration of this consultation is one month, between 1 to 30 November, 2022. The working method will include:
• Introductory meeting with Rainforest Alliance staff to ensure common understanding of the project;
• Literature review of existing material on the topic
• Introductory meeting with CHs in the different production areas to explain the project and request support to access necessary materials and plots, as well as understand the challenges they currently face with doing accurate yield estimations (and methodology used)
• Introductory meeting with CBs to explain the project and understand the challenges they currently face with verifying yield estimations during audits
• Sampling of plots from various CHs across the production areas
• Data collection in the field
• Preliminary presentation of reports to Rainforest Alliance
• A workshop to present results to Rainforest Alliance CHs and CBs, Q&A
• The consultant will propose a more detailed methodology for achieving the above results.
• General terms and conditions for Request for proposal
• Proposals and/or any additional information received after the submission time and date are subject to rejection by The Rainforest Alliance.
• Incomplete proposals may be rejected by Rainforest Alliance at its discretion.
• The Rainforest Alliance reserves the right to request additional information at any time during the procurement process.
• Rainforest Alliance is at liberty to make multiple or no selections as part of the proposal process. Rainforest Alliance also reserves the right to cancel the procurement.
• All proposal costs shall be borne by the applicant and will not be reimbursed by Rainforest Alliance.

Selection Criteria

• The following Criteria will be used to assess proposals from potential Consultants:
• Academic training (master’s degree) in fields related to Agronomy, Forestry, Agroforestry or any other relevant training related to the mission.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the development of cocoa-based agroforestry systems or in cocoa production
• Have a good knowledge of the cocoa production areas in Ghana.
• Knowledge of Rainforest Alliance certification schemes and their implementation in the cocoa sector is an asset.