Independent International Business Developer

COLLABORATIVE ACTION FOR THE EXPORT OF HANDICRAFT PRODUCTS 

(ACEA) Project

Period of Performance:   14 February– 30 May 2022

Expected Level of Effort:  40 days

Place of Performance: Remote, with 1 trip to Tunis if not located in Tunis

• Program Background

ACEA Tunisia (Action Collaborative pour les Exportations Artisanales, or “Collaborative Action for the Export of Handicraft Products”) is a 6-year project funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by FHI 360. Its goal is to help artisans, especially those who are socially or geographically marginalized, to commercialize their products, and hence promote greater social and economic equity. Where possible, the project places a special emphasis on assisting artisans to export.

This project is helping to empower artisans and local communities by guiding and advising them using a cluster approach. Members of the Cluster (beneficiaries) meet in workshops and work in groups to learn and share various skills, in conjunction with relevant support entities and technical experts. To date, ACEA has launched cluster development activities in five sectors in Tunisia: essential oils and related natural products (West governorates), olive wood kitchenware and tableware (in Sfax and Sidi Bou Zid), carpets (Gafsa and Gabes) and pottery (Siliana and Kef).

ACEA is hiring a Business Development Professional to support creating business linkages with international buyers and promote internationally selected Tunisian Handicraft products.

• Objective, Tasks and Deliverables:

The Consultant will develop and implement a business development plan for project beneficiaries in three sectors (Essential Oils and related products, Olive Wood Products and Carpets and Rugs) focused on creating direct and sustainable linkages between artisans and buyers. 

Based on product catalogs, price list and descriptions of artisans, the consultant will be expected to connect with potential buyers from targeted countries and regions (North America, EU and UK, Gulf countries, Japan and Korea), provide commercial offers and support artisans realizing export transactions. The Consultant will be supported by ACEA project staff in areas such as convening artisans and other value chain actors in each sector, training and technical assistance to artisans and marketing and communications content (video, social media, etc.)

The Consultant will be responsible of preparing and submitting the following deliverables to the Technical Monitor according to the agreed schedule. FHI 360 will work with the Consultant to finalize format and structure for key deliverables during the consultancy, and the Technical Monitor and other relevant staff will review the consultant’s proposed drafts and provide feedback accordingly.

• Available input:

• Olive Wood market segmentation study 
• Price lists and catalogs for the three sectors
• ACEA project factsheets 
• ACEA staff, beneficiaries, and cluster members available for interviews or information requests.

• Required Skills and Qualifications:

• 10 years of demonstrated experience in Business Development, International Trade, international marketing or other related fields.
• Specific experience in the International Trade of Handicraft products.
• Proven experience in facilitating transactions (a copy of sales contracts is a plus). 
• Knowledge of fair-trade markets and / or in partnering with INGOs is a plus. 
• Oral and written proficiency in English is required. French language proficiency is a plus. 

Criteria/Qualification for Evaluation

Consultants will be evaluated and ranked by a selection committee according to the conditions described in the evaluation criteria below, with a total overall maximum point value of 100. The contract shall be issued to the consultant with the highest combined technical and cost score.

• Level of Effort and Remuneration:

The Consultancy will consist of a maximum of 40 working/billing days (1 day = 8 hours) between 14 February and 30 May 2022. 

The Consultant will be paid the agreed daily fee rate for every day worked, up to but not to exceed 40 days, with reimbursement for related, budgeted expenses.  The consultant will submit a record of LOE based on the deliverables schedule for processing and payment.

• Location:

This work will be completed remotely and will require one trip to Tunis to provide the training mentioned above. FHI 360 will require an Expense Authorization form to be submitted for travel and will reimburse allowable travel expenses.

• Submission Instructions:

Interested candidates should send the following application materials to Tunisprocurement@fhi360.org  with the subject line “ACEA Marketing and Communications Consultant”. 

Deadline: 31st of January 2022.

1. An updated Resume/CV

1. A completed FHI 360 Biographical Data Form (can be found on the FHI 360 website here: http://solicitations.fhi360.org/ConsultantSolicitation.aspx) with current daily rate and salary history, and proposed daily rate in USD for completion of the work defined above.
2. List of at least 3 references, with contact email and phone numbers, who can independently verify past work.

The consultants have to be fully vaccinated.

Consultants are responsible for reviewing the terms and conditions provided below and on the Consultant Solicitations page of the FHI 360 website. Consultant must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and its attachments.

Please DO NOT begin work until a contract has been signed between FHI 360 and the consultant.

• Disclaimers and FHI 360 Protection Clauses:

• FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award.

• FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received.
• Issuance of the solicitation does not constitute an award commitment by FHI 360.
• FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on offeror failure to follow solicitation instructions.
• FHI 360 will not compensate offers for response to solicitation.
• FHI 360 reserves the right to issue award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion.
• FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation, or issue multiple awards based on the solicitation activities.
• FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition.
• FHI 360 will be contacting offers to confirm contact person, address and that bid was submitted for this solicitation.