Myanmar: Value chain and market analysis of the elephant foot yam and bamboo as a community based enterprise products for Kyeik Pi Lan, Pya Ta Chaung and Kyak

Terms of Reference

Consultancy Assignment

Value chain and market analysis of the elephant foot yam and bamboo as a community based enterprise products for Kyeik Pi Lan, Pya Ta Chaung and Kyak Htu Villages in Tanintharyi Region

Supervised by: Amalia R. Maling

Work location: Yangon with field visits in Tanintharyi region and other states as needed by the study

Duration: Study to be completed by end of October 2016

1.Background of consultancy assignment

WWF is currently implementing a natural resource based livelihood project in three villages (Kyeik Pi Lan, Pyata Chaung, Kyeik Htu) along the Banchaung Valley in Tanintharyi region which aims to promote sustainable production schemes within forestry to improve well-being of forest dependent communities as well as their rights and access to natural resources and its economic benefits. These villages are inhabited by the Karen indigenous communities and are using forest products as their income source.

As a result of the sustainable livelihood assessment and product scanning conducted by the WWF project team the communities selected three forest products which they want to develop into community enterprises – these are cardamom, elephant foot yam and bamboo. The communities are currently trading as raw materials of cardamom and elephant foot yam to traders in Dawei. They are interested to find out how they can add value to their products. Bamboo, on the other hand, is not being traded by the villager at the moment but they are interested to find out market for bamboo products/commodities and market for bamboo as this is an abundant natural resource in their village.

A value chain and market assessment of the three products is being proposed to better understand the actors as well as identify areas where community members can have role in the supply chain to add value and improve their income. In a recent partnership between WWF and RECOFTC, a value chain analysis of cardamom had been carried out. This study will therefore focus on the two remaining products – elephant foot yam and bamboo (will be referred to as ‘the Products’ throughout this document). Aside from value chain and market assessment an important component of the study is to assess the feasibility of developing ‘**the products**’ into full scale enterprise for the community members as well as assess the possibility of up scaling and replicating it in other areas.

2.Specific objectives of the consultancy

1) Carry out a Value Chain Analysis (VCA) of ‘**the products**’ and recommend areas where communities can add value along the chain

2) Identify potential markets/traders that are potential for directly linking the community members and get information on their requirements in terms of quality and volume

3) Assess the feasibility of developing a full scale enterprise for ‘**the products**’ taking into consideration communities’ capacity, social acceptability, environmental impact, financial feasibility and enabling policy.

4) Propose a project design for developing the enterprise based on the findings and after consultation with target communities

5) Assess the current and potential markets (including export) for potential for up scaling of the enterprise

3.Scope of work/ Major responsibilities

a) Submit an inception report detailing the methodology of the study and workplan, and outline of the report to be approved by WWF

b) Conduct a desk study on socio economic and market context including the scale and specifics of ‘**the products**’, socio-economic importance, the maturity of its use and trade and key commodities traded, and relevant policies around trading.

c) Conduct a desk study on the domestic and international market of the products

d) Review existing forest rules and regulations involving collection, trade permits and fees, and other relevant legal provisions, and conduct interviews with key stakeholders on forest trade and policy related issues.

e) Track the chain actors (producers, traders, shops, retailers) of the selected products and conduct interviews.

f) Conduct field visits to the selected villages for the interviews and focus group discussions

g) Identify, analyse, describe and map the value chain of ‘**the products**’ (or commodities) from producer up to international markets.

h) Document per ‘**the products**’ value chain all contact persons and recommend the potential market for linking the community members

i) Proposed possible value addition to the ‘**the products** and necessary training needed

j) Present the result of the value chain study to the community members and facilitate discussions on the proposed business model/s.

k) Data analysis and formulate conclusions and recommendations based on, but not limited to, the questions below:

· What is/are the proposed supply chain to be developed?

· Who are the concrete actors to be engaged in developing the supply chain/s?

· What are the viable business models and what are the practical modes of operationalizing the model/s?

· What are the costs and benefit?

· What are the specific interventions recommended for WWF?

l) Report write-up

Proposed Methodology

· Household interviews, key informants interviews, focus group discussions

· Face to face interviews with actors in the ‘**the products**’ chain

· Face to face interviews with key stakeholders (policy makers, financial institutes)

· Identify and select trade routes and conduct direct observation, documentation and semi structured interviews along the routes, describe actors, and conditions along the routes.

4.Outputs/ deliverable of performanceand time schedule

A maximum 30-page written report describing value chain maps of the ‘**the products**’ (or commodities) with opportunities, constraints/bottlenecks and proposed interventions to add value and improve market access and a proposed project design for implementing the ‘**the products**’ enterprise should found feasible.

5.Timeframe

The work will be conducted in October 2016. Final report is expected to be completed by 30^th October 2016.

6.Implementation Plan (to be completed by consultant)

No

Activity

Expected outputs

Number of Days

7.Required profile:

a) Education and experience on marketing and business management

b) Experience in value chain and marketing assessment

c) A very good understanding of Myanmar market and preferences

d) Expertise in business development especially in the non-timber forest product sector

e) Familiarity with the Myanmar policy on harvesting and trading of non-timber forest products

f) Innovative and creative

g) Ability to write a good English report

Interested applicants may submit their proposal stating the expected consultancy fee together with CVs of consultants to vacancy.mm@wwfgreatermekong.org or deliver to WWF Myanmar office at 15C Than Taman Street, Dagon Township, Yangon.

For additional information or clarification you can email to amy.maling@wwf.panda.org

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted