1. Background: MEDA/EMERTA Project
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is an organization dedicated to creating business solutions to poverty. MEDA’s Global Affairs Canada-funded EMERTA project (meaning leaping to a great height in Amharic) has the objective of contributing to increased income and employment opportunities for entrepreneurs and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) focusing on three value chains: rice, vegetables and gemstones. In the rice sector, MEDA is committed to support MSMEs (rice processors/traders) to improve the business performance and enhance competitiveness through building technical capacity and creating access to finance. One of the key factors that help to improve competitiveness of rice processors in the market is efficient production of improved quality milled rice. To realize this, building MSMEs knowledge and upgrading their skills on quality processing of rice is crucial.
Among other rice value addition stages, processing/milling function is highly contributing for the quality problems related with milled Ethiopian rice. This is due to various factors such as: the type of processing machines commonly used are old models with poor quality yield, many of the machines in use are not timely maintained, spare parts are not periodically replaced, machines are operated with unskilled labor, knowledge of machine operation and maintenance is limited and the like. As a result, the quality of locally processed rice is often substandard which makes it difficult for the local rice to compete with the imported ones. To this purpose, the project plans to organize a training to support rice processing business owners improve their knowledge and skills of machine operation, processing techniques and maintenance. The training is targeted at about 50 rice machine operators pulled from Fogera, Libokemkem and Dera Woredas of South Gondor Zone, Amhara Region.
In pursuit of the above, MEDA requires the services of a qualified rice processing machine operation and maintenance trainer.
The training aims to equip rice processing business owners and their machine operators with sufficient knowledge and skills on better ways of processing rice and properly maintaining the machines. The training will help to improve the quality of processed rice and pave ways for processors to start supplying table grade quality rice to the market. More specifically the training aims:
§ To inform trainees about types of improved rice processing machines available in the market
§ To improve trainees’ skills of processing rice with minimized breakage
§ To enhance participants knowledge of the various parts of their machines, enhancing its operation efficiency and become knowledgeable on timely maintenance.
3. Expected results of the training
§ Trainees knowledge and skill on processing, value addition, grading, machine operation and maintenance improved
§ Participants skill improved in how to process good quality rice with the machines
§ Participants become aware of the importance of upgrading their processing machines, enhancing its operation efficiency and become knowledgeable on timely maintenance.
4. Scope of work
The consultancy task is expected to achieve the following activities
§ Introduction to the modern types of rice processing machines and how they are different from the old machines currently in use.
§ Explanation and demonstration of machine parts, and how to maintain them and keep record of maintenance
§ Development of training materials, conduct pre-training assessment and understand the types of machines currently being used by processors.
§ Prepare training materials (both in English and Amharic) on rice processing machine operation, processing machine maintenance and related subjects
§ As of most of the training should be practical, the trainees will be grouped into two with each group having around 25 number of trainees
§ Trainer should share plan and sample of training materials 10 days before the training schedule to incorporate feedback timely
§ Produce a manual on operation and maintenance of the machines in Amharic and appropriate for the types of machines processors have
§ Operating procedure for different processing machines
§ Safety rule and precautions while operating and maintaining the processing machine
§ Provide list of maintenance tools that should be available with the processors
§ Provide List and timeline of regularly required spare parts requiring replacement (if possible supported with pictures)
5. Venue and Date
The training will be conducted in Woreta town of South Gondor Zone, tentatively from December 23-28, 2017 for six days.
1. Required competencies
The consultants /trainer must have:
§ Qualifications in one of the following fields, BSc/MScs in agricultural mechanization, processing machine operation, processing machine maintenance.
§ Broad experience, preferably 10 years good knowledge and skills on processing machine operation, processing machine maintenance and related subjects
§ Experience of working with grass root people in the areas where EMERTA project operates, especially in Amhara Region is an input
§ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
§ Documentation and computers skills and excellent Amharic and English language skills.
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