TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy Service to provide skills training on permaculture design and implementation to Woreda experts and Development Agents.
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 whereas gender and environment are cross-cutting issues.
The project has environmental sustainability strategy that is designed to achieve good environmental management where poor environmental practices are currently being used and to protect natural resources for future use. MEDA increases DAs’ familiarity with environmental methods that can be applied to small backyard gardens, such as integrated pest management or organic compost creation with household waste, animal waste or rice by-products. The project’s approach to understanding farmer behaviour and attitudes as part of the prototyping methodology will be essential in identifying barriers and opportunities for adoption of climate resilient farming practices.
Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and design principles. This approach guides us to mimic the patterns and relationships we can find in nature and can be applied to all aspects of human habitation. By adopting the ethics and applying the principles in our daily life we can make the transition from being dependent consumers to becoming responsible producers. This journey builds skills and resilience at home and in our local communities that will help us prepare for an uncertain future with less available energy. The ethics earth care, people share and fair share are the foundation for permaculture design and are also found in most traditional societies.
In pursuit of the above, MEDA is looking for the services of a qualified trainer and practitioner in the area of Permaculture Design targeted for 34 Development Agents from Dera, Fogera and Libo-kemkem woredas and experts from South Gondor Zone and Amhara Region Agriculture and Environmental Protection Bureaus.
2. Objective of The Training/Consultancy
The training will cover all aspects of Permaculture Design, with topics ranging from water harvesting and conservation, soil fertility management, creating productive, resilient and biodiverse food systems, appropriate technology systems, sustainable farming and household gardening for self-reliance, natural regeneration and food forests soil and water management including composting and swale design.
3. Expected Results
Acquire design principles for creating sustainable systems for water harvesting and conservation, building soil fertility, the use of composting and natural fertilizers, building eco toilets, biogas development, creating productive and bio-diverse food systems for improved food security, health and nutrition, appropriate technology and learn how to create local food security and resilience to climate.
4. Scope of Work
The consultancy task is expected to achieve the following activities:
§ Conduct pre-training assessment, understand the status and interest of trainees.
§ Prepare training material and practical demonstration materials with manual (both in English and Amharic).
§ Explain and practically demonstrate about permaculture principles, ethics and law, water harvesting, use and construction of A-frame, transect walks and mapping, windbreak, zoning, using patterns in designing, IPM and all permaculture’s holistic approach for sustainable living.
§ Use blended training methods that will engage and help adult learners practice more in nearby kebeles of Woreta town for 10 days.
§ Trainer should share plan, methodology and list of training materials 10 days before the training schedule, to incorporate feedback timely.
§ Produce a manual on practical application and procedures of Permaculture Design in Amharic.
§ Provide full set of training materials required for future use by the trainees to cascade it to the community.
5. Venue and Date
The training will be conducted in Woreta and nearby villages, tentatively starting April 9, 2018 for 10 days.
Required Competencies
The consultants/trainer must have:
§ Qualifications in one of the following fields; BSc/MScs in Agricultural Sciences, Environmental sciences, landscape design or related fields with more than 5 years of experience
§ Certificate in Permaculture Design Course;
§ Experience working on permaculture or climate smart agriculture or related agricultural fields;
§ Experience of working with grass roots people;
§ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
§ Documentation (plan, manual and report preparation) and
§ Excellent Amharic and English language skills.
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