I. INTRODUCTION
Agricultural enterprises (mostly small and medium-sized ones) do not get full access to all market information, especially predictive and analytical information. This is a major difficulty facing agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while the economy is deeply integrating into the regional and world economies.
Via most mass media, agricultural and rural policy-related information is being disseminated to relevant subjects under different forms, both at central and local levels. However, this information mainly focuses on informing new policies, introducing policy beneficiaries, when and where the policy will be implemented in a top-to-bottom manner. Feedback from beneficiaries on the implementation of policies is less paid attention to and it mostly takes the form of opinions from single individuals or a few organizations.
Meanwhile, in several current policy advisory units like the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development, policy staffs have been carrying out many studies concerning supports to agricultural SMEs in a systematic and effective manner. These studies have not widely been publicized to all subjects yet.
In order to support the development of agricultural SMEs in Vietnam, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has approved a project "Study on policy recommendations to support for development of SMEs in agricultural sector and rural areas – phase 2 & 3" which is financed by Spanish government and assigned to the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development to perform. One of the goals set for current phase is to enhance capacity of communications to assist such businesses.
Information Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (AGROINFO) is supported by the Project Management Unit to work as a hub which connects and gathers all information about the market and supporting policies for agricultural SMEs inside and outside of IPSARD and which is connected with communications agencies to promote information dissemination in a quick and effective manner to relevant subjects.
To assist AGROINFO in enhancing capacity on market information consultancy in a more effective manner, Project Management Unit has built this activity’s TOR for reference and management.
II. OBJECTIVES
To support and enhance capacity on market information consultancy for the Center’s staffs by composing and publishing pepper/cashew market reports which provide necessary information for SMEs.
III. MAJOR TASKS
1. Collecting, updating, processing data and information related to the cashew/pepper sectors.
v Participating market surveys conducted by the Center
v Following and supervising quantity, quality and time of information provision from network collaborators in order to ensure accuracy of such information.
v Inputting and processing data to be used for quaterly report on the cashew/pepper market
2. Writing quaterly reports on the cashew/pepper market.
v Making an outline for reports on the cashew/pepper market.
v Synthesizing market situation of cashew products in localities where the Center’s information network is set up, writing quaterly reports which are then posted on the Center’s website.
3. Directly report to Centre’s Director and work under supervision of Head of Agricultural Market Research Division
IV. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINE
Submitting complete documents to the Center as follows:
v Writing a detailed action plan for the entire consulting period one week after signing the contract.
v Entering all data on cashew/pepper prices provided by network collaborators to the Center’s database.
v Write the quaterly market reports about the Cashew/ Pepper sector.
V. WORKING REGIME
- Duration:
Working days from April to Nov 2011 at the agricultural market research division - Information Center – No. 16 Thuy Khue - Hanoi; and carrying out surveys in some provinces upon the Center’s request.
- Budget:
Two experts (one specialized in cashew sector, other specialized in pepper sector) will enjoy the salary based on the EU-UN cost norm, with income tax included.
VI. EXPERTISE REQUIREMENTS
v Having a bachelor degree (at least Credit) inside or outside of Vietnam; majoring in: Economics, Trading, Foreign Trade, Financing, Marketing, Development economics, Agricultural economics. Preference for foreign graduation.
v Having a good knowledge of social-economic situation, commercial cooperation (domestic or abroad)
v Having at least 3 years working in research, analysis. Preference to candidates having experience in agricultural field.
v Understanding the market and policies for the cashew/pepper sector.
v Well using the softwares such as Excel, SPSS, Stata