PROJECT BACKGROUND: Feed the Future Egypt Rural Agribusiness Strengthening Project (“the Project”) is an eight-year USAID-funded activity, supported by the U.S. government’s Feed the Future initiative. The Project aims to improve the competitiveness of Egypt’s horticulture and wheat producers and related down-stream businesses and food processors. The Project promotes a more competitive and inclusive Egyptian economy through growth in selected horticultural sectors with special focus on securing employment and increasing agriculture-related incomes of smallholder farmers. The Project functions in Greater Cairo, Upper Egypt, and the Nile Delta. 

ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND: The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Consultancy is critical toward the overall success of the Project. The consultant will work alongside key Project staff, including the Production Post-Harvest (PPH) Team Leader, Post-Harvest Lead, local Technical Trainers, and field coordinators, to develop an IPM training curriculum that will address critical weaknesses amongst smallholder farmers. The consultant will verify training needs through a series of field trips and value chain stakeholder workshops. Once gaps and training priorities are confirmed, the consultant will develop an IPM manual tailored to each governorate and specific value chains where the Project operates. The consultant will be required to make several trips to the field for farm visits in different governorates in Upper Egypt.

ASSIGNMENT DURATION: Maximum of 115 days during 2025

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Training needs assessment

• Identify training priorities of smallholder farmers in IPM, harvest and post-harvest practices through field visits to farmers in Upper Egypt.
• Identify training priorities of smallholder farmers in IPM practices through stakeholder meetings that involve lead farmers, processors, extension agents and other industry leaders.

Curriculum development

• Develop an IPM manual that describes all IPM best practices and comprehensive program including all growing stages starting from pre (nursery stage) till harvest and post-harvest.
• Developing a Training of Trainers (TOT) curriculum for the local master trainers so the Project has the same message to be delivered to farmers.

Farmers’ capacity building

• Assess technical training needs of the Project’s farmers and training staff; and provide training to the Project’s local trainers in each governorate to ensure that they are capable of effectively implementing the Project interventions in their governorates.

Farmers Follow up Visits

• Assess implementation of training recommendations.
• Identify and resolve any field issue as requested by agronomy team.
• Supervise and assess the local master trainers’ performance.

DELIVERABLES:

• Written report on results of training needs assessment;
• Field TOT Curriculum that includes:
  • Clear description of training program outcomes
  • Identification of core competencies that must be strengthened in order for outcomes to be achieved. When relevant, core competencies should be differentiated by levels of mastery to help show progression in development efforts.
  • Detailed training session plans that address each core competency. A core competency may be addressed by multiple training sessions (i.e. nursery management, integrated pest management). Each training session description should include learning objectives, session schedule, necessary materials and a written description of each element of the TOT session.
• IPM manual with detailed description of best practices of every growing stage.