Technical Co-operant

Employer: Canadian Co-operative Association - CCA Website
Location: Central America - , International
Closing Date: October 31, 2008

The Canadian Co-operative Association

TERMS OF REFRERNCE

FOR A CONSULTANT IN  DOCUMENTING THE INITIATIVES OF PRODUCTION COOPERATIVES AND AGRICULTURAL CREDIT IN CENTRAL AMERICA

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is a national association for co-operatives in Canada, representing more than seven million co-operative and credit union members from over 2,000 organizations. CCA members come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the service sector.

CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world. CCA is based in Ottawa, with a regional office in San Jose, Costa Rica.  CCA, in association with the Latin America Confederation of Credit Unions (COLAC) and the Central American Cooperative Marketing Consortium (CCMC), seeks a volunteer Canadian Consultant to contribute in documenting their Initiatives of Production Cooperatives and Agricultural Credit in Central America.

1. Background

The Canadian Cooperative Association (CCA) and the Latin America Confederation of Credit Unions (COLAC) signed an agreement in December 2004 to initiate a project with the purpose of strengthening the working relationships between the agriculture cooperatives and the credit union sector. COLAC was in charge of the project’s implementation and in turn, signed an agreement with the Central American Cooperative Marketing Consortium (CCMC) to bring in the agriculture and commercialization experience demanded by this initiative.

For the last decade, CCA and the Central American Cooperatives have been supporting a value chain (comprehensive agro-industrial) model that integrates financing, agriculture production, processing and marketing with the purpose of reducing the negative impacts of middlemen’s interventions and to benefit farmers with added value throughout the process.

As a result, the linkages and exchanges between agriculture cooperatives and credit unions have increased considerably.

The project‘s objective was to strengthen these experiences and document them so that they can be used as a reference for future projects in the region and elsewhere.

The direct beneficiaries have been Central America Spanish speaking countries whose particularities and culture are well known by the technical organizations that provide services, as well as the second and third tiers cooperatives representing both sectors to which CCA has provided support in the process.  

The final document prepared by the Central American experts will be developed in Latin America writing style to which international Financial Institutions established in this sub-region, have adjusted.  However, it is important to point out that because CIDA is the main donor of CCA’s development work, it is necessary to review and adapt the writing style of this case study and ensure that this document can be understood by the Canadian audience.

It is, therefore, necessary to contract a Canadian technical consultant under the following terms and conditions;  

2. Objective:

Adapt and structure the documentation of the developed model between the agriculture cooperatives and the saving and credit ones in Central America in accordance with CIDA’s and Canadian culture and writing style.

3. Tasks & Deliverables

-Reading of the above mentioned report and other available documents elaborated for the consultants of the region.

-Formulate and present the working plan.

-Key informants Interviews with the responsible parties directly involved and the consultants; complete any other information considered pertinent.

-Provide suggested additions and adjustments to the document written on the Latin America regional case study document.

-Analyze the suggested additions and adjustments with the parties directly involved and CCA.

-Make adjustments, if necessary, and deliver the final document.

4. Expected Products:

-A comparable document to the one prepared in the region and a prospectus to be presented to CIDA and the Canadian public.

-Final case study document in English and adapted to CIDA’s writing style and the Canadian public.

5. Period of consultancy:

The consultant must begin the work around November 3 and end on December 19, 2008.

Field work will be done between November 3 to December 12 and the week of December 15-19 should be dedicated to finalize the document.  (dates may slightly change)

6. Consultant Profile:

-The consultant must be completely fluent in the Spanish language.

-Proven capacity in the composing and writing of technical reports.

-Proven experience in the documentation of similar previous cases to be presented to CIDA.

-Good mastery of technical language that facilitates the communication with different levels.

-Capacity to work in group.

- Previous experience in farming and financial projects in Latin America preferable.

7. Partners:

Latin America Confederation of Credit Unions R.L. (COLAC).

Central American Society of Cooperative Trade (CCMC)

Canadian Cooperative Association

8. Responsibility of COLAC:

Coordination and logistic support to the consultant

To provide all the background documentation and the reports previously outlined.

9. Remuneration:

The Technical Assistant is encouraged to provide all his/her time in-kind (without pay). Applicants providing in-kind services will be preferred.

CCA benefits from a substantial leveraging of in-kind time contributed by Canadians, which enables the maximization of resources to the project. 

10. Application:

Applications should be submitted no later than October 21 30, 2008 and include:

• Cover letter
• Contribution in-kind (Technical Assistants contributing more in-kind will be preferred)
• Resume that clearly shows qualifications

Samples of past work may be requested by CCA of successful applicants.

Only successful applicants will be contacted and may be asked for references.

Please send expressions of interest, resumes and questions to:

semrichardson@gmail.com and Sarah.Richardson@coopscanada.coop

Thank you for your interest in working with CCA