I. INTRODUCTION
After 20 years of economic reform, Vietnam has recorded remarkable achievements in economic growth, especially in agriculture and rural sector. New policies of the government have helped removing the institutional dependences and promoted resources mobilisation to serve for the country’s social-economic development. The private sector has become more dynamic with development of different kinds of enterprises, including small and medium ones (SMEs). The recent studies indicate that SMEs play a crucial role in tackling new difficulties and challenges encountered by the rural and agricultural sector through: (i) creating momentums to enhance the growth of highly commercial-based agriculture; (ii) generating more employment for rural labor; (iii) improving incomes and living standards of the population; and (iv) providing supports for transforming the rural economic structure.
Therefore, the project “Study for policy recommendations to support for development of small and medium enterprises in agriculture sector” (phase 2 and 3) "sponsored by AECID and implemented Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development has been designed to provide policy recommendations to facilitate the growth of agricultural and rural SMEs in Vietnam so as to generate more employment for rural labor, increase rural incomes and promote the competitive power of enterprises.
In the context that urbanization process is speeding up in many areas in the world, consumption power of urban people is increasing very fast; clean, high quality agricultural products become more and more important. This requires the restructuring of agricultural production from traditional mode to urban demand-oriented agriculture. Agricultural production is reorganized along the smart value chain including the links of production – processing – logistics and storages – distribution, trade – research & development. In this smart chain, rural enterprises and farmers are considered the backbone and main beneficiaries that need to be taken care . This kind of modern model is known in a number of countries in the world (the Netherland, China and India) under the name of Agropark. This model is firstly introduced in MARD since 2009. This is the first stage of development this model to be tested in a Hanoi sattelite area.
In order to support effectively to the task of developing plan for agropark development in Hanoi satelite area, it is necessary to mobilize different experts to conduct literature review, field visit and report writing.
Below describes the function, responsibility and scope of job of a group of 6 experts:
II. WORKING PURPOSE:
The purpose of the activity is to develop plan for agropark development in Hanoi satellite area.
III. EXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY PER EACH EXPERT
1st expert. Review available reports/papers to identify comparative advantageous agricultural products of the area as well as potential markets of those products in planned project sites
· Collect statistic information from GSO, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Custom Office, website...
· Collect available research results in the field of interest from 2000 until now
· Collect available information on international market such as from GTIS, research institutes in the world, international organizations, website...
· Collect policies related supporting the field of research identified earlier
· Write a report to review the main reports/papers related to the following topics (if available):
- Agricultural production information (main products)
- Assessement of economic efficiency of products
- Domestic markets for those products
- Competitors providing the same types in domestic markets
- Main export markets
- Competitors in export markets
- Consumption potential of the products in domestic and international markets
2nd Expert. Identify farming professional training methods for farmers involving producing comparative advantageous agricultural products of the area:
· Collect international documents/papers on methods of farming and professional training for farmersin at least 3 countriesin the world who have been sucessfull in farming education and training.
· Review available research results of Vietnam in the field of to farming training and education in Vietnam.
· Review policies related to farming training and education in Vietnam and also the policies related to this field in other countries like European countries for learning experiences.
· Write a report to review farming professional training methods for farmers involving producing comparative advantageous agricultural products of the area.
3rd Expert. Identify traditional off-farm activities at the locality
· Collect available research results on off-farm activities in project areaof Hanoi sattelite area
· Review policies related to non-farm training and education in Vietnam an also the policies related to this field in other countries like European countries for learning experiences.
· Participate in field trip of the area to make interview with leaders at the localities and a number of farmers to identify traditional off-farm activities at the locality
· Write a report to review traditional off-farm activities at the locality.
4th Expert. Review mechanisms to mobilize strength of local human resources into Agropark development activities that were already applied in a number of Agropark models in the world.
· Collect available international research results on mechanisms to mobilize strength of local human resource into Agropark development activities.
· Participate in field trip of the area to make interview with beneficiaries groups to ask their opinions on those mechanisms to be applied.
· Write a report on mechanisms to mobilize strength of local human resources into Agropark development activities such as in farming activities (planting, livestock, forestry, aquaculture...), non-farm activities (working as workers in agro processing factories, agro trading companies, education and training institutions, R&D institutions and etc).
5th Expert. Study farm and non-farm activities to be implemented when agropark project operates
· Study documents and reports prepared by other experts on traditional off-farm activities at the locality; farming professional training methods for farmers involving producing comparative advantageous agricultural products of the area.
· Identify farming activities farmers will be involved when Agropark project operates.
· Identify non-farm activities that local people will be involved in the process of building Agropark project and when it operates.
· Write a report on farm and non-farm activities to be implemented when agropark project operates.
6th Expert. Build the plan of co-investment for agropark project in Hanoi satellite area
· Study documents and reports prepared by other experts on comparative advantageous agricultural products of the area as well as potential markets of those productsin planned project sites; traditional off-farm activities at the locality; farming professional training methods for farmers involving producing comparative advantageous agricultural products of the area; mechanisms to mobilize strength of local human resources into agropark development activities.
· Consolidate into the report of plan of co-investment for agropark project in Hanoi sattelite area for R&D activities, training and capacity building.
IV. EXPERT’S REQUIREMENT
· University degree (or higher) in economics, agricultural economics, education and training management, trade or relevant...
· An expert should have at least 2 years of working experience in agricultural economic analysis and research
· An expert should have experience in negotiation of integration in agriculture, rural area.
· Fluency in English
· Priority given to an expert who is fond of supporting SMEs in agriculture and rural area.
· Possess both team-work and independent working behaviors.
V. WORKING MECHANISM
Working time:
Each expert is recruited to work within 20-30 days, only the 6th expert is recruited to work within 40 days because he/she has to follow the whole process of the research.
The job will be starting from October 2010.
Salary:
The expert will enjoy the monthly salary based on the EU-UN cost norm, with income tax included.