Consultant for Agroecology Curriculum Development in Lebanon

Background

CCFD-Terre Solidaire is seeking a qualified Agroecology Expert to work on the development of an Agroecology Curriculum for Lebanon in general and specifically for Akkar Governorate under the AFD-cofunded project ‘From Farm to Kitchen-Building a Resilient Food System in Lebanon’ implemented in partnership with Mada Association and Nation Station.

The project supports a transition to agroecology and improve access to food through (1) evidence generation to maximize production and profitability, namely through research and experimentation; (2) establishment of a pool of advocates and professionals in agroecology, mostly through training and awareness; and (3) expanding marketing channels for agroecology, through the establishment of a Community Kitchen in Tripoli to contribute to food security.

The aim of this mission is to develop a comprehensive and locally-adapted agroecological training curriculum that can be then delivered by local experts/trainers, organizations – including Mada Association, and easily understood by smallholder farmers. This curriculum will cover all phases of production and includes 20 sessions.

The mission is expected to be participatory, in close coordination with Mada, with input gathered directly from farmers, and with the involvement of agroecology specialists and organizations in Lebanon.

The mission is estimated at 15 days remotely, and 3 days in Lebanon, for a total of 18 days.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Meet with CCFD-Terre Solidaire and Mada’s technical teams to discuss the mission’s objectives and expectations.
• Review existing curricula and trainings related to agroecology in Lebanon, to avoid duplication.
• Draft Focus Group Discussion (FGD) questions to be used by Mada to gather input from farmers to feed into the curriculum development, as well as interview questions to be used by Mada to gather input from agroecology specialists and organizations.
• Visit Lebanon once to work with Mada’s team, meet farmers, understand local realities, capacities, and needs.
• Present an outline for the proposed final topics/sessions and share it with CCFD-Terre Solidaire and Mada for review and approval.
• Develop a comprehensive curriculum consisting of 20 sessions (both theoretical and practical), covering all aspects of agroecological production; collaborating closely with Mada’s technical team to ensure the curriculum is relevant and adapted to local condition.
• Participate in a review meeting with Mada’s technical team to discuss feedback on the first draft. Revisions will be made based on the discussions, for the submission of a second draft.
• Engage in back and forth until the final draft is ready.

Contents of the Curriculum

• The curriculum should focus on equipping farmers with practical, locally adapted practices that enhance the sustainability and resilience of their agricultural systems.
• The language must be simple and clear, avoiding technical and complex terminology, to ensure it is easily understandable by farmers.
• The curriculum should include practical, real-life examples relevant to the local farming context, and feature photographs, charts, infographics, and links for reference to enhance understanding.
• The final curriculum must include, but not be limited to::
• Introduction to Agroecology: Define agroecology and explain its relevance to local resources and conditions.
• Soil Health and Preparation: Discuss different soil types, maintaining soil fertility, and the use of organic fertilizers.
• Irrigation and plot design: Cover techniques for efficient water use, rainwater harvesting, and optimal plot layouts to conserve water.
• Crop rotation and intercropping: Emphasize the benefits of crop rotation and intercropping for soil health. Provide specific rotation plans for different types of crops, including vegetables, fruiting trees, and ornamental plants.
• Pest and weed management: Identify common pests and weeds and provide strategies for their management, focusing on natural pest control methods and integrated pest management strategies.
• Preparation of natural extracts: Offer techniques for preparing natural pesticides using vegetable extracts. Also cover waste management techniques and composting practices.
• Seed Saving and Propagation: Provide methods for extracting and storing
• Biodiversity and Agroforestry: Highlight the importance of biodiversity in farm resilience and demonstrate how integrating trees into agricultural systems can be beneficial.
• Animal integration: Explore the use of chickens, ruminants, and bees in agroecological systems to enhance farm productivity and sustainability.
• Marketing and economic diversification: Guide farmers in developing value-added products, building consumer relationships, and accessing markets for organic and agroecological products.

Final Deliverables :

• FGD and interview questions.
• Detailed outline for the agroecology curriculum.
• A comprehensive curriculum consisting of 20 sessions (theoretical and practical), designed to equip farmers with practical agroecological practices. The final curriculum will be user-friendly, adaptable for local trainers, and practical for use in the Lebanese farming context. It must be delivered in Word format in English, and include clear headings and sub-headings, and each training session should not exceed 3 hours.

Eligible Applicants:

• Applications can be received from one expert or a team of more than one expert, or a company. If submitted by a team, one of the experts will be considered Lead Expert and be signatory.
• Experts can be local or international, or a combination of both.
• It must be noted that: The contract will be signed with a single entity, whether an individual or a consultancy institution, outlining clear terms of engagement.
• The selection process will consist of two steps: first, a pre-selection based on clear criteria for technical experience, followed by in-person or online interviews with the shortlisted candidates.

Minimum Qualification and Experience

• Extensive, proven experience in agroecology
• Expertise in curriculum development and training facilitation, or similar assignments/missions
• Experience in participatory processes with communities/farmers (e.g., FGDs)
• Familiarity with the Lebanese agricultural context is a plus
• Ability to work in collaboration with a technical team
• Time management, good organizational skills, ability to be flexible
• Experience working with NGOs on development projects is a plus
• Strong communication and interpersonnel skills
• Fluency in spoken and written in English; strong writing skills are required