1. Introduction

UNNATI – Inclusive Growth Programme is a five year programme supported by the Danish Government with the key priority being to strengthen market-based growth with a focus on the agricultural sector and on private sector development in compliance with the strategies of the Government of Nepal and DANIDA. The strategic focus of the programme is on private sector development in compliance with DANIDA’s strategy for support to growth and employment. The private sectors are beneficiaries as well as implementing partners. The programme’s main implementation is in seven hill districts of the Eastern Development Region of Nepal, namely Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Terhathum, Sankhuwasabha, Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung, but also with interventions at regional and national levels.

The overall objective of the programme is “Promotion of sustainable inclusive growth that reduces poverty and raises living standards”. The programme consists of three components:

C1: The Value Chain Component comprises two sub-components:

            1.1: Commercialization of Selected Value Chains (tea, ginger, dairy and cardamom)

            1.2: Access to Finance;

C2: The Infrastructure Component comprises two sub-components

            2.1: Rural Transport Infrastructure 

            2.2: Public Market-Related Infrastructure; and

C3: The Enabling Environment Component comprises two sub-components

            3.1: Public-Private Partnership

            3.2: Advocacy for Rights and Good Corporate Governance. 

The Value Chain component is the core component with the other two components being the supporting components. The value chain component has an objective of “sustained improvement in competitiveness of selected value chains”. For this, four value chains are to be developed, namely, tea, ginger, dairy and cardamom. UNNATI’s value chain approach is to identify market opportunities and the players at the various levels of the four Value Chains that it supports. Having identified market opportunities and players, programmes will be designed that will improve the functioning of the Value Chain and bring economic and social benefits to its beneficiaries.

2. Background of the Assignment

78 small scale orthodox tea processing units are in operation in the UNNATI program districts (Ilam-56, Panchthar-8, Taplejung-1, Terhathum-5, Dhankuta-/Morang 4 and Sankhuwasabha-4).

UNNATI aims to stimulate and assist the existing and aspiring new small tea factories to enter the high quality tea business and helping them to overcome the problems with their business model by linking them with high value markets, improving their processing and packaging practices and developing linkages with orthodox tea growers/growers' cooperative, as well as assisting them in changing their farmers' cultivation practices in order to get good quality leaves.

In the Value Chain component, UNNATI works through three main implementation modalities: 1. through Government, 2. through service providers, and 3. through a Challenge Fund. The Challenge Fund will provide grants to individual or groups of value chain actors for improvements that enhance commercialization and benefit stakeholders within the value chain.

In this connection, UNNATI has selected CTCF for supporting service provider partner and together signed agreement the title on Need Assessment and Assistance to Small Tea Factories to Produce and Process High Quality Tea under the UNNATI – MC contract number T2/16/001. According to agreement Phase 1 and 2 was already conducted and submitted the all report by CTCF.  After that  UNCDF /UNNATI announced the EOI for VCF Orthodox T2 for STPUs and tea cooperatives.  On the base of agreement UNNATI requested CTCF for Assist to write Concept note and Full proposal for Small Tea Process Units (STPUs). CTCF assisted to write SMART concept note and Full proposal to STPUs  from 20th September to 24^th October 2016 with the composed of 9 persons.

3. Objective(s)

1. To make SMART concept note and Full proposal to STPUs according to the format of UNNATI.
2. To increase competitiveness of concept note and Proposal for award .

• To give proper information for needed submitting documents along with Proposal.

4. Activities

1. Assist to write Concept note and Full proposal for Small Tea Process Units (STPUs)

5. Methodology

Assistants and the consultants of CTCF were assisted to individual STPUs and cooperatives of UNNATI programme districts to made smart concept note and Full proposal according the format of UNNATI.  38 STPUs and cooperatives were assisted to make concept note and 32 STPUs and cooperatives were assisted to write SMART proposal. (assisted STPUs and cooperatives name list is attached annex 1 )

6. Team Composition:

4. Assisted STPUs and Cooperatives