• Title: Marketing Consultant for Technical Recommendations on the Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants in Swat, Pakistan.
• Location: Pakistan (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Swat other potential cities).
• Dates: 1st May 2014.
• Report t: Marketing Manager USAIDs Entrepreneurs Project
• LOE: 20 days (10 days Field work travel days, 3 day per-preparation and 7 days for report writing)

Summary Brief:

The Consultant will work with the Value Chain team under the supervision of Marketing Manager to carry out the market based designing of Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants from Swat and on the national level. The main purpose of this assignment is to determine the market based/ requirement of Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants: Demand and Supply, different types of Packaging and Labeling available, Ideal materials for various MAP species, Market requirements as well as those of different buyers / exporter of Medicinal Aromatic Plants.

Introduction:

MEDA Pakistan is a dynamic international development organization that believes in creating business solutions to poverty. It has been involved in designing and implementing innovative and effective market-driven economic development programs that improve the livelihoods of millions of people living in poverty around the world. In Pakistan, MEDA is implementing the Entrepreneurs project that aims to support the development of 75,000 micro-entrepreneurs, the majority of whom are women, who are in involved in the embellish fabric, dairy, medicinal and aromatic plants, and honey value chains. In District Swat, medicinal and aromatic plants and beekeeping are those of the value chains that are currently being supported.

Objective of the Entrepreneurs Project:

The main objective of USAIDs Entrepreneurs project in Swat on MAP is to significantly increase the incomes of 21,000 (70% women) MAP collectors over a period of three years.

Objective of the Assignment:

To assess, determine and suggest appropriate Packaging Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants products demand and supply in District Swat and other potential markets of Pakistan

Tasks to be Performed:

• To critically analyze the Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic plants in reference to its capability for local and outreach market.
• Review all existing marketing channels, stakeholders and demand of Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants.
• Quantitative Review of seasonal effects of different Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants species to market.
• Identify the current gaps in Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants of swat region.
• To suggest qualitative and qualitative parameters for Packaging of MAPs species.
• To determine and chalk out plan for market (demand and supply) sustainability and highlight areas of weakness including internal and external factors of hindrance.
• Provide recommendations including:

1. Identify and select Packaging and Labeling for Medicinal Aromatic Plants.
2. Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants with define grading of containers, required labelling, and certifications.
3. Define terms and specifications of quality as per market need.
4. Cleary translate the buyer's needs and wants with concrete recommendation.
5. Meeting with potential Herbal Processing Companies for Packaging and Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants across Pakistan.
6. Develop product wise supply chain plans from farm to market clearly identifying the product processing, packing, labeling
7. Ranking the herbal products (separately in fresh and value added categories) according to their importance and economic viability in terms of trade, ease of penetration in the market, and related factors for Pakistan
8. Ranking the herbal products (separately in fresh and value added categories) according to their importance and economic viability in terms of trade, ease of penetration in the market, and related factors for Pakistan
9. Review the current situation of these products in Pakistan, in local markets, imports, exports.
10. Identify the SPS and other trade related requirements for the medicinal plants especially for EU and US Markets.
11. Devise complete plan for branding and high-end market penetration of these products.
12. Identify important export markets for Pakistan with details of respective marketing channels, competitors in the market, prices, industry standards, constraints etc.

Deliverables:

a. A detailed draft and final report that includes:

i. Assessment of the existing practices of small local vendors, identify production constraints, and recommending steps and requirements to address these constraints.

ii. Major factors that led to the low productivity for the potential Packaging Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants processing companies.

iii. Identification of economically important Packaging Labeling of Medicinal Aromatic Plants in Swat District and surrounding areas and recommendations on how to manage these in ways that are affordable and sustainable for small MAP collectors.

iv. Identification of suitable Packaging Labeling materials of Medicinal Aromatic Plants and recommend which value addition would be the best option for use by small traditional sellers to achieve the objective of the Entrepreneurs Project of significantly increasing sale capabilities.

b. Submission to Abid Rahman, Marketing Manager USAIDs Entrepreneurs Project of the final report, highlighting findings and recommendations.

c. Power Point Presentation to C.O.P D.C.O.P in the Presence of V.C Lead Marketing Manager.

Indicators for the Evaluation of Outcome:

The outcome of the assignment will be evaluated on the basis of completeness of the report that include detailed assessment of the situation with concrete recommendations and acceptance of the report by the marketing manager USAIDs Entrepreneurs project

Qualification requirements:

• Minimum degree of Masters in Plants Preferably in Medicinal Plants, P.H.D will be prefer
• At least 10-12 years of experience in plant sciences, Plant physiology aromatic plants sciences.
• Internal market exposure will be plus.
• Demonstrate physically ideal / suitable packaging material for each MAP species required, keeping in view seasonal effect, humidity contents, P.H more.
• Have clear knowledge of Multinational or large scale Herbal processing companies packaging requirements.

Consultancy Fees

Interested parties can submit their desire remuneration but final remuneration will finalize according to consultant qualification and previous consultancy rates. Consultant will be paid on lump sum basis for the rendered services. MEDA will not be responsible to cover travelling, accommodation and logistics arrangements. Fee will be paid after applicable tax deductions as per government laws and regulations.

Schedule

The duration of this consultancy will be for 20 working days commencing from 01 May, 2014 to 30 May 2014. The number of days covers time for meetings, reviewing of documents, data collection by visiting field, drafting, editing and incorporating feedback and fine tuning the final report.

Fee Payment Plan

Payable as per following schedule;1.40% of the contract value as advance on signing of the contract.2.30% of the contract value on completion of draft report.3.30% of the contract value on completion and submission of final report to MEDA.

Validity of proposal

Proposals will be valid for 60 days.

Intellectual Property Rights

All outputs under the assignment shall be the sole property of Entrepreneurs. The Consulting Firm/ Team shall not exercise any rights on all the outputs and cannot share the same with any outsiders without the prior consent of Entrepreneurs project.