National Independent Consultant to provide INGELO support

Contact: Procurement Unit -procurement.sz@undp.org

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Introduction

Description of the Assignment:

The primary objective of this contract is to support the implementation of the Ingelo Local Market Access Certification Scheme by guiding a selected group of 20 MSMEs through the certification process. This initiative aims to facilitate their formal market penetration, enhance product and service quality compliance, and ultimately position them for entry into the AfCFTA market. By domesticating ISO standards and tailoring them to the realities of Eswatini’s MSMEs, the scheme seeks to reduce technical barriers and improve the competitiveness of local enterprises.

Specific Objectives 1.

• Guided Certification Process: Provide hands-on support for Youth-MSMEs in navigating the Ingelo certification scheme, ensuring adherence to domesticated ISO standards while minimizing technical complexity.
• Capacity Building: Enhance Youth in MSMEs’ understanding of quality and safety standards by offering tailored technical assistance to improve their ability to comply with certification requirements.
• Market Access Facilitation: To increase market access for Youth-led MSME’s through Ingelo certification scheme/ Support MSME to identify suitable market for the certified Products
• Financial Accessibility Support: Explore cost-reduction mechanisms or financial assistance models that enable MSMEs to afford certification and sustain compliance with established standards.
• Product Testing: To identify local competent laboratory facilities to support the Ingelo certification process.
• Process Documentation: To document the Ingelo certification process through the piloting of an experiment in collaboration with ESWASA and MCIT.
• Product Development: To promote MSME product safety by inculcating production processes that will improve sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures.
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The consultant shall undertake the following tasks:• Assist identified 20 youth-led MSMEs to develop and implement management systems for their production facilities.
• Assist in providing technical guidance/advise to partners assigned to assist through implementation, at setting up.
• Provide mentorship and training of the 20 selected participants from identified industry sectors on understanding and implementing requirements of the Cottage production standard.
• Support 20 MSMEs to clear findings raised during the audits.
• Identify appropriate research facilities to support the testing processes required for certification protocols to be fully adhered to.
• Facilitate testing of product samples at development stage in the case of product certification to verify product conformity to applicable requirements.
• Monitor and document the implementation through certification processes and MSMEs performance, including estimating average costs and timelines associated to adhering to the guidelines inclusive of documenting MSMEs perceptions of the certification procedures.
• Develop a report documenting the impact of the Ingelo certification scheme on the 20 selected participants in comparison to a comparative group of MSMEs that have applied for certification during the same period.

The ideal candidate should meet or exceed the below requirements;

• Have atleast a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Quality or Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology or Chemistry, Home Economics. A Master’s in project management or related field will be an added advantage
• Have at least 10 years’ experience in the development and implementation of quality management systems and product certification schemes based on the ISO/IEC 17021 and the ISO/IEC 17065 Standards, quality standards auditing and development standards training materials and training.
• Demonstrated experience disseminating information to a non-technical audience and knowledge in multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement.
• The Consultant should be locally based
• Good writing and reporting skills

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