PALM Corps, in partnership with ZOA Uganda, has secured funding from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) through ZOA Netherlands to implement a 36-month project titled “Developing Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Local Food Systems in the West Nile Region of Uganda (DRIVE)”. The project will be implemented from August 2024 to July 2027 in Terego and Madi Okollo Districts, including Imvepi and Rhino Camp Refugee Settlements.

The project focuses on two primary outcomes:

1. Enhanced productivity and production among smallholder farmers, including women and youth, through the adoption of climate-smart agroecological practices and sustainable land and water management implemented by ZOA Uganda.
2. Improved market participation of smallholder farmers, including women and youth, in profitable local and regional markets implemented by PALM Corps.

As part of Output 2.2, PALM Corps aims to strengthen market linkages by supporting farmers to engage productively with buyers and off-takers, enabling collective marketing of produce at competitive prices. To this end, PALM Corps has identified and mapped 25 private sector actors along the targeted value chains, including 10 small-scale processors, 10 produce dealers/aggregators, and 5 input dealers—many of which are women and youth-led enterprises.

To enhance the performance of these actors, PALM Corps conducted a capacity needs assessment which revealed key gaps in areas such as business record keeping, branding and certification, packaging, sales management, food safety, and marketing. Addressing these gaps requires a tailored capacity-building approach involving training, coaching, and mentorship.

To support this process, PALM Corps seeks the services of a consultant to review and adapt an existing business management training manual developed under a previous project to align with the specific context and needs of the DRIVE project and its targeted value chain actors.

2. Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this is to review the existing manual and develop a tailor-made picture-coded Business management training manual to facilitate coaching and mentorship of these agribusinesses.

3. Specific Objectives

The consultancy will focus on the following objectives:

1. Review the existing PALM Corps business management training manual.
2. Analyze the findings from the capacity needs assessment of the 25 private sector actors.
3. Adapt the manual to address identified capacity gaps (e.g., business records, branding, marketing, packaging, certification, food safety).
4. Ensure the manual includes practical tools, case studies, and exercises relevant to agro-based MSMEs operating in refugee and host community contexts.
5. Develop facilitator and participant versions of the manual.
6. Deliver an orientation session for PALM Corps staff and/or coaches on the use of the revised manual.

4. Scope of work

The consultant is expected to:

• Conduct an inception meeting with PALM Corps to understand the assignment expectations and context.
• Review relevant documents including the existing training manual, capacity assessment report, and project documents.
• Engage with PALM Corps technical staff and possibly selected private sector actors for clarification or validation of needs.
• Revise and contextualize the training content to ensure relevance to the target actors and DRIVE project goals.
• Structure the manual into key thematic areas such as:
  • Business planning and development
  • Financial literacy and records management
  • Product quality and food safety
  • Sales and marketing strategies
  • Branding, packaging, and certification
  • Customer Relations management
  • Value chain and market systems development
• Develop user-friendly facilitator and participant manuals.
• Provide a presentation/orientation session to staff/coaches on the finalized tool.

5. Duration of the assignment:

The assignment is expected to be completed within 10 working days, starting from the signing of the contract. The detailed schedule will be agreed upon during the inception phase..

6. Deliverables

7. Requirements for the consultant

The ideal consultant (individual or firm) should possess the following:

• Proven experience in developing business training manuals, particularly for agribusiness MSMEs.
• Strong background in business development services, entrepreneurship, and market systems.
• Experience working with refugee and host community contexts in Uganda or similar settings.
• Familiarity with climate-smart agriculture and value chain development.
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills in English.
• Prior work with NGOs or development agencies will be an added advantage.

8. Reporting:

The consultant will report directly to the Program Manager-Livelihoods sector at PALM Corps, with technical support from the Project Coordinator.

9. Application Process

Interested candidates or firms should submit the following:

1. A brief technical proposal demonstrating understanding of the ToR, proposed methodology, and work plan.
2. A financial proposal (including all costs and taxes).
3. CV(s) of consultant(s) or firm profile with relevant experience.
4. At least two samples of similar work (manuals, tools, reports).
5. Contact details of two referees.

All applications should be submitted by 12^th September 2025 to tenders@palmcorps.org with the subject line: “Consultancy to Adapt Business Management Training Manual – DRIVE Project”