Business Service Providers Cacao Regenerative Farming System (CRFS) & Bio-solutions Expansion

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - BUSINESS SERVICE PROVIDER FOR CACAO REGENERATIVE FARMING SYSTEM (CRFS) & BIO-SOLUTIONS EXPANSION

BACKGROUND

MEDA is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of business professionals MEDA partners with the poor to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world.

In support to the sustainability and inclusive farming business performance for the cacao SHFs and cacao-based enterprises RIISA will engage a qualified BSP to provide technical services and production inputs to i) promote cacao regenerative farming system (CRFS among new (not in the existing list of RIISA cacao farmers) 750 farmers in Davao region Bukidnon province and North Cotabato; and ii) continue for another year the technical mentoring and monitoring of the existing six (6) CRFS trial farms (in Davao City; San Isidro Davao del Norte; Mawab Davao de Oro; Tarragona and Mati City in Davao Oriental) initially established by the RIISA Project through the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council (DRCIDC) and Davao City Cacao Industry Development (DCCIDC). The engagement will directly contribute to meeting the following target project results: 1) increase cacao yield by 25% from the baseline for 525 of the 750 farmers; 2) adoption of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices focusing on CRFS to initiate the soil health restoration by 70% of the 750 cacao farmers; and 3) 80% of the new 750 cacao farmers have access to market.

This call for application is open to a BSP that can meet with the deliverables within 13-month period (March 1 2026 to April 30 2027)

SCOPE OF WORK

MEDA seeks an experiencedbusinessservice provider(BSP)cum cacaomarket playertomeet the following deliverables:

• Mobilize and register1000 newly identified cacao farmersin Davao regionBukidnonprovince andNorth Cotabato.

• Digitize the database of 150 sample cacao farmersusing GISfor real-time progress monitoring.

• Provide and deploy technicalassistanceand production inputs to at least750 cacao farmers to adopt the CRFS 10 protocols.

• Establishvillage-level laboratory and engage Canadian company/iesfor bio-solutionsdealership.

• Providefour (4)quarterly mentoring and monitoring support to theexistingsix (6) CRFS trial farm-cooperators.
• Engage ESAP products and services suppliers and conduct two (2) follow-up half-day technical advice on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Practices (ESAP) or CRFS for each of the RIISA 15 cooperatives and 5 SMEs involving at least 1000 cacao farmers. Provide the 1000 cacao-farmer-participants with at least 2 packs each of Trichoderma and Beauveria Bassiana.
  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Deliverables

1. Inception report thatdetails themethodologiesand strategiesin meeting the deliverables.
2. Activity report onthe digitization of the 150 sample cacao farmers using GISand theCRFS report shall includethedata collectedandthe process and platform on how MEDA-RIISA can access the database of the sample farmers for real-time progress monitoring.
3. List of the 1000 cacao farmers using RIISAs Client Registration Form
4. Three Quarterly Business Development Services Reports on the following:
   

- progress of 750 farmers and the existing six (6) CRFS trial farm-cooperators after receiving the required CRFS technical assistance and production inputs

- progress of a) the establishment of a village-level laboratory to support the newly engaged cacao farmers and b) the engagement with a Canadian company for bio-solutions dealership.

- progress of technical advice and provision of biological control agents to at least 1000 cacao farmers involving the existing 15 cooperatives and 5 SMEs of RIISA.

- The last quarter report will serve as the Final report.

Activities

1. Inception meeting with MEDA-RIISA Team to discuss the expectations from the BSP.
2. Work with MEDA-RIISA Technical and IKM Team in finalizing the Inception Report.
3. Introduction and courtesy call to LGUs
4. Mobilization and coordination activities
5. Conduct the digitization training to 150 sample cacao farmers so that they can provide the data needed to measure progress of the support received.
6. Provide the needed TA and production inputs support to the 750 cacao farmers andthe existing six (6) CRFS trial farm-
7. Provide the needed TA and equipment support for the establishment of one village-level Biocon laboratory to cater to the biological control agents needs of target cacao farmers.
8. Work with GAC or RIISA identified Canadian company for bio-solution dealership to cater to the needs of agrifood based companies in Mindanao.
9. Conduct on-site and digital monitoring to measure progress of the cacao farmer-clients and the village-level Biocon laboratory and the engagement with a Canadian company.
10. Engage relevant ESAP or market actors to provide technical advice & inputs on ESAP or CRFS to at least 1000 cacao farmers involving the existing 15 cooperatives and 5 SMEs of RIISA.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

March 1 2026 - Inception report that details the methodologies and strategies in meeting the deliverables

June 30 2026

• Activity report on the digitization of the 150 sample cacao farmers using GIS and the CRFS farmer-clients registration. The report shall include the data collected and the process and platform on how MEDA-RIISA can access the database of the sample farmers for real-time progress monitoring.
• List of the 1000 cacao farmers using RIISAs Client Registration Form.

June 30 2026 (1st quarterly report); September 30 2026 (2nd quarterly report); January 15 2027 (3rd quarterly report); April 15 2027 (Draft Final report)

• Three Quarterly Business Development Services Reports on the following:

- progress of 750 farmers and the six (6) CRFS trial farm-cooperators after receiving the required CRFS technical assistance and production inputs.

- progress of a) the establishment of a village-level laboratory to support the newly engaged cacao farmers and b) the engagement with a Canadian company for bio-solutions dealership.

- Progress of technical advice and provision of biological control agents to at least 1000 cacao farmers involving the existing 15 cooperatives and 5 SMEs.

- The last quarter report will serve as the Final report.

Qualifications & Selection Criteria

A. Generic and Mandatory:

• Legally registered in the Philippines and been providing business services to cooperatives or SMEs for at least three years.
• Familiar with thecacaoindustryin Davao Region North Cotabatoand Bukidnon in Mindanao.
• Servicesare supportingitscorporatecommercial interestsforits cacao alignedwith the priority ofcooperativesandSMEsinDavao region North Cotabatoand Bukidnonthat istoincrease cacao yield and incomeof farmers.
• Localandfinancially stable organization/company. Need to provide 2-3 yearsaudited FS.
• Candeploy experts/servicesimmediatelyand be able to finish the deliverables within13monthsfromsubmittingtheinceptionreport.
  

B. Specific Expertise:

• • Demonstrated evidence of successfully providing extension and farm management services to the community of cacao farmers focusing on the following: composting for beneficial microbes; pruning; mulching; application and monitoring of the effects of biocontrol agents (mycorrhiza trichoderma trichogramma beauveria bassiana); application and monitoring of the effects of biofertilizers; integrated pest management farm-level production and the proper application of fish amino acids calcium acetate or calcium phosphate and other environmentally sustainable agriculture practices.
  • Its business services complement its existing cacao business that can provide access to market and create employment opportunities.
  • Demonstratedexpertiseand experience inworking withgovernment agenciesand Local Government Units cooperatives SMEscouncils anddevelopment-orientedorganizations.
  • Preference is given to BSPthatcanquicklymobilize the support oftarget market systems actorsinmeeting the deliverables.

Funding

• Funding will be discussed once an applicant will be identified successful in the initial stage of assessment and selection.

Application Procedure

InterestedBSPtosend application toMEDA via email at and cc:or through the BambooHR platformwith thePROPOSALas attachment by 5:00pm onJanuary30 2026.PleaseindicateBSPCRFS and BioSolutionsMS-Support to Cacao Farmers.

A. Contact Information

1. Organizations Legal Name

2. Mailing Address

3. Main Contact Person and Title

4. Telephone

5. Email Address

6. Website if available (Facebook twitter)

7. SEC/CDA/DTI Registration Number

B. Proposal Outline

1. Introduction(maximumhalf page):provide understanding oftheToRand how your organization or company can respond to a brief explanationon their motivation to partner with MEDA.

2. Capability Statement(maximum of one page):

• Briefly describe your organizations businessandservices in relation to theexpertiseand capacitiesrequired by thisToR in the last three years with specific information on the beneficiaries contracting company/organization andtheresults of your engagements.

• Briefly describe the financial position of the organization/company.

• Please include the contact details (contact person phone and email) of at least three (3) organizations/companies/cooperatives who can speak to the capability and credibility of your organization.

• Describethe qualifications of the personnel who willpossiblybeinvolved in the engagement.

3. Proposed Methodology(maximum ofonepage).

• Describe how the proponent willprovide thebusinessdevelopmentservicesrequiredand achieve the desireddeliverablesthat complement its cacao business.

• Discussthe strategy toembedgendered-environment social & governance(G-ESG)considerationsin the implementation processes and reportingto ensurethemeaningfulparticipationand benefitsof womenyouthand Indigenous peoples and to promotegood governance inpromoting CRFS and bio-solutions.

4. Proposed Work Plan(maximum of one page). Outline the activities timeline expected outputsresourcesand theexpertiseneeded.

5. Estimated Cost of the Engagement(inmatrixformat): Itemized cost and unit and total cost.

6. Annex:

• Copy ofDTI/SEC/CDACertificate of Registration

• Copy ofCV of BSP staff who will work on this engagement.

• Copy of the work sample/s of BSPorthe assigned staff.

MEDA welcomes and encourages applications from all genders backgrounds religions cultures nationalities and abilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates with disabilities taking part in the selection process.

Required Experience:

Senior IC