Call for Bidding: End-of-Project (EOP) Evaluation for the EU-funded SOLARES Project

Mahintana Foundation, Inc., seeks the services of a consultant/evaluator to do an End-of-Project (EOP) Evaluation for the EU-funded Strengthening Off-grid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions (SOLARES) Project that will end on 12 June 2022.

The consultant/evaluator for the End-of-Project Evaluation must have educational qualification, expertise and a minimum of 5 years work experience on project evaluation involving programs on rural electrification, solar energization, solar generation/ distribution, solar-as-a-service (SaaS), on-grid/off-grid/hybrid solar systems installation/application, productive uses of renewable energy (PURE), carbon emission reduction/net zero, livelihood/loan assistance, microfinancing/lending, community livelihoods, social enterprise). The duration of the evaluation will be around 24 working days, starting 2 May 2022 to 31 May 2022.

For parties interested in this call for bidding, please address your CV to Mr. Martiniano L. Magdolot, President, Mahintana Foundation, Inc., Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato and email to mahintana_mfi@yahoo.com; cc: projectsolares@gmail.com. Deadline of submission is on 30 April 2022.

Please refer to the link below for the copy of the Terms of Reference (TOR):

https://bit.ly/tor-eop-solares

SOLARES supports coffee industry of Sultan Kudarat through PURE

Productive Uses of Renewable Energy or PURE technology which supports local community livelihoods is promoted through the European Union-funded Access to Renewable Energy Programme SOLARES (Strengthening Off-grid Lighting with Appropriate Renewable Energy Solutions) Project. PURE aims to provide the partner people's organizations (POs) with modernized RE-based or solar-powered agro-processing machines to reduce operating costs (including use of diesel) and potentially increasing overall yield through appropriate and efficient technologies powered by renewable energy.

Counter-clockwise: SOCCSKSARGEN Agro-Industrial Hub Feasibility Study, Meeting with Kalamansig Vice Mayor and LIMFA, and Coffee Farmers Association (Brgy. Capilan)

In line with the PURE projects on coffee processing, the project supports the upcoming coffee quality evaluation of Sultan Kudarat by coordinating several focal persons of the Offices of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) of Lebak and Kalamansig, Department of Trade and Industry Rural Agro-Industrial Partnership for Inclusive Development (DTI RAPID) Sultan Kudarat, ACDI/VOCA, local coffee POs, and other partners for PURE on the upcoming activities and priorities of the project.

On January 18-21, 2022, together with project staff Engr. Dhan Jaycle Diolanto and Engr. Jay Amiel Ajoc, the SOLARES project team conducted a meeting with representatives to discuss establishing the baseline data on actual quality of the coffee bean produced by the partner PO prior to the full commissioning of PURE machines through a localized coffee green bean grading, roasting and cupping and coffee quality evaluation in the province of Sultan Kudarat.

The team coordinated and followed up local government units of Lebak and Kalamansig and partner POs regarding the proposed activity for the samples, schedules, venues, and confirmation of participants. The team hopes to secure the green coffee bean (GCB) samples of the partner coffee POs in Lebak and Kalamansig; at least 1.5 kg GCB (premium, sorted). The team was able to collect the samples from the following peoples organizations: Keytodac Coffee Growers Inc., Agsam Farmers Association, Coffee Farmers Association Inc., Villamonte Coffee Growers Association Inc., New Calinog Coffee Growers Association Inc., Limulan Sustainable Livelihood Association, Hinalaan Integrated Coffee Farmers Association, Mahayahay Womens Association Inc., Tinandok Womens Association Inc., and Kalamansig Farmers Agricultural Development and Marketing Association.

The samples will be submitted to ACDI/VOCA for encoding along with entries from other provinces (South Cotabato, Sarangani, and North Cotabato). 25 samples all in all were consolidated and collected by the team which will undergo a series of tests/grading for January 24-28, 2022.

The team provided updates on priorities and remaining targets of the project. This includes the upcoming coffee evaluation activity and the Department of Agriculture XII Regional Field Office (Philippine Rural Development Project) PRDP-funded capability-building training. Engr. Ajoc shared this is the result of the program complementation of Mahintana Foundation, Inc. and DA-PRDP, along with enables present in the area.

The proposed activity will train and equip at least 50 participants composed of technical/focal persons from different pre-identified coffee POs on organizational strengthening/development, good agricultural practices training, and provision of good quality planting and post-harvest tools/equipment, which will later on form part of the pool of trainers of coffee mentors. The training is set for January 27, 2022.

SOLARES trains for survey on Sultan Kudarat Coffee Profile

SOLARES trained 33 enumerators on mobile-based data gathering and validation in early September 2021.

Partnering with the Coalition of Social Development Organizations South Cotabato (CSDO-SC), the SOLARES team headed by EnP. Jobe C. Tubigon, project manager, conducted a training on August 31, September 1 to 3, 2021 for the ODK-based data gathering/validation of coffee farmers’ profiles in Lebak and Kalamansig. Invited participants actively shared their recommendations regarding the form. They showing understanding towards the topic. The survey was generated through Kobotoolbox or Open Data Kit.

Following this training, SOLARES deployed enumerators to Lebak and Kalamansig on September 6, 2021. Data gathering and validation will determine actual agricultural/coffee production profile of the two municipalities. Results will reveal socio-economic and geographical profiles of at least 6,000 coffee growers in these municipalities and validate the Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (PURE) support of the project. These include the gaps or demand for highly efficient and appropriate post-harvest or processing facilities and equipment. Potentially, through the survey, the project can further engage nearby communities to support profiling in their municipalities.

With this, an established database will contribute to a responsive coffee industry in the province of Sultan Kudarat which was highly emphasized in recent consultations of SOLARES with the Sultan Kudarat Coffee Council. The database must include geographical, socio-economic/production, and marketing profiles (including production and marketing concerns) of coffee growers, producer organizations, processors, intermediaries, dealers/brokers, exporters, roasters/grinders, and other actors of the Sultan Kudarat coffee value chain. The survey is set to be completed in October.