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Dear AIB Group thank you for your kind network that you offer for Academic professionals. could you please publish this for the group ... I have an offer for the following market study in the Gaza Strip- Palestinian territories. I need to cooperate with some specialized professional academics in supervise this mission and we could conduct the field study locally. PS: if interested you can contact me through the e-mail Best Regards Arafat Abdullah El-Af B. Com., PGD, MBA, CFM, ICDL-UNESCO, IACPA-IASCA, AED-USA, CM-USA Membership: PSAE, PAS, PAAA, ICPM, PCC, PMI, PNM, PICTI, PICTA, IUGI Lecturer: Islamic University of Gaza and University College of Applied Science Trainer& Consultant: JICA, IRPAL, CARE, World Vision, EMCC, Sidata, Qatar Rep, PBA Mobile :0097 0599 - 84 60 62 E-Mail : [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Consumer Preference Market Study for Dairy and Palm Date Products GAZA STRIP BACKGROUND The Consumer Preference Market Study for dairy and dates products will be performed in tandem with the Buy Local Campaign, funded by SDC and DANIDA and through joint partnership of two parallel market development programs in the Gaza Strip. The Project “Facilitating Development of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in the Gaza Strip for the Local Market‟ is funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by Oxfam and RUAF Foundation. The Project is implemented with the aim of increasing the income for women and men engaged in small-scale urban and peri-urban agriculture in the Gaza Strip. The original Project’s inter-related specific outcomes revolve around service supply markets, extension services, and enabling policy and governance frameworks, following an M4P approach. In Gaza, urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) development is aligned with a broader vision of supporting a more resilient agricultural sector that seeks to contribute to Gaza being more food secure, less dependent and vulnerable and with its population having improved access to sustainable jobs and income, improved livelihoods and a safer environment. The Project “Economic recovery in Gaza Strip” has run for the last 5 years in two phases. The project is funded by DANIDA, the Danish international development agency and is working across the Dairy, Vegetable Processing and the ICT sectors, with an integrated policy element. Oxfam aims to build on the existing DANIDA investment and continue contributing to the economic recovery and socio-economic empowerment of women, men and youth through small and medium-scale enterprises in three sectors. The second phase of the project aims to contribute to economic recovery and empowerment of small scale farmers, in particular women by: a. addressing the weaknesses within the market systems; and b. promoting alternative livelihoods and income generating opportunities in the OPT. Phase two will increase participation in user-driven market systems for female and male small and medium-scale producers, processors and entrepreneurs in the Gaza Strip. CONNECTIVITY TO THE BUY LOCAL CAMPAIGN Through the launch of phase II of the ‘’Buy- Local campaign’’, Oxfam aims to both reinforce and build on the economic literacy principle of buying local in Gaza. This will include an expansion of the marketing mix to include wider channels and a stronger presence on social media. Another component is to begin establishing the (national) buy-local logo by including this on the packaging of quality local products and to establish the direct links that can take this campaign to a national level. Learning from phase one of the campaign and specifically the leaky bucket image and nationally designed buy-local logo, these same images and logo must be shared as assets and used as the campaign goes to national level. The main objective of the campaign is to further reinforce and raise awareness amongst consumers in the Gaza Strip regarding the benefits to the local economy of buying local products and in particular dairy and palm dates products. It is also to create linkages to scale up the campaign to national level in collaboration with other linked donor projects. The specific objectives include: Increase local consumption on the locally produced products especially in the dates, dairy value chains. -Improve the perception amongst consumers of the value of local products and services, and benefits to the local economy -widening linkages across the market and education systems. -Strengthen the marketing skills and activities of processors, sector and marketing based businesses based on identified gaps and learning -Encouraging adopting more supportive regulation and policies to increase consumer and producers’ confidence in product quality control and protection. OVERALL OBJECTIVE The overall objective of the study is to perform a market study on the current and future consumption of locally produced products compared to import. The study will focus on the determinants of the demand for specific dairy and dates products, including but not limited to factors such as income, quality and preferences, price (including prices of substitutes and complementary products), consumer behaviour and future expectations and size of potential consumers. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGMENT This study will focus on collecting and analysing data (from consumers, retailers and producers) regarding consumer purchasing patterns and provide valuable feedback that can be used in determining ways to increase local Palestinian consumer’s consumption of local products thus positively impacting the Palestinian economy. This study will be conducted in tandem with the buy local campaign conducted by Oxfam. The study will provide an understanding of how consumers differentiate between local Palestinian products and imported products and how they make their purchasing decision when it comes to local products. The analysis and data collection will provide insight on the consumption preference and provide guidance on what factors impact the purchasing decision and if the consumer has the ability to differentiate between local and imported products especially in dairy and dates products. The collected data serves a national function and should be published for external use and future replication. The study should develop a tool for market signals, aiming to measure and analyse the current level of local products consumption, in addition to be used as monitoring tool to assess the change in demand and consumers preferences towards local products compared to imported. SCOPE OF STUDY What is the current status of demand on the locally produced dairy and date products in comparison with imported. – What is the percentage of local purchases on local products compared to the total production – What is the percentage of local purchase of local products compared with local purchases on imported products (WB, Israel, and other countries) – What is the percentage of local sales from the locally produced products? – Describe consumer’s preferences and factors affecting their consumption decisions. Why do consumers buy or abstain from purchasing the local produced processed product of the above mentioned products; – Price points? – Labelling? Is it clear the production source? – Consistency? – Quality? Or perceived quality? – Taste of the products? – Origin of the product and trust in the supplier? – What is the product profile that can encourage consumers to buy dairy and date products that are locally produced. (price, quality, package, labelling, certification etc…) – Is the identification of the product origin easy? Will mandatory labelling help consumers buy more local products? – Will a certification of quality assurance such as PSI increase trust in the product? What is the level of consumers know trust local certification system? And what is their willingness to pay for international certification. – What is the change in consumer buying behaviour before and after the buy local campaign? – Assess consumers awareness towards locally produced dairy and date products – What is the awareness level of local consumers regarding the quality assurance and trust in local products (comparison between WB, Gaza, Israel and other imported products). – What is the consumer’s awareness level towards the benefits of encouraging local product to develop local value chains and leading to sustainable economic development? -Recommends optimal measures to improve the demand on locally produced products and proper design to increase awareness among consumers. – At production level (quality, price, packaging, labelling, certification, etc.) how should producers along the value chains improve their products to meet the local demand and to compete the imported products? – At policy level, what are major policy changes needed to increase demand on local produced products (food safety monitoring system, quality assurance and monitoring, official labelling on products, etc.) – At Institutional structural and programmatic level, what institutional framework and what program design can help improve the consumers preferences towards local products (campaign design, roles of different stakeholders institutions, needed programs to improve quality at production level, government) Market signal monitoring plan with clear methodology and tools. AUDIENCE AND USE OF FINDINGS The findings will be used to – Providing insight to project management, stakeholders and donors on the current situation of consumer trends and behaviours towards local products to help develop further interventions in a more effective way. – Provide insight to private sector (food processors, producers, cooperatives, social enterprises…etc) into consumer demand so they can address those issues accordingly. METHODOLOGY – Secondary data from previous studies, reports, statistics etc. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies to be used, not limited to: will require the following tools: – Consumers surveys (in person surveys). – Focus Groups. – Personal interviews. – Observations. – Key informants interview. – It is expected to use representative sampling combined with a random sampling approach to reduce sampling bias. – The assignment will cover all of the Gaza Strip. DELIVERABLES The firm is expected to deliver the following; – An action plan for the implementation of the task within 2 weeks from signing the contract. Important with clear methodology. – The tools using include but not limited to surveys tools, raw data and data analysis. Clear methodology for assessing the required objectives in four samples include: processors, producers, retailers and consumers, using specified and varied tools to reduce sampling bias. – Full report, including analysis of the determinants of the demand for the designated products, including but not limited to factors such as income, quality preferences and price (including prices of substitutes and complementary products), consumer behaviour and future expectations and size of potential consumers – Market signals monitoring plan with clear methodology and tools. TIMEFRAME The firm will have 30 working days to undertake the field research and submit the last draft of the first research report. The final draft report should be submitted maximum 10 days after reception of the feedback on the first draft. RESEARCH MANAGEMENT The commissioning manager of the research will be the Oxfam focal point. The firm will submit a research plan including detailed methodology and tools prior to starting data collection. The Oxfam focal point will provide necessary technical feedback for the development of the methodology and tools and reviewing the draft report. The firm will submit the draft report and after receiving comments on the draft will submit the final report as per the agreed time plan. CONSULTANT PROFILE The ideal consultant will have at least 7-10 years of relevant experience. The consultant should have the following skills and competencies: – Proven experience in planning and conducting market research. – Proven record in the development of robust MEAL strategies and systems and assessment surveys for economic recovery programs in I/NGOs sector. – Good knowledge and extensive practice applying participatory approaches and qualitative methods to monitoring and evaluation – Good understanding of economic justice work and method for assessing changes related to the active participation and women leadership. – Experience of integrating gender dynamics within participatory data collection. – Relevant geographical experience in the Gaza Strip, ideally including previous work in the Gaza Strip and familiar with women reality there. – Ability to communicate fluently and write strong reports in English and Arabic. – The consultant is expected to propose efficient and effective team composition taking into consideration the social, cultural, environmental and political/security issues. – Ability to work with a diverse team and under pressure to produce agreed deliverables in a timely manner. – The consultant must be collaborative, willing to share thoughts, ideas, and make constructive criticism EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI): Oxfam invites the submission of an EOI from a consultancy firm with the experience and skills described above. The EOI must include: a) A cover letter of no more than 1 page introducing the consultant/organisation and how the skills and competencies described above are met, with concrete examples (Organization profile outlining similar experience including type of task, employer, project title, location, achieved outputs). The cover letter should also reflect the number of days to complete the assignment and total financial offer (cost). The cover letter should also indicate consultants’ availability for the proposed period. b) An outline of no more than 5 pages of the proposed process and key considerations including: – Key considerations for the market study – Proposed outline methodology for market study – Proposed actual number of days, timeframe and team size – Detailed financial offer / costs. It is expected that the financial offer includes a primary budget breakdown of cost of the study. c) Team composition, management arrangements, CV and detailed work plan of proposed team members. d) One example of a report from previous similar assignment in the Gaza Strip. The expression of interest should be send before 7 November 2016 to