Consultant (Production of Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Derivatives)
WorldFish, Myanmar

About WorldFish

WorldFish is implementing the Fish for Livelihoods Activity (2019-2024), an investment by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to sustain positive aquaculture sector growth through an inclusive market systems approach. The activity will provide a means of ensuring the improved availability of diverse, safe, affordable nutrient-rich foods, especially for women and young children from poor and vulnerable households.

The activity will stimulate aquaculture sector growth, increase employment and income, and improve food and nutrition security for households. It will serve a facilitating role by coordinating linkages among the value chain actors in the private and civil society sector of Myanmar.

Development Goal and Project Objectives
Inclusive and sustainable small-scale aquaculture growth to increase income and dietary diversity, and reduce poverty of beneficiary populations, especially women and children, in central and northern Myanmar[1]. The specific objectives are:

• Increase small scale aquaculture (SSA) production through strategic activities including improved land and water use, increased access to high quality inputs (feed, seed and equipment), capacity development and research into production, and access to credit.
• Further develop Market-based System Approaches (MSA) and utilize those to increase access of food safe fish and fish products by poor people.
• Deliver enhanced nutrition and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices through social behavior change communication (SBCC) activities.

Background and Objective

To achieve objective three, F4L supports improved dietary diversity via the production of aquatic food, fruit and vegetables all associated with integrated agriculture. Farm and domestic organic waste is usually used efficiently within the farming system however, urban waste, especially from wet-markets, can be used more efficiently. One method of doing this would be to produce insects of high nutritional value like for example the production of black soldier fly larvae.

Therefore, F4L seeks a qualified national company to deliver an assignment entitled; Production of Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Derivatives.

[1]Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Kachin, Eastern Shan and Southern Shan

Requirements

The consultant needs to deliver the following:

1. Put in place a circular economy based recycling of organic waste in both urban and rural environments to Produce Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae and pupae in Myanmar as a fish feed and possibly as a food for direct human consumption via the marketing of larvae or a BSF powder to mix with fish powder;
2. Carry out an in-depth economic analysis of BSF production at decentralized levels and the potential as a fishmeal substitution product for fish feeds. Include a business model for the circular economy use of organic matter for BSF production;
3. Establish a functioning production facility with the capability of replication in isolated communities at least one in the following States/Regions: Kachin; Sagaing; Magway; Mandalay; Shan East and South;
4. Provide a qualified technical team with Burmese-English fluency;
5. Ensure that background nutritional diagnostics of BSF exist in Myanmar (amino acid, lipid and micronutrient content analysis);
6. Produce clear concise training materials in Burmese;
7. Have the ability to interact with the full range of clients from small-scale farmers to multinational aquatic food production enterprises with the capability to employ women and youths.

The written proposal needs to include a detailed work plan and budget for two stages:

• Stage 1: 15 May 2023 to September 2023; and
• Stage 2: from 15 October 2023 to 15 April 2024.
• The proposal should indicate how to carry out the tasks and demonstrate previous or existing work experience related to this call for proposal. The proposal is evaluated following below criteria;

Evaluation criteria

1) The company’s planned approach in undertaking the project (30 points)

2) Demonstration of expertise and experience in conducting similar work especially in Myanmar (20 points)

3) CVs of the key staff who will be involved in the project (20 points)

4) Budget breakdown and value for money (20 points)

5) Realistic timeline (10 points)

Duration of the Contract

The consultancy can be split into two stages with first of 4-months to be completed by mid-September 2023. If the first stage is successful, the work can be scheduled to continue mid-October 2023 for a further 6-month period. The expected start date is 15 May 2023.

Job Rewards and Benefits