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AGRETAIN - Call for External Evaluation Services:

Published: 14/02/2025
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CALL for External Evaluation Services in the context of the Implementation of the Erasmus Innovation Project AGRETAIN- REgenerating susTainable food chAINs through mArket Gardening 

Project Nr.101140260

Agretain project abstract

Farming in EU is essential to livelihoods and local development while facing many challenges such as limited resources and growing environmental challenges posed by climate change and the related impact of human activity. Market Gardening could be a solution towards this problem by revisiting reliable traditional methods of agricultural production improved through decades of advancement and combined with modern techniques. It constitutes a bio-intensive method that focuses on the environment, farmers’ well-being and income whilst promoting rural development and sustainability through the efficient use of small areas of land. For the successful application of market gardening further support is needed for the workforce, more knowledge about the impact of this business model, more awareness raising and involvement of a wider range of actors. Training in market gardening is still absent in the majority of EU countries since this

model requires a combination of skills and competences that HEIs/ VET centers/ Schools haven’t included yet in their curricula and trainings, demanding multidisciplinary, managerial, and cross-sectoral expertise. Higher education and vocational training could play a critical role in this transition integrating dedicated curricula and trainings linked with specific credits via micro credential system. AGRETAIN aims to develop and deliver an innovative approach for teaching market gardening, by developing specific learning resources addressing students, neo farmers and farming practitioners. AGRETAIN will deliver a training needs analysis and develop a curriculum in the field for students, neo farmers and farming practitioners, exploring the key areas which are critical for the implementation of this innovative gardening business model. Based on this knowledge, AGRETAIN will design and pilot learning units which will incorporate a mix of training methodologies. An e-learning platform will offer accessible resources.

This 36-month project aims to collaboratively design, test, refine and exploit an integral curriculum on market gardening for students, neo farmers and farming practitioners at EQF Level 5+, available in English and in all partner languages by 2026. The partners involved in the project are 2 HE institutions, 2 VET providers, 2 research organisations, 3 SMEs, 1 social enterprise and 4 associated partners from Ireland, Austria, Germany, France and Greece.

 

EVALUATION SERVICES DESCRIPTION:

This consultancy will last for a period of 24 months, anticipated to commence in March 2025. The consultancy will include five key components, as follows:

1) External Evaluation of the project implementation process;

2) External Evaluation of the project outputs;

3) External Evaluation of the added value of the pilot learning path and its usability in the professional context;

4) Support as External Evaluator for the continuous improvement of the action

5) Impact Assessment of the Project and Outputs as External Reviewer

DELIVERABLES:

  1. External Evaluation Plan, including monitoring and evaluation tools and indicators;
  2. 1 Interim External Evaluation Report in June 2025;
  3. 1 Final External Evaluation Report in January 2027.

All deliverables to be submitted in English language.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Technical capacity in evaluation required, preferably in a related field (ΗΕΙ and/or VET);
  • A minimum of three years’ experience in Project Management, Monitoring &Evaluation, preferably of EU-funded projects;
  • Postgraduate university degree or equivalent in the wider field of the AGRETAIN project;
  • Postgraduate university degree or equivalent in the wider field of Education & Training would be an added value;
  • Excellent English language proficiency written and spoken;
  • Experience in the context of agribusiness and innovation project would be an asset.

CONDITIONS:

  • Place of consultancy: remote work;
  • Timeframe: the consultancy is expected to start as soon as possible, preferably in the month of March 2025. The estimated timeframe is 24months;
  • Budget available: 7.000 Euro - gross;
  • OTC and project partners will assist with arranging access to all relevant information and documents needed.

HOW TO APPLY:

Send your proposal to Αυτή η διεύθυνση Email προστατεύεται από τους αυτοματισμούς αποστολέων ανεπιθύμητων μηνυμάτων. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε τη JavaScript για να μπορέσετε να τη δείτε.. The proposal must include the following:

  • Technical Capacity: Description of organization/person and technical characteristics, prior relevant experience/project and works that demonstrate the experience and expertise of the candidate for this consultancy CVs and Similar works could be annexed;
  • Narrative proposal outlining methodology, approach and timeline in finalizing the deliverables;
  • Cost proposal: i.e. remote hourly rate, etc.
  • Information on availability for the assignment.
  • Brief statement indicating the reasons why you/your organization are/is an outstanding candidate for this consultancy