Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified service provider to provide certification services for organic farming projects funded by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The service provider should offer technical advisory services, ensure compliance with organic farming principles, and facilitate certification through recognized organic certification bodies in South Africa.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Developing organic farming performance standards aligned with recognized certification bodies such as SAOSO, PGS, Ecocert, AFRISCO, etc.
• Assessing farmers' understanding of organic principles and their production performance.
• Creating action plans with clear performance indicators for technical support and monitoring across ten UNEP farms.
• Providing advisory support, compliance monitoring, and certification services for all ten farms.
• Ensuring farmers obtain organic certification from accredited bodies recognized by the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Land Reform.
• Reporting and submitting assessment and compliance reports quarterly for each project.
• Rendering services at specified locations including Johannesburg and surrounding farms.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Conducting farm diagnosis and assessment reports for all ten UNEP farms.
• Providing advisory services and compliance monitoring twice per quarter over two financial years.
• Certifying all ten farms as organic according to recognized standards.
• Monitoring farming practices, crop production status, and standard compliance.
• Submitting quarterly reports with findings, recommendations, and proof of certification.
• Demonstrating understanding of organic farming principles through detailed process descriptions.
• Employing qualified personnel, including a project leader with relevant qualifications and certifications.

Skills Requirements

The skills and personnel requirements include:

• Personnel with relevant qualifications in agriculture and environmental studies (diploma/degree, honors, masters, PhD).
• Certified personnel with qualifications not older than six months.
• Experience in organic farming, certification processes, and compliance monitoring.
• Membership or affiliation with recognized organic farming associations in South Africa (e.g., SAOSO), with proof of registration or membership.
• Demonstrated understanding of organic farming standards, advisory services, and monitoring procedures.
• Ability to produce detailed assessment reports, action plans, and certification documentation.