TERMS OF REFERENCE HIRING OF A SPECIALIZED BEEKEEPING CONSULTING FIRM FOR SITE ASSESSMENT, APIARY ESTABLISHMENT, AND COOPERATIVE STRENGTHENING IN RIBÁUÈ DISTRICT, NAMPULA PROVINCE
1. Objective of the Consultancy
The overall objective of this consultancy is to engage a specialized beekeeping consulting firm to assess and recommend suitable apiary sites, support the establishment and strengthening of beekeeping cooperatives, build members’ technical and business capacity, and provide technical assistance and monitoring to promote a sustainable honey value chain that contributes to biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods.
The specific objectives are to:
Assess and map potential apiary sites, considering ecological suitability, safety, accessibility, land-use conditions, and compatibility with biodiversity conservation.
Support the establishment, formalization, and strengthening of local beekeeping cooperatives or producer groups.
Build the capacity of cooperative members in sustainable apiculture, hive management, honey harvesting, processing, hygiene, storage, packaging, and business management.
Prepare an action plan covering production, harvesting, processing, preservation, packaging, and commercialization of honey and other bee products, as relevant.
Identify potential markets and buyers and facilitate commercial linkages and business opportunities.
2. Background
Project Reference: P05253,
Donor Reference: PA05293.30; DR05293.55
3. About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/
4. About the Project
The FLRHUB project is a joint initiative of IUCN and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), with support from SPA Nampula and SDAE-Ribáuè. The project supports forest landscape restoration actions in the Mpaluwe-Ribáuè reserve, Nampula Province.
The interventions aim to restore and promote sustainable production on 500 hectares of degraded land through agroforestry systems and natural regeneration, supporting four sustainable value chains: cashew nuts, bamboo, honey, and legal timber. The project also prioritises women’s empowerment, including support to local beekeeping cooperatives, to increase household income and diversify livelihoods.
5. Description of the Assignment
The consultant shall provide comprehensive technical expertise to establish and support sustainable beekeeping initiatives, contributing to biodiversity conservation and improved local community livelihoods. The assignment shall include baseline assessments and ecological site mapping to identify suitable and safe locations for apiary establishment.
The consultant shall be responsible for the physical establishment of the apiaries at the approved sites, including site preparation, installation and positioning of hives, and ensuring that the apiaries are established in accordance with appropriate beekeeping practices and environmental considerations. The consultant shall also provide technical assistance on hive management, sustainable honey production, and the operation and maintenance of the established apiaries.
In addition, the consultant shall support the establishment, formalisation and strengthening of local beekeeping cooperatives; develop and deliver structured training on sustainable apiculture; provide field monitoring and address operational challenges; and identify market opportunities and facilitate commercial linkages to promote the long-term sustainability of the honey value chain.
6. Duration of the Assignment
The assignment will be implemented in Ribáuè District, Nampula Province, over a period of three (3) months. The consultant shall submit a detailed work plan aligned with the twelve-week implementation period for IUCN’s approval at the beginning of the assignment.
7. Deliverables and Activities
The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities:
8. Payment Schedule
The Timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates milestones at which IUCN will pay the Consultant.
9. Skills and Experience
The consultant must have the following skills, education and experience as a minimum:
Indication of annual honey business turnover (revenue) for each of the last 2 years.
Legally registered entity authorized to render consulting services in Mozambique
At least 3 years of professional consultancy experience in Mozambique specializing in beekeeping site assessment, apiary setup, and cooperative strengthening.
Proven track record in beekeeping, apiary installation, hive management, and honey production best practices.
Demonstrated experience in producer capacity building, practical training, and rural extension. [...]
Procurement details
Reference: IUCN-26-10-Beekeeping Training Consult-1192
Procedure: SOP1 - Open Procedure
Procurement type: Consulting
IUCN office (lead): ESARO Mozambique
Requisitioning unit: ESARO Mozambique Programme (MZ)
Project: P05293 FLR Hub: Knowledge, Equality, and Scaled Impact
Expected contract duration: 3 months
Estimated contract value: <25,000 CHF
Currency of proposals: MZN - Mozambique New Metical
Language of documents: English
Deadline for questions: 23 October 2026 21:59 UTC
Deadline for technical and financial proposals: 30 October 2026 08:00 UTC
Expected contract award date: 09 November 2026 21:59 UTC
Documents
- Terms of Reference: Terms of Reference Beekeeping consultant_Final.docx
- Conditions for Participating: Conditions for Participating ENG-SPA-FRA v23-09-26.pdf
- Standard contract: Standard Agreement.docx
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership union of government and civil society organisations working on nature conservation and sustainable development. IUCN procures consulting services, goods and works for its projects worldwide through the IUCN Procurement Portal. For all contracts above CHF 25,000 IUCN selects contractors through a formal competitive tendering process under its Standard Operating Procedure 1 (Open Procedure). Interested bidders must register on the portal, review the Terms of Reference, the Conditions for Participating and the standard contract, and submit their technical and financial proposals through the portal before the stated deadline. Questions must be raised through the portal's Q&A function before the deadline for questions.
