CIFOR-ICRAF
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land & Irrigation Sri Lanka (MoALLI), along with the International Centre for Research on Agroforestry (ICRAF), is implementing the project titled “Strengthening Climate Resilience for Subsistence Farmers and Agricultural Plantation Communities Residing in the Vulnerable River Basins, Watershed Areas and Downstream of the Knuckles Mountain Range Catchment of Sri Lanka.” The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the primary donor of this project, with a total budget of USD 49 million over a six-year period.
Knuckles region’s unique biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems present exceptional opportunities for developing high-value spice and herb value chains that leverage pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic applications, and export market potential while supporting biodiversity conservation. The region’s elevation gradients, microclimatic variations, and rich cultural heritage create ideal conditions for cultivating premium medicinal and aromatic plants.
Sri Lanka’s spice and herb sector contributes significantly to export earnings, but smallholder participation in high-value markets remains limited due to quality issues, lack of certification, and weak market linkages. Limited economic scale exists as spices and herbs are cultivated in very limited areas under the canopy of agroforestry practices and home gardens, with limited facilities for processing (drying and packaging) and transporting to the nearest collecting markets.
The integration of traditional knowledge with modern cultivation and processing techniques offers unique positioning opportunities in both domestic and international premium markets. Under GCF Knuckles Component 2.1.1, the development of spice and herb business models supports climate adaptation through crop diversification, ecosystem services enhancement through biodiversity-friendly cultivation, and sustainable income generation through premium market access.
The business model outputs will facilitate the development of at least 2 spices and 2 herbs that have high commercial and sociocultural values in the Knuckles within the project time period.
Duties and responsibilities
Cross-Cutting Objective:
Spice and Herb Aggregation, Storage and Processing Hubs and Prospective Opportunities in the Knuckles Region: Identify present and prospective cultivation centres for economically important spices (e.g., pepper) and herbs, emphasizing climate resilience and market-driven suitability (linked to Objective 2). The output must be spatially explicit and map the infrastructure as well.
Main Objectives:
1. Market Analysis for Premium Segments
Assess domestic industry needs and explore international export opportunities for specialty spice and herb products across pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and traditional medicine sectors
2. Green Certification
Identify suitable national and global certification schemes, assess barriers for smallholders and MSMEs, and develop a strategy to certify and access premium markets for at least four products
3. Production
Identify key challenges in large-scale spice production and herb collection. Assess the potential for nursery development and the feasibility of transitioning from wild collection to more intensive yet sustainable herb domestication (link to Component 1 of GCF Knuckles)
4. Harvesting
Identify traditional spice and herb harvesting methods that align with sustainable production principles and regenerative farming system carrying capacity. Analyze community-reported harvesting issues and propose targeted interventions to enhance practices, considering end users of the harvest (domestic vs. premium markets)
5. Post-Harvesting and Transporting
Document traditional spice and herb processing practices (e.g. drying, making powder, and packaging for selling) to enhance commercial value while respecting intellectual property rights. Assess the potential and challenges of collective processing and transporting, considering the cultivation hub (Cross-cutting Objective), including production scale and management structures
6. Value Chain Development and Market Access
Create comprehensive business models, financing and investment options linking sustainable production with value addition, processing, and premium market access, including climate adaptation strategies and fair value distribution throughout the supply chain
Note: For Cross-cutting Objective and Objectives 1-3: Utilize secondary data and conduct FGDs with stakeholders at national, provincial, and DS levels. The joint output will be a prioritized list of at least four spices and herbs (including pepper), which will inform refined business models to be validated for relevance and legitimacy within local communities for pilot implementation (Objectives 4-6).
SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The consultant will develop business models and strategies for plant-based (spice and herb) enterprises that integrate traditional knowledge with modern commercial practices, focusing on high-value market segments including pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic sectors, green certification, and export opportunities. This assignment emphasizes biodiversity conservation integration and sustainable land use practices, while enhancing financial gains within the context of climate change adaptation.
Please see this link for full details of the following subject:
DETAILED WORKING PACKAGES
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS
EXPECTED INTEGRATION
SUCCESS CRITERIA
Education, knowledge and experience
• Advanced degree in Botany, Agricultural Sciences, Traditional Medicine, or related field
• Minimum 8 years of experience in medicinal plant cultivation and value chain development
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industry applications
• Experience with organic certification and export market requirements
• Understanding of intellectual property issues related to traditional knowledge
• Proven track record in developing partnerships with industry stakeholders
Terms and conditions
• This is a consultancy position
• The period of the consultancy is 8 weeks from contract signing
• Work location: Colombo, Kandy, Matale, and the target communities in the Knuckles region
To apply, please visit our career site at:
http://www.cifor.org/careers and https://www.worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf
To learn more about CIFOR-ICRAF, please visit our websites at:
https://www.cifor.org and www.worldagroforestry.org
CIFOR-ICRAF promotes Gender Diversity – Applications from women professionals are encouraged.
CIFOR-ICRAF is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.