Beverage Producer Export Competitiveness Consultant

Beverage Producer Export Competitiveness Consultant,

Business Diagnostics for Beverage Producers’ Export Readiness and Diversification

Location: Remote with travel to Rep. of Georgia

Estimated: 10 days total effort over a 2 month period

Project description:

The USAID Agricultural Trade Diversification Program is a five-year activity in Georgia implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) in partnership with IDG. The primary objective of the USAID Agricultural Trade Diversification Program is to increase Georgian agricultural exports to high-value markets, reducing Georgia’s dependence on Russia for agricultural exports and reducing the environmental footprint of the agriculture sector. The Program will achieve this by cultivating resilient, export-oriented market systems through an approach designed to strengthen linkages between a diverse range of agricultural sector stakeholders, and by stimulating private sector investment to overcome barriers to growth and promote the adoption of innovative, climate-smart technologies.

Objective: IDG is currently recruiting a consultant to assess the export readiness of beverage producers, identify barriers to market entry, and provide recommendations to improve producers’ competitiveness and diversify export markets. The beverage producers will be selected by the USAID Agricultural Trade Diversification Program prior to the consultancy.

We anticipate up to 10 companies, including juice and concentrate, water, and lemonade producers. This position is short-term, and the level of effort will be 10 days within an approximate six-week period. The work is anticipated to begin in late January. The majority of the work will be conducted in Georgia. The Beverage Producer Export Competitiveness Consultant will report to the Agricultural Trade Diversification Program’s Chief of Party.

Key Activities and Tasks for Consultant:

    • Project Planning: Conduct an inception meeting with stakeholders to understand project objectives, scope, and deliverables; Develop a detailed work plan, timeline, and methodology for diagnostics.

    • Company Assessments: Visit production facilities and conduct interviews with key company staff to identify challenges and opportunities; Evaluate production capacity, product quality, and compliance with international standards; Assess branding, packaging, and labeling alignment with target market requirements.

    • Market and Competitor Analysis: Identify potential export markets based on product characteristics and global demand trends; Analyze competitor positioning and pricing strategies in these markets.

    • Compliance with Export Market Requirements: Identify gaps in regulatory and other compliance, including certifications, labeling, products and similar; Provide guidance on achieving required certifications or registrations.

    • Diagnostic Report Development: Prepare a comprehensive report detailing:

        ◦ Export readiness status.

        ◦ Gaps and barriers to market entry.

        ◦ Recommendations for capacity building, process improvements, and market diversification strategies.

        ◦ Conduct online individual meetings with beneficiary companies to present findings and recommendations.

Deliverables:

    1. Detailed work plan and diagnostic methodology

    2. Export readiness assessment report for each producer

    3. Market analysis and recommended diversification action plan