Open Call: Business Skills and Market Access for Cooperatives (Vietnam)

Deadline: 29-Jun-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking applications for a consultancy to strengthen business skills, financial literacy, market readiness and investment access for cooperatives and smallholder farmer groups in Vietnam. The programme will support farmers and cooperative leaders through training, coaching, financial linkages and sustainable value chain development.

The assignment will focus on key commodity value chains including coffee, durian and macadamia in selected communes of the iLandscape project in Lam Dong province.

Overview of the UNDP Smallholder Capacity Development Programme

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is launching a consultancy opportunity to improve the capacity of cooperatives, producer groups and smallholder farmers to operate stronger and more sustainable businesses.

The initiative aims to support:

• Business management skills
• Financial literacy
• Market readiness
• Investment access
• Sustainable agriculture practices
• Climate-smart production systems

The programme will strengthen smallholder participation in agricultural value chains and improve connections with financial institutions and market actors.

Assignment Duration

The consultancy will run for:

10 months

Implementation period:

July 2026 to April 2027

The selected organisation will work with cooperatives, farmers, financial institutions and private sector partners during this period.

Main Objectives of the Consultancy

The overall objective is to strengthen the capacity of:

• Smallholder farmers
• Cooperative groups
• Producer organisations
• Value chain partners

The programme focuses on improving business performance and investment readiness within priority commodity sectors.

Priority Commodity Value Chains

The initiative will support key agricultural value chains including:

Coffee Value Chain

Activities will support farmers and cooperatives to improve:

• Business planning
• Market connections
• Financial access
• Sustainable production practices

Durian Value Chain

The programme will help strengthen:

• Production groups
• Market linkages
• Cooperative management
• Investment opportunities

Macadamia Value Chain

Support will focus on:

• Farmer capacity
• Value chain development
• Sustainable farming approaches

Geographic Focus Area

The consultancy will operate in selected communes under the iLandscape project in Lam Dong province.

The project area focuses on strengthening sustainable landscape approaches through improved agricultural practices and stronger rural businesses.

Key Focus Areas

Business Skills and Financial Literacy Training

The selected firm will provide training to farmers and cooperative leaders on:

• Business management
• Financial planning
• Record keeping
• Investment preparation
• Financial decision-making

Training will use:

• Participatory learning methods
• Adult-learning approaches
• Practical business exercises

Market Readiness Development

The programme will help cooperatives become more prepared for market participation.

Activities include:

• Improving business models
• Understanding buyer requirements
• Building value chain relationships
• Preparing for commercial opportunities

Investment Promotion and Financial Linkages

The initiative will support cooperatives in accessing finance through:

• Investment planning
• Business plan development
• Financial institution engagement
• Private sector connections

The goal is to create bankable investment opportunities.

Sustainable and Climate-Smart Production

Selected cooperatives will receive support to strengthen:

• Sustainable farming methods
• Climate-smart production
• Long-term resilience
• Responsible value chain practices

Training and Capacity Building Activities

The selected firm will conduct training for:

• At least 450 farmers
• Cooperative leaders
• Members of 10 cooperatives or producer groups

The programme will include:

• Training needs assessment
• Training material development
• Practical workshops

Workshop Implementation

The consultancy will organise:

15 full-day workshops

Location:

Lam Dong province

The workshops will focus on improving practical skills related to:

• Business operations
• Financial management
• Market engagement
• Investment readiness

Support for Cooperatives and Producer Groups

The consultancy will coordinate the selection of:

10 cooperatives or production groups

These groups will receive additional coaching focused on:

• Market access
• Financial access
• Business development
• Sustainable production systems

Development of Practical Toolkit

A guidance toolkit will be developed for cooperative leaders.

The toolkit will help leaders manage:

• Loan application processes
• Financial planning
• Business relationships
• Value chain partnerships

The goal is to help cooperatives independently manage future growth opportunities.

Engagement with Banks and Lead Firms

The consultancy will facilitate collaboration with:

• Local banks
• Lead companies
• Market actors

This will help cooperatives understand:

• Financial requirements
• Purchasing procedures
• Commercial expectations
• Partnership opportunities

Expected Deliverables

The selected organisation will deliver:

Training Materials

Resources based on identified capacity gaps and farmer needs.

Capacity-Building Workshops

A series of practical training sessions for farmers and cooperative leaders.

Investment-Ready Business Models

Support for cooperatives to develop:

• Business plans
• Financial strategies
• Market approaches

Synthesis Report

A comprehensive report will document:

• Training outcomes
• Field practices
• Lessons learned
• Business model evaluations
• Scaling opportunities

Who Is This Opportunity For?

The consultancy is suitable for organisations with experience in:

• Agricultural development
• Cooperative strengthening
• Financial inclusion
• Business advisory services
• Value chain development

Eligible applicants should have expertise in:

• Farmer training
• Market systems
• Investment facilitation
• Sustainable agriculture

How the Programme Will Work

Step 1: Assess Training Needs

The selected firm will identify:

• Skill gaps
• Business challenges
• Financial barriers
• Market opportunities

Step 2: Design Training Programme

Training materials will be developed based on assessment findings.

Step 3: Deliver Workshops

The organisation will conduct practical sessions for farmers and cooperative leaders.

Step 4: Provide Coaching Support

Selected cooperatives will receive targeted assistance to improve:

• Business models
• Investment readiness
• Market connections

Step 5: Document Results

The consultancy will prepare a final synthesis report highlighting:

• Achievements
• Lessons learned
• Future scaling opportunities

Why This Initiative Matters

Smallholder farmers and cooperatives often face challenges including:

• Limited business skills
• Difficulty accessing finance
• Weak market connections
• Lack of investment readiness

This programme addresses these barriers by creating stronger agricultural businesses and sustainable value chains.

Expected Impact

The initiative aims to achieve:

• More capable cooperatives
• Better farmer incomes
• Stronger market participation
• Increased financial access
• More sustainable agriculture

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Local Context

Training should reflect:

• Farmer realities
• Local markets
• Commodity-specific challenges

Providing Only Theoretical Training

Activities should include:

• Practical examples
• Real business exercises
• Field-based learning

Weak Financial Planning

Cooperatives should receive support to develop:

• Realistic budgets
• Investment plans
• Financial strategies

Poor Stakeholder Coordination

Successful implementation requires collaboration between:

• Farmers
• Cooperatives
• Banks
• Businesses
• Local stakeholders

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong consultancy proposal should demonstrate:

• Experience working with farmers
• Knowledge of cooperatives
• Financial inclusion expertise
• Ability to deliver training
• Understanding of sustainable agriculture

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the UNDP consultancy opportunity about?

It supports cooperatives and smallholder groups by improving business skills, financial literacy, market readiness and access to investment.

2. Where will the programme take place?

The programme will be implemented in selected communes of Lam Dong province under the iLandscape project.

3. Which commodities are covered?

The initiative focuses on coffee, durian and macadamia value chains.

4. How many people will receive training?

At least 450 farmers and cooperative leaders from 10 cooperatives or producer groups will participate.

5. How many workshops will be conducted?

The selected firm will organise 15 full-day training workshops.

6. What support will cooperatives receive?

Selected groups will receive coaching on market access, financial access, business planning and sustainable production.

7. What is the expected outcome of the consultancy?

The programme aims to create stronger cooperatives, improved investment readiness and more sustainable agricultural value chains.

Conclusion

The UNDP consultancy opportunity provides a pathway to strengthen smallholder farmers and cooperatives through business training, financial access and market development.

By improving skills, building investment-ready models and strengthening commodity value chains, the initiative supports sustainable agricultural growth and climate-resilient rural development.

For more information, visit UNDP.