Tender for consultants for CBI's Kenya fresh fruit and vegetables, focusing on a just transition to sea freight

Deadline

Monday, September 22, 2025

Assignment type

External
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CBI is looking for three consultants for its fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) project in Kenya. This project supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in transitioning from air to sea freight of FFV products to Europe.

We are looking for the following experts: 

  • An expert in the FFV sector for sea freight development, business coaching and market growth development;
  • An expert in systems change for ecosystem development;
  • A national (sector) expert for local project management and support.

About the Kenya FFV project 

Our four-year project helps (frontrunner) SMEs in Kenya's FFV sector transition to sea freight. This project also supports SMEs in providing a fair income for farmers in the value chain.

We work with dedicated Kenyan partners and respond to growing EU demand for sustainable and fair trade. This CBI project uses this opportunity to ensure everyone benefits from the transition to sea freight. 

We do this by: 

  • Improving trade relations between EU buyers and Kenyan FFV SMEs;
  • Developing SME capacity to meet EU quality and volume requirements;
  • Supporting collaboration within the value chain for consistent quality, reliable supply and stable income;
  • Promoting cooperation in the sea freight sector. 

The project is currently in the final stages of the inception phase. The project is expected to enter the implementation phase in November 2025 until November 2029.

Role of the consultant

This tender is for three types of consultants.

Role 1

Fresh fruit and vegetables sector expert for sea freight development, business coaching and market development 

CBI is looking for an expert who will:

  • Advise SMEs on transitioning from air to sea freight and identify their needs and challenges;
  • Connect EU importers with Kenyan SMEs;
  • Create models for SME-importer partnerships;
  • Coach SMEs to increase  their impact in the sector;
  • Identify potential partner SMEs at the start of the project;
  • Support SMEs to improve their supply chain management and meet EU certification and compliance standards;
  • Facilitate peer learning and mentorship among SMEs;
  • Promote collaboration in the supply chain;
  • Lead pilot projects to improve product quality and market fit for sea freight;
  • Translate EU trends and packaging standards into operational procedures;
  • Support joint initiatives for advocacy among SMEs.

Role 2

Systems change expert for ecosystem development

CBI is looking for an expert who will:

  • Apply systems change strategies for an inclusive and resilient ecosystem of FFV exports by sea;
  • Facilitate alignment among sector actors on sea freight, certification, access to finance, and logistics;
  • Increase awareness of EU market opportunities;
  • Support discussions on policies to protect smaller SMEs against regulations or market dynamics during the transition to sea freight;
  • Organise sector-wide learning and reflection sessions;
  • Share lessons learned and best practices across the sector;
  • Connect SMEs with public and private service providers;
  • Help to create and adopt Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
  • Lead initiatives to align sector stakeholders for better resilience, finance and trade relations.

Role 3

National (sector) expert for local project management and implementation support

CBI is looking for an expert who will:

  • Support cooperation between SMEs and local service providers;
  • Support the design and rollout of sea freight pilots and buyer linkage activities;
  • Encourage and assist with sector lobbying;
  • Offer coaching to SMEs and stakeholders;
  • Translate EU requirements to the Kenyan context;
  • Manage project implementation and engage stakeholders;
  • Provide research support;
  • Monitor progress and keep stakeholders involved;
  • Provide logistical support for project events;
  • Coordinate project activities and logistics.

Download the tender documents

You can download the tender documents via the Tender documentation page. Please read the tender documents carefully.

To the tender documentation page

How to apply

  • You must submit the tender and necessary documents online via the Dutch government's online tendering system, TenderNed.
  • To submit your tender, you must first register your company at TenderNed.
  • For companies located outside the Netherlands, TenderNed has information in English about how to use TenderNed to apply for a tender.
  • You can submit the tender in Dutch or English. 

We advise you to start the TenderNed registration process as soon as possible.

Apply for the tender Experts for the CBI project Kenya Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, focusing on a just transition to sea freight.

Questions?

Please send any questions about the tendering process and content of the tender to CBI via TenderNed. Please note that we will answer all questions collected during the questions period and publish them anonymously via TenderNed.  

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