Terms of Reference (TOR) for Capacity Building, Knowledge Sharing and Business Development for Millet Value Chain

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Title: Millet Mentor Program

Empower millet entrepreneurs with need-based solutions for millet post-harvest processing and value addition, including access to climate smart technologies, finance and capacity building —with an overall aim of enhancing the income of millet enterprises

Timeline: 4 months - (December 2025 to March 2026)

Expected area of expertise:

• Millet Technology Piloting, Scaling, Capacity building and research.
• Creation of training modules, Media and Outreach etc.

Apply Link https://forms.gle/XhihBV2QrtUPH6LC6 (Contact Procurement for Form Link)

Last Date for Apply: 17 th November, 2025

About SELCO Foundation:

SELCO Foundation is an open-source, not-for-profit organization that engages in field-based R&D and ecosystem building for the deployment of clean energy solutions that alleviate poverty by improving access to sustainable energy to underserved communities in tribal, rural, and urban poor areas. The organization works in collaboration with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs, NGOs from various developmental sectors, and educational institutions to link the benefits of sustainable energy to poverty eradication. The organization works across verticals such as energy access, health, and livelihoods with practitioners in the social sector, energy entrepreneurs, and partners from various developmental sectors. You can find more information about the SELCO Foundation on our organization’s website. (Read more about SELCO here: http://www.selcofoundation.org/)

Background of the Program:

Millet Mentor is a consortium of experienced organizations that have developed a platform to provide comprehensive technical and business support services to decentralized small-scale millet processing units. These units are primarily operated by community-based organizations (such as FPOs, SHGs, etc.) and socially responsible for private enterprises. More information can be found on us website.

Goal and Objective:

Goal:

To empower millet entrepreneurs with need-based solutions for millet post-harvest processing and value addition, including access to climate smart technologies, finance and capacity building —with an overall aim of enhancing the income of millet processers and millet enterprises across India.

Objectives:

• To strengthen 150+ millet processing value addition enterprises.
• 1500+ farmers to train on farm, processing, value addition, marketing, packing, branding across deep dive geographies.
• Knowledge sharing for millet stake holders via trainings, capacity building and exposure visits
• Focus to work with community institutions like FPO, SHG, PGs.
• Innovation and testing of new technology and scaling the successful models to potential end-users

Scope of Work

Scope of Work

Travel Location: Engaging site located in the states of – Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan

Shortlisted Agency/consultants or enterprises will have to work on all or a part of the

activities listed below-

Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing: (400 Farmers in Each Location)

• Conduct awareness programs, trainings, recipe demos, and stakeholder workshops. Training sessions- Awareness on DRE, on farm, processing, value addition, marketing, packaging, branding, schemes, etc.

AI Integration & Documentation: (50 Farmers in Each Location)

• Collect field stories, voices, testimonials, case studies, and other knowledge assets.

Technology Linkages: (40 potential end users in Each Location)

• Identify potential end-users (FPOs, SHGs, Individual Entrepreneurs others) for further support appropriate implementations by SELCO Foundation.

Training Module Development: (Minimum of 5 modules based on Type of Training)

• Module Includes like Good Agricultural practices, Machine Operation, Recipe and, process technology, DRE impacts and develop practical, scalable, and user-friendly modules.

Outreach: (Minimum of 2)

• Event/Mela/Workshop organization, and outreach of existing work and partners

Expected Outcome

• Capacity enhancement of practitioners working with Milet Value chain
• Inclusive and sustainable value chain development.
• Better access to millet technologies
• Scale successful models to support potential entrepreneurs

Target Farmers

• SHGs, Individual Entrepreneur, FPOs, Groups etc...

Deliverables:

(For each Location need to achieve below no’s of deliverables)

Key activity	Deliverable	NO’s in per Location
Training & Capacity Building	Conduct training sessions on Millet value essentials for farming, processing, value addition, DRE awareness, Marketing, branding, events, melas, etc. Deliver practical tool kits/templates usable by rural entrepreneurs, FPOs, SHGs and ecosystem organizations which can be commonly used.	400 (SHGs, IE, FPOs, Groups etc)
AI integration and documentation	Collect field stories, voices, testimonials, case studies, processes and other knowledge assets	50 (Capture as per activities)
Assessment, Deployment & Implementation	Identify Potential end user (FPOs, SHGs, IE) through training and capacity for implementation Conduct needs assessment and ground support for end users	40 (Potential end users)
Training Module Development	Module Includes like Good Agricultural practices, Machine Operation, Recipe and, process technology, DRE impacts and develop practical, scalable, and user-friendly modules.	Minimum of 5 modules based on Type of Training
Outreach	Event/Mela/Workshop and outreach of existing work and partners	Minimum of 2

 

Note:

• Monthly progress reports and documentation
• Final report with consolidated learnings and successful stories of digitally enabled enterprises
• Solution support is tailored on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific business mode
• Engagement of multiple agencies / enterprise based on Location and core expertise may also be considered

Vendor Eligibility Criteria:

• Agency/consultants or enterprises working in millet value chain (On farm processing, value addition, marketing, consumption) in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan. Local presence will be given the preference.
• Agency/consultants or enterprises aiming to pilot/scale technologies (primarily for millets)
• Agency/consultants or enterprises working with small farmers, FPOs, SHGs, microentrepreneurs for livelihood technologies for millet processing and value addition
• Ability to travel and conduct in-person activities as required
• Excellent project management skills

Selection Criteria:

In addition to the filled application form, SELCO Foundation will also be evaluating the applications based on the following criteria:

The Agency/consultants or enterprises will be selected based on their:

• Proven experience in millet ecosystems (on-farm to consumption) at least 3-5 years
• Experience working with smallholders' farmers, SHGs, women, FPOs, and rural entrepreneurs- preference
• Focus on mechanization, productivity, drudgery reduction, and value chain strengthening
• Capacity building in millet on farm to consumption
• For Technology support: Ability to identify and support enterprises in setting up or retrofitting millet-based business in collaboration with Millet mentor team
• The agency must have dedicated team members with an ability to work in millet vale chain based on the end user needs
• The agency should be able to showcase past work experience with similar aspects
• SELCO Foundation reserves the right to engage agencies at its discretion. Engagement of multiple agencies as per core expertise may also be considered
• Ability to operate in low-resource, rural, or semi-urban areas
• Ability to meet the project timeline

Timeline: 04 Months

• Duration of the Program: The program is planned up to December 2025 to March 2026

Financial Proposal

Submit a detailed proposal including

• Capacity building / Training (on farm to consumption), melas, demonstrations, exposure visits etc.
• Documentations - Voices, field stories, processes, formats, methodologies etc
• Month wise Breakdown of approach, deliverables with workplan
• Budget breakdown with budget across different activities and resources
• HR, Travel and lodging Expenses by the entity to be provided separately

Note: Applicants are required to submit separate applications for each state. Each application should provide detail the Sourcing Farmer & Training plan, methodology, and deliverables specific to the chosen state. Each Consultant / firm/ agency allowed to apply for only one or two state.

Proposal:

Please provide your proposal and quotation for the above-mentioned program requirements. Capture Timelines and Split cost wherever possible.

Submit a detailed proposal including:

• Breakdown of approach, deliverables with workplan
• Budget breakdown with budget across different activities and resources
• Travel and lodging Expenses by the entity to be provided separately

Provide split costs as per deliverables based:

Please provide your proposal and quotation as per deliverables based and mentioned program requirements. Capture Timelines and Split cost wherever possible.

Provide the proposal in each state wise separately.

Payment Terms:

Payments will be made based on the completion of agreed deliverables. A payment schedule will be included in the contract and based on considered each party agrees.

To Apply:

Interested entity, meet the eligibility criteria with relevant experience and is interested in collaborating with the SELCO Foundation, (please include samples and/or references of the previous similar work as proof of experience) and based out of India are requested to reach out with a detailed proposal giving a brief on the methodology and the process they will uptake for this project, including budgets (with break-ups and explanation), timelines and milestones and submit the same to google form https://forms.gle/2xbFB1pcnuKpYjod9 on before 17th November, 2025.

Any further queries please write to procurement@selcofoundation.org with a subject line: “Capacity Building, Knowledge Sharing and Business Development for Millet Value Chain” (Name of Project)

Note:

• Engagement of multiple agencies as per Location and core expertise may also be considered
• The application will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

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