Achiziții de bunuri și contractări de servicii

Services: Feasibility Study for the design and implementation of the Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System for the agri-food sector in Moldova

Organization: Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova 

Type of contract: Service Contract

Duration of the contract: 5 months

Level of involvement: Full-service delivery

Deadline for submitting applications: 27/04/2026, 10:00 EEST

Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova invites you to submit a bid for a Feasibility Study for the design and implementation of the Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System for the agri-food sector in Moldova. 

Description of the procurement: 

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND 

The “Sustainable Food Systems – Business” project¹ is financed by the European Union and implemented by Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova, as part of  Team Europe Initiative ‘Sustainable Food Systems’ carried out in collaboration with the Czech Development Agency and Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre. The action aims to enhance the resilience of Moldova’s agri-food sector to external shocks and climate change. This specific ToR falls under Outcome 3, which focuses on improving the enabling environment for sustainable food systems. 

The actions under Outcome 3 aim to support state authorities in strengthening advisory services and aligning national policies with EU standards and best practices in risk management. Within this context, the present assignment contributes specifically to the preparation of a Feasibility Study for the development of the Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System for the agri-food sector in Moldova.  

Outcome 3 is an essential pillar in the modernization of Moldovan agriculture and in strengthening institutional capacities. By integrating agricultural consultancy and market information into a coherent framework, Moldova will be able to move towards sustainable, competitive agriculture aligned with European standards, directly contributing to the goals of the Growth Plan for Moldova. 

2. CONTEXT 

The EU’s Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System is a multi-faceted system that includes the European Commission’s short-term outlooks, the Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) iMAP modelling for medium-term forecasts, and the Monitoring Agriculture with Remote Sensing (MARS) system for crop yield forecasts. This system provides independent, timely, and transparent information on agricultural markets, with data shared through the global platforms – Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) to enhance market transparency.  

AMIS, the Agricultural Market Information System, functions as an inter-agency platform to enhance food market transparency and policy response for food security. Bringing together the principal trading countries of agricultural commodities, AMIS assesses global food supplies and provides a platform to coordinate policy action in times of market uncertainty. While many EU countries participate indirectly or partially, Moldova as a candidate country with a smaller agricultural production base is not currently operationally represented. 

In Moldova the agri-food sector suffers from limited, fragmented, and non-uniform data on production, market prices, trade, and stocks. Currently, statistical data are collected in a fragmented manner, and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is not fully integrated into the operational data flows for agriculture. The country lacks an integrated mechanism to systematically collect, analyse, and forecast key agri-food indicators. Developing a national Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System adapted to Moldova’s institutional capacity, regional specificities, and production scale will enable data-driven decision-making, enhance market transparency, and lay the foundation for alignment with EU market monitoring practices. 

Previous initiatives to monitor agricultural markets have been limited and fragmented. The “Agroinform” platform, created by the National Federation of Agricultural Producers (AGROinform) till the 2021 provided information on prices and markets, but ceased operations after public financing was discontinued. Additionally, several isolated initiatives supported the collection of market data in 2020 – 2022 within FAO and USAID projects. These activities were limited to pilot projects, fragmented, lacking a legal framework or institutional mechanism to ensure sustainability. These experiences underscore the need for a centrally managed, interoperable platform to ensure continuity and reliability. 

The development of an Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System in Moldova is a strategic objective of the National Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy for 2023–2030, approved by Government Decision No. 56/2023. General Objective 4, Action: 4) Development of integrated information systems, in accordance with the requirements and financing principles of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. To support this, the Department dedicated Economic and Statistical Analysis within Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) was created in January 2025 and the development of the Agricultural Market Monitoring and Forecasting System or as called into national documents, the “Agricultural Market Information System” (SIPA), hereinafter referred to as SIPA, was included within the National Accession Programme.  

MAFI will play a central role in implementing SIPA, serving not only as the system’s manager but also as a strategic driver for data-driven policies, crisis anticipation, and integration with European networks. Key responsibilities will include Strategic coordination of the system; Governance and operational management; Data integration across sources, including NBS, Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA), National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), and other relevant institutions; Organization of training programs for MAFI staff and partner institutions; Digitalization and ensuring interoperability; Reporting and transparency; Connecting Moldova to EU and global AMIS networks. 

The development of SIPA for Moldova will follow a structured, step-by-step approach, integrating international best practices and national priorities. The “Sustainable Food Systems – Business” project  will support MAFI in aligning the system with key EU components, that may include: the Monitoring Agriculture with Remote Sensing system (MARS), the Modelling Platform for Agro-economic Commodity and Policy Analysis (iMAP), the EU Crops Market Observatory, and other relevant platforms. References to EU agricultural market monitoring systems are provided solely as methodological benchmarks and do not imply an expectation of direct replication, participation, or operational integration by Moldova at this stage. References to support by “Sustainable Food Systems – Business” reflect the broader project context and do not impose any mandatory subcontracting or partnership requirements on bidders under this ToR. 

This approach ensures a coherent, sustainable, and scalable foundation for the future implementation, piloting, and integration of the system. Implementing SIPA as an integrated government project, with a focus on interoperability, accessibility, and governance, will avoid isolated solutions, ensure compliance with the legal framework, leverage existing infrastructure, and reduce costs while promoting long-term sustainability. Once operational, the system will provide a foundation for more informed decision-making by farmers and authorities, enhance market transparency, and integrate Moldova into European and global agricultural monitoring frameworks. 

3. SCOPE OF WORK 

The scope below is structured to guide a modular, option-based feasibility assessment, allowing the Service Provider (Legal Entity) to prioritize depth and relevance while maintaining coherence across technical, institutional, legal, and financial dimensions. 

Nature and Limitations of the Assignment 

This assignment concerns the preparation of a Feasibility Study only. The outputs of the Feasibility Study shall be limited to analytical and conceptual designs, assessment of technical and institutional options, indicative cost scenarios, high-level implementation roadmaps, and proposed governance models. 

More details about the evaluation criteria and the application procedure can be found by accessing the Terms of Reference or on ouw website solidarityfund.md.