A joint venture initiative supporting climate-smart livestock and aquaculture transformation in Sindh through inclusive value chains and productive alliances.
Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project (SLADP)
Project Implementation Consultant – Component 2
Proposed Joint Venture Project | Trend Nova World & Marvi Rural Development Organization
Project Overview
The Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project (SLADP) is a flagship public-sector initiative aimed at strengthening food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience across Sindh. Under Component 2 of the project, Trend Nova World (Private) Limited, in Joint Venture with Marvi Rural Development Organization (MRDO), has submitted a proposal to serve as the Project Implementation Consultant (PIC), supporting large-scale transformation of livestock and aquaculture value chains.
The assignment focuses on enabling growth-oriented Small and Medium Producers (SMPs) to transition from subsistence-level production to competitive, climate-smart, and market-integrated enterprises. Through structured Productive Alliances (PAs), the project seeks to strengthen horizontal producer groups, establish vertical market linkages, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase incomes in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
Development Context and Rationale
Livestock and aquaculture are central pillars of Sindh’s rural economy, employing a significant share of the workforce and contributing substantially to agricultural output. Despite their importance, these sectors face entrenched challenges, including low productivity, weak market access, climate vulnerability, and limited adoption of modern practices particularly among small and medium producers.
Recurring climate shocks, such as floods and droughts, have exacerbated structural weaknesses, eroding productive assets and increasing exposure to risk. At the same time, fragmented value chains, inadequate cold storage and processing infrastructure, and information asymmetries between producers and buyers continue to suppress incomes and competitiveness.
SLADP responds to these challenges through a value-chain driven, climate-resilient approach, aligning with national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—notably SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships). Component 2 plays a critical role by operationalizing these objectives at the producer level through structured alliances and market integration.
Joint Venture Value Proposition
The TNW–MRDO Joint Venture brings together complementary strengths to deliver this complex, province-wide assignment.
Trend Nova World (Lead Technical Partner)
Trend Nova World contributes international-grade technical expertise in:
- Livestock and aquaculture value chain development
- Climate-smart agriculture and resilience programming
- Market systems development and productive alliances
- Digital tools for monitoring, GIS mapping, and adaptive management
TNW’s role centers on strategic design, technical oversight, market analysis, business planning support, and alignment with international best practices and safeguard frameworks.
Marvi Rural Development Organization (Implementation Partner)
MRDO contributes over three decades of experience in community mobilization, rural livelihoods, and post-disaster recovery across Sindh. With deep-rooted field presence in multiple districts, MRDO leads:
- Grassroots mobilization and Producer Group (PG) formation
- Gender-responsive outreach and inclusion
- Community-level capacity building and facilitation
- On-ground implementation and monitoring
Together, the JV ensures a balanced model that combines global technical rigor with trusted local delivery.
Project Objectives
The proposed PIC assignment aims to:
- Enhance productivity and competitiveness of livestock and aquaculture SMPs
- Establish sustainable Productive Alliances through horizontal and vertical integration
- Promote climate-smart practices to reduce vulnerability to climate shocks
- Strengthen gender inclusion and participation of women-led producer groups
- Improve market access, buyer engagement, and value addition
- Build institutional capacity for long-term replication and sustainability
Technical Approach and Methodology
The JV proposes a phased, results-oriented methodology, aligned with SLADP’s Project Implementation Manual and environmental and social safeguards.
1. Inception and Baseline Assessment
The inception phase focuses on comprehensive data collection across Sindh’s diverse agro-ecological zones, including coastal aquaculture areas, irrigated dairy belts, and arid rangelands. Using participatory surveys, GIS mapping, and digital data tools, the team will identify:
- Growth-oriented SMPs
- Climate vulnerability profiles
- Market access gaps
- Potential clusters for Productive Alliances
This evidence base will inform all subsequent interventions.
2. Market Analysis and Business Opportunity Identification
A detailed market analysis will map supply–demand dynamics, buyer requirements, and value addition opportunities across livestock and aquaculture sub-sectors. This includes:
- Identification of domestic and export-oriented market opportunities
- Assessment of post-harvest losses and logistics gaps
- Analysis of buyer power, pricing structures, and quality standards
The findings will guide the formation of PAs that are commercially viable and resilient.
3. Gender and Social Inclusion
A dedicated gender analysis will assess barriers faced by women producers, including mobility constraints, asset ownership gaps, and limited access to extension services. Targeted strategies include:
- Formation of female-led Producer Groups
- Safe and accessible training environments
- Linkages with inclusive financial institutions
- Gender-responsive monitoring indicators
This approach ensures alignment with national gender priorities and SDG 5.
4. Producer Group Formation and Community Mobilization
The project will support the formation of over 850 Producer Groups across dairy, meat, aquaculture, fodder, and women-led enterprises. MRDO’s community-driven mobilization model ensures:
- Transparent selection and verification of SMPs
- Avoidance of elite capture
- Democratic group governance structures
- Legal registration and financial inclusion
Digital verification tools and third-party checks reinforce accountability.
5. Capacity Development and Training
Customized training programs will be delivered to each Producer Group, focusing on:
- Business and financial literacy
- Climate-smart livestock and aquaculture practices
- Risk management and adaptation strategies
- Market engagement and negotiation skills
Training methodologies will combine classroom sessions, field demonstrations, and peer learning, adapted to local literacy levels and languages.
6. Business Planning and Implementation Support
Each Producer Group will receive structured support to develop and implement bankable business plans, incorporating:
- Economic feasibility and sustainability considerations
- Climate risk scenarios
- Environmental and social compliance
The JV will provide continuous coaching, technical backstopping, and short-term expert inputs to support execution and adaptive management.
7. Market Linkages and Exit Strategy
The final phase focuses on strengthening long-term sustainability through:
- Buyer–producer linkage facilitation
- Trade expos and networking platforms
- Development of Producer Group federations
- Capacity building of government counterparts for replication
An exit strategy will ensure Producer Groups and public institutions can sustain outcomes beyond the project lifecycle.
Cross-Cutting Themes
The project integrates cross-cutting priorities throughout implementation:
- Climate resilience: Adoption of climate-smart practices and risk mitigation
- Digital innovation: GIS, dashboards, and real-time monitoring tools
- Environmental safeguards: Compliance with ESMF requirements
- Adaptive management: Data-driven decision-making and course correction
Expected Outcomes and Impact
The proposed assignment is expected to deliver:
- Viable Producer Groups with enhanced bargaining power
- Increased productivity and reduced post-harvest losses
- Improved incomes and livelihood resilience for SMPs
- Strengthened participation of women and marginalized groups
- More competitive and sustainable livestock and aquaculture value chains
- Replicable models for province-wide and national scaling
Project Status
This initiative has been formally submitted as a Joint Venture proposal under Component 2 of the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project and is currently positioned within Trend Nova World’s Project Pipeline as a flagship agriculture, climate resilience, and market systems intervention.
