Kasadya sa Kulturang Kakaw 2026 is envisioned as Davao’s flagship regional cacao platform that integrates farmer learning, enterprise promotion, cultural storytelling, and regional branding into a coordinated five-month initiative. The platform is designed to strengthen the Davao Region cacao industry by supporting climate-resilient and regenerative farming practices, improving the visibility and competitiveness of cacao and chocolate enterprises, and deepening public appreciation of cacao as both an economic commodity and living cultural heritage.
The initiative will be implemented through three mutually reinforcing components: Kakaw Aral, which focuses on Cacao Regenerative Farming System caravans, soil health, fermentation and bean grading clinics, farm mapping, and geo-tagging; Tsokolate Fiesta, which supports enterprise promotion, chocolate trade fair activities, tasting and culinary experiences, and cacao-inspired competitions; and Kwentong Kakaw, which provides branding, storytelling, documentation, and a 20-week social media campaign.
To ensure that the expected outputs and outcomes are delivered in a coordinated, timely, inclusive, and technically sound manner, MEDA-RIISA seeks to engage a qualified Business Service Provider to provide event organizing, technical assistance, facilitation, coordination, documentation, enterprise support, communications, and monitoring services for the Cacao Festival.
Objective of the Engagement
To provide event organizing services, technical coordination, facilitation, communications, and monitoring support to enable the successful implementation of Kasadya sa Kulturang Kakaw 2026 and contribute to improved productivity, enterprise development, regional branding, market visibility, access to financing opportunities, and stakeholder collaboration in the Davao Region cacao sector.
Scope of Work
Shall work closely with MEDA-RIISA, DRCIDC, DCCIDC, relevant local government units, partner agencies, cooperatives, MSMEs, and other stakeholders to deliver the following scope of work.
4.1 Overall Project Coordination and Work Planning
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Prepare a detailed implementation work plan, activity design, coordination calendar, staffing plan, and budget utilization plan aligned with the approved festival proposal.
- Coordinate with MEDA-RIISA, DRCIDC, DCCIDC, LGUs, DA, DTI, Davao City Agriculture Office, Davao City Tourism Office, restaurants and hotels associations, academe, and private sector stakeholders.
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Support partner meetings, technical working group sessions, activity briefings, and post-activity reviews.
- Identify operational risks and recommend practical mitigation measures to ensure timely and quality delivery.
4.2 Kakaw Aral: Farmer Learning and Regenerative Cacao Support
- Support the design and facilitation of four clustered Cacao Regenerative Farming System caravan runs in Maragusan, Malawanit, Laak, and Paquibato or other approved locations.
- Coordinate technical resource persons for soil health, regenerative farming, fermentation, bean grading, farm rehabilitation, and climate-resilient cacao practices.
- Support participant mobilization, registration, attendance tracking, pre- and post-activity feedback, and learning documentation for at least 120 farmers and relevant LGU agricultural technicians or cooperative representatives.
- Assist in organizing farm mapping, geo-tagging, basic farmer profiling, and consolidation of a regional farmer database for future traceability and service delivery
- Document practical lessons, farmer stories, demonstration activities, and recommendations for future capacity-building programs.
4.3. Tsokolate Fiesta: Enterprise Promotion, Trade Fair, and Culinary Engagement
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Assist in selecting, coordinating, and preparing participating cacao and chocolate enterprises, cooperatives, processors, cafés, restaurants, hotels, chefs, culinary students, and allied partners.
- Support the planning and implementation of the Chocolate Trade Fair, Davao Region Chocolate Pavilion, tasting stations, culinary pairing activities, and cacao-inspired competitions or showcases.
4.4. Kwentong Kakaw: Branding, Storytelling, Communications, and Knowledge Capture
- Prepare and implement a 20-week content calendar aligned with the narrative flow of Tree to Table, including themes such as Roots of Resilience, Crafted with Davao Cacao, and Flavors of Kakaw.
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Produce or coordinate at least 40 social media posts, 15 short-form reels, 4 featured farmer or enterprise stories, and a curated photo and video library.
4.5 Gender Equality, Environment, Social, Governance (GESG) Integration
Period of Performance - July to November 2026
Qualifications & Selection Criteria
A. Generic and Mandatory:
- Legally registered entity in the Philippines (DTI/SEC/CDA, as applicable) and authorized to conduct the proposed services.
- At least one-year experience providing services to cooperatives, MSMEs, farmer organizations, industry councils, or development programs.
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Demonstrated experience in cacao regenerative farming system,food enterprise development, market systems development, trade promotion, or value chain strengthening.
- Experience working with cacao councils, cooperatives, LGUs, national government agencies, private sector actors, academe, or development partners in Davao Region.
- Technical capacity in at least three of the following areas: regenerative agriculture, cacao post-harvest and quality improvement, MSME development, branding and marketing, event management, digital communications, monitoring and evaluation, GESG integration, and stakeholder facilitation.
- Financially and operationally capable of managing the engagement, with appropriate
internal controls, documentation, and reporting systems.
- Willingness to comply with applicable due diligence requirements of MEDA-RIISA
Application Procedure
Interested BSPs to send application to MEDA via email at riisa_submissions@meda.org, cc: CNavacilla@meda.org on or before 10 July 2026.
Proposal Outline
- Introduction and Understanding of the Assignment
- Capability Statement
- Proposed Methodology
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Work and Financial Plan
Annexes
- Proof of Registration ((DTI/SEC/CDA), as applicable)
- CVs of key personnel.
- At least three (3) professional references with contact details.
- Relevant work samples (publication support, training/curriculum work, trade facilitation/e-commerce engagement), if available