Practical Mechanism for Tax Refund Services for Livestock Br...

Power of Voices Partnership 

Terms of Reference for Practical Mechanism for Tax Refund Services for Livestock Breeders  

Background & Introduction: 

The Palestinian Farmers’ Union (PFU) in partnership with OXFAM, are implementing a project titled “Power of Voices Partnership” funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs which aims to increase the accountability of government, responsiveness, fairness, through implementing better mechanisms related to agriculture policies that will achieve farmer aspirations and rights. Through the PVP project, we seek to contribute to achieving sustainability for the Palestinian farmers as well as, increase farmers’ awareness of their rights and their right to follow up and track the government’s failures in practicing agricultural policies that will have positive repercussions of the long run. 

There are three inter-related outcomes that will be targeted: (1) Strengthened Civil Society (CS) collects evidence of rights abuses/support communities, (2) Strengthened CS has capacity to improve (inter)national norms, (3) Strengthened CS mobilized public to influence governments. 

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND 

According to CIRAD and MARKAZ (2019), the livestock sector in Palestine contributes to 46% of the total agricultural income. The backbone of this sector is sheep and goats (small ruminants), dairy cattle, and poultry. In fact, the small ruminants’ sector is an important source of income for many Palestinian families, as it provides important products to local consumers and creates employment. Women also contribute greatly to this sector. 

However, many livestock breeders live in Area C and face many challenges. First, livestock breeders are continuously subjected to attacks and daily violations by the Israeli army and Israeli settler, who attempt to kick them out of their grazing lands. Second, services such as infrastructure, electricity, and access to water are not available due to Israeli government restrictions. Third, there is a lack of access to veterinarians, which cause losses among the heads of small ruminants because illness such as foot and mouth disease are not contained. Fourth, the high price of fodder makes it expensive to raise sheep and goats. Finally, livestock breeders face challenges marketing their products due to lack of access to market. As a result of these challenges, the number of livestock breeders in Palestine has been on the decline as well the number of livestock. In fact, the number of small ruminants decreased from one million six hundred thousand to less than seven hundred thousand.    

PFU has been working endlessly to support the resilience of livestock breeders by ensuring that their right to tax refunds, similar to those of plant producers, are met. Recently, an understanding has been reached between the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Palestinian Farmers’ Union to allow the 

small ruminants’ sector to benefit from tax refund services, as a first-phase pilot. This pilot will be followed by other sub-sectors such as the poultry and dairy sectors. 

Therefore, PFU is seeking a consultant to develop a research paper that will highlight the benefits provided by the small ruminants’ sector, the challenges they face, and propose a practical mechanism that will allow the small ruminant’s sector to benefit from tax refund services. 

Please submit the proposal (separate technical & financial offer) and requested documents by sealed envelopes to the Palestinian Farmers Union Headquarter (al-Bireh, close to the representative office of Netherlands) no later than the 9th of January 2022. 

For any questions, feel free to contact PFU office at 02 240 0792       

For those who are interested, kindly download the following: Tender Document