REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Statistics Department (ECST)

Avenue Joseph Anoma 01 BP 1387, Abidjan 01 Côte d’Ivoire

Email : F.Deme@afdb.org; V.Ngendakumana@afdb.org

Title of Assignment : Consultancy Services for the Formulation and conducting of agricultural census projects, and/or development and use of Master Sampling Frame (MSF) in RMCs.

Brief description of the Assignment :

The assignment involves the provision of Technical Assistance (TA) to Regional Member Countries (RMCs) of the African Development Bank (RMCs) for the Formulation and conducting of agricultural census projects, and/or development and use of Master Sampling Frame (MSF) in RMCs.

National Agricultural Statistical Systems (NASS) and data are in a sorry state in many African countries – the systems are weak, uncoordinated, poorly resourced, and essentially unsustainable. Moreover, their outputs are wanting in terms of quantity, quality, and dissemination. The situation has been exacerbated by new data requirements to inform policy on emerging development issues such as SDGs, food production vs. biofuels, global warming, environment, and food security.

In response to meeting these challenges in developing countries, newly cost-effective methods including Guidelines on conducting agriculture censuses, and construction and use of MSF, amongst others, have been developed, and AfDB is providing TA to its RMCs for absorbing those methods.

Department/Division issuing the request : ECST.2

Place of assignment : Home and Field based on Required Activities

Duration of the assignment : 60 days to be used on drawdown-basis, with possibility of additional days when work is available

Tentative Date of commencement : February 10, 2020

Detailed Terms of reference for the assignment : See Terms of Reference listed below

Deadline for applications : January 31, 2020

The Statistics Department of the African Development Bank invites Individual International Consultants to indicate interest in the above assignment. The interested individuals shall provide information in writing on their qualifications and experience, describing their ability to undertake the assignment.

Applications to be submitted to : Ms. Fatema DEME (F.Deme@afdb.org), with cc to :  Mr. Vincent NGENDAKUMANA (V.Ngendakumana@afdb.org).

Any questions and requests for clarifications may be sent to: Mr. Vincent NGENDAKUMANA (v.ngendakumana@afdb.org).

Expression of interest must be received no later than January 31, 2020 at 17:00 hours Abidjan local time, and specifically mentioning: Consultancy Services for the Formulation and conducting of agricultural census projects, and/or development and use of Master Sampling Frame (MSF).

Evaluation criteria :

The following criteria with the corresponding weights shall be considered in the selection of the candidates.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE FORMULATION AND CONDUCTING OF AGRICULTURAL CENSUS PROJECTS, AND/OR DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF MASTER SAMPLING FRAMES IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Background :

Agriculture is Africa´s backbone, and it holds great promise for future growth and job creation. It employs 65-70% of the African workforce. It contributes substantially (about a third) to the continent´s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and as such is the key to economic growth, increased incomes, improved living standards, poverty eradication, and enhanced food security. Promoting agriculture is therefore one of the most effective ways to contributing to alleviating poverty.

Agriculture in Africa faces many challenges including (i) internal infrastructure deficiencies prevent Africa from realizing its full agricultural and food security potential; (ii) inadequate energy supply constraining productivity and processing and storage of produce; (iii) very low connectivity density in paved road and rail network contributing to high postharvest losses and lack of access to markets; and (iv) difficult adaptation to climate change mainly due to the continent’s limited capacity and technology.

In October 2015, the Bank developed a strategy for long-term agricultural transformation in Africa, entitled “Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA)” and known as “Feeding Africa” initiative, in order to map out how to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential and boost job creation in view of diversifying economies. As such, the ATA supports the realization of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda which was adopted by the United Nations in September 2015, through the development of an inclusive and competitive African agribusiness sector. Underpinning this vision of the ATA are four specific goals: (i) contribute to the end of poverty; (ii) end hunger and malnutrition; (iii) make Africa a net food exporter; and (iv) move Africa to the top of export-orientated value chains where it has comparative advantage.

The importance of the agricultural sector in Africa and the challenges it is facing demand that its planning, management, and monitoring be based on sound evidence. This, in turn, requires the sustained availability of comprehensive, reliable, up-to-date, and consistent statistical data. In addition, these data need to be in a form that renders them intelligible and accessible for a variety of users.

Unfortunately, agricultural statistical systems and data are in a sorry state in many African countries – the systems are weak, uncoordinated, poorly resourced, and essentially unsustainable. Moreover, their outputs are wanting in terms of quantity, quality, and dissemination. Furthermore, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda defines 17 SDGs, 169 individual targets, including 19 multidimensional agricultural-related SDGs targets, and 25 global indicators for monitoring the progress towards the goals and targets. The SDGs, as well as the ATA of the Bank, present new demands for more data and challenges in terms of monitoring and reporting progress towards their achievement. Therefore, there is an important need to strengthen countries’ capacity to adopt new statistical standards and cost-efficient methodologies, modern tools for data collection.

In order to address these pressing data needs, some countries are planning to conduct censuses of agriculture to provide a snapshot of the structure of the agricultural sector, provide an opportunity to identify trends and structural transformations of the sector, and points towards areas for policy intervention. Census data are used as a benchmark for current statistics and their value is increased when they are employed together with other data sources. It can provide an important information base for monitoring some key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ATA, in particular those goals related to food security in agricultural holdings, the role of women in agricultural activities and rural poverty. On another hand, the development and use of Master Sampling Frames (MSF) provide a sound and effective base for conducting agricultural surveys in an integrated way, in order to contribute also to the reliable monitoring of SDG and ATA.

The Statistics Department of AfDB is providing Technical Assistance (TA) to Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in strengthening their agricultural statistics system, including the implementation of agricultural censuses and use of newly developed cost-effective methods for agricultural surveys, such as MSF, among others.

The Bank wishes to hire 2 international consultants to work with the AfDB Statistics Department, to support the provision of TA to RMCs in conducting agriculture censuses and/or building their statistical capacity in the development and use of MSF.

Tasks of the Consultants :

Under the overall direction of the Manager of Statistical Capacity Building Division (ECST.2) and direct technical supervision of the Principal Agricultural Statistician, the consultants will contribute to the TA program of the Statistics Department for the formulation and conducting of agricultural census projects, and/or development and use of Master Sampling Frame (MSF) in RMCs by assisting the AfDB Agricultural Statistics Team in: (i) the assessment and development of agricultural census projects in RMCs; (ii) the technical supervision and monitoring of the implementation of the census projects; (iii) the development of Master Sampling Frames and related integrated agricultural surveys in RMCs; (iv) providing technical assistance to RMCs in other statistics capacity building activities as requested, and in response country specific needs in Agricultural.

The specific tasks will include assisting selected RMCs for the formulation and running of agricultural census projects and technical guidance and support in the capacity building activities in MSF with the objective to prepare the implementation of integrated agricultural surveys, as follows :

1. Help in the identification of countries specific needs in data collection, analysis and dissemination ;
2. Provide statistical support for the formulation of Agricultural Census Projects, taking into account specific needs ;
3. Provide technical support for the supervision of the implementation of the agricultural census projects ;
4. Identify areas for improvement of survey methodologies, including the design of required sampling frame ;
5. Assist countries in the development and use of Master Sampling Frames (MFS) with the objective of designing and undertaking Agricultural Integrated Surveys; this shall involve the following: (i) designing Area Frames/Master Sampling Frames taking into account material and knowledge available in the respective countries; (ii) assisting in capacity building activities related to the construction of Area Frames/Master Sampling Frames; (iii) assisting RMCs in field testing the methodology used to build Area Frames and providing technical expertise to address specific country needs in Area Frames; (iii) assisting in processing and analysing the results of the field test and the organization of a validation workshop; and (iv) assisting in preparing comprehensive methodology document for each RMC assisted ;
6. Contribute to strengthening function and visibility of agricultural statistics in the Bank and the countries ;
7. Assist in other agricultural statistics capacity building activities of the Bank; and
8. Perform any other duties as may be required by the Management of the Statistics Department of the Bank.

Selection Criteria :

Skills Required :

• Professional competence and at least 15 years working experience in agriculture statistics in Africa at the supervisory and at both the national and international levels. The candidates must be competent in network management, and in the development and strengthening of Agricultural Statistical Systems in Africa; possess sound analytical and problem-solving skills, and a proven experience in providing agricultural statistical support to African countries; and, good skills for planning and organization of own work and meeting deadlines ;

• Ease of working in a collaborative style and with good interpersonal skills in liaising with colleagues and with sister institutions as well as with national statisticians working at country level (NSO); ability to work in a multicultural environment and ability to establish effective working leadership with a team ;

• Openness to sharing information and keeping people informed; strong communications skills, both oral and written, especially ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and studies in a clear, concise style ;

• Good experience of the compilation of statistics in Africa, particularly in the design of censuses and surveys, analysis and dissemination of data, development of Master Sampling Frames, ability to interpret and relate statistical data to socioeconomic developments, and also, experience in statistical work at international level ;

• Sound experience and competence in the use of standard soft-wares; and

• Ability to write reports, make presentations, and complete tasks on a timely basis.

Qualifications :

The candidates must possess at least a Master’s degree in Statistics and/or economics, with a good quantitative statistical background. S/he must have a minimum of 15 years relevant professional experience in field work of Agriculture Statistics, especially in the design and undertaking of agricultural censuses and surveys, MSF, and Capacity Building in Statistics.

Language : The candidates should have an excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and/or French; and, a good working knowledge of the other language.

Reporting : The consultants will be working under the overall supervision of the Division Manager of ECST.2, and technical supervision of the Principal Agricultural Statistician. They will be required to prepare and submit (a) report outlining activities undertaken during each specific assignment, (b) required technical documents, including recommendations on the related program improvement and performance.

Duration of assignment : The consultancy services will be for 60 working days (for each consultant) on draw down basis, renewable on satisfactory performance.

Duty station : The consultants shall work from home but would be entitled to any travel/mission needed for their fulfilment of the duties, particularly to countries for the delivery of Technical Assistance, and attending meetings/workshops as needed.

Please attach an updated Curriculum Vitae on the basis of the information in the template below :

MODEL CURRICULUM VITAE – AFDB BAD PDF