REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS

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 Designing national Post-Harvest Losses (PHL) statistics systems.

Brief description of the Assignment : The assignment involves the provision of Technical Assistance to Regional Member Countries (RMCs) of the African Development Bank (RMCs) for designing national Post-Harvest Losses (PHL) statistics systems.

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 the measurement of Post-Harvest Losses (PHL), amongst others, have been developed, and AfDB is providing Technical Assistance (TA) to African countries 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 Design of national Post-Harvest Losses (PHL) statistics systems.

Evaluation criteria :

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

TERMS OF REFERENCE

International Consultant for delivering Technical Assistance (TA) for Designing Post-Harvest Losses statistics systems

1. 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 contribute 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, ATA supports the realization of key SDGs 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; 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. 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 these challenges in developing countries, new cost-effective methods for producing agricultural statistics have been developed. These include Guidelines on the measurement of Post-Harvest Losses (PHL), amongst others.

The Bank wishes to hire one (1) international consultant to work with the AfDB Statistics Department, to support the provision of TA to Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in building their statistical capacity in the use of these newly developed cost-effective methods, focusing mainly on the measurement of PHL.

2. Activities1 :

Under the overall direction of the Manager of Statistical Capacity Building Division (ECST.2), and direct technical supervision of the Principal Agriculture Statistician, the consultant will work very closely with other Bank staff to deliver the technical assistance required by countries in a way that will create impact.

S/he will contribute to the delivery of Technical Assistance (TA) for agricultural statistics capacity building and skills transfer for specific activities, popularization of one of the newly developed cost-effective agricultural statistics methods, namely the measurement of PHL, amongst others, focussing on strengthening the NSS and improving the technical capacity of relevant Government institutions to collect, process, analyze and disseminate timely, relevant and accurate information (including relevant indicators) for Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Programs (PHLRP) monitoring and evaluation. This will be achieved by: (i) Ensuring that PHL statistics are integrated within the National Statistics System (NSS); (ii) Minimizing the lag between the time of PHL statistics collection and that of their publication; (iii) Proposing the annual PHL data collection activities; (iv) Always ensuring availability of related metadata (design, sample implementation, questionnaire) and micro-data; and (v) Building adequate PHL survey capacity to implement data collection, process and analyze the data by following international standards all the way.

Specifically, the consultant is expected to undertake the following key activities :

• Assist in the setting up of a viable institutional structure (Technical Working Group on PHL -TWG_PHL-) ;
• Training the TWG_PHL so that it acquires adequate capacity to well manage the entire PHL data system and to respond to PHL statistics requests by major users both within and outside the country ;
• Assist in data compilation for PHLRP monitoring and evaluation ;
• Develop a program for the continuous training of staff on PHL statistics methods and techniques ;
• Advise on any needed improvement of possible existing PHL data series ;
• Improve PHL estimates accuracy and timeliness by making use of instruments such as Global Positioning System, Satellite Imagery, Digital Pen Technology, etc. ;
• Assist in the field-test of the PHL pilot survey, as well in analyzing and reporting on the results obtained ;
• Assist in the development of the user-friendly PHL databases ;
• Specific TORs and a work programme for each activity in a given county will be developed by the Statistics Department in consultation with the consultant ;

• Develop NSS capacity to analyze primary and secondary PHL data, by introducing appropriate analytical techniques, recommending appropriate application programs, and providing training in their use ;
• Produce specific topic reports (e.g. on the approach used and/or results obtained) as may be required ;
• Liaise and work closely with relevant institutions regarding the design, field work, processing, and analysis of PHL related data ;
• Provide advice on the establishment of mechanisms for promoting discussions between data providers and users ;
• Assist in setting up the NSS publication program that includes PHL agricultural statistics ;
• Undertake any other activities that may be required relating to compilation of PHL statistics within the NSS ;
• Contribute to strengthening function and visibility of agricultural statistics in the Bank and the countries ;
• Assist in other agricultural statistics capacity building activities of the Bank ; and
• Perform any other duties as may be required by the Management of the Statistics Department of the Bank.

3. Qualifications and Experience Required :

The incumbent should have expertise in statistical organization and management, with a special focus on the production and use of agricultural statistics as well as on technical assistance. More specifically, the Consultants shall be a qualified Agricultural Statistics Expert with :

• A Masters degree in Statistics or similar field ;
• A minimum of 10 years relevant experience in the field of Agricultural Statistics at national and international levels ;
• Sound knowledge of Agricultural Statistical Systems in Africa ;
• Experience in capacity building for the development and strengthening of Agricultural Statistical Systems in Africa ;
• Excellent interpersonal skills in liaising with colleagues and with sister institutions as well as with national statisticians working at country level (NSO) ;
• Excellent ability to make presentations and participate to international conference ;
• Ability to write reports and complete tasks on a timely basis; and
• Excellent working knowledge of English or French with a good knowledge of the other one.

4. Duration of the Assignment :

The consultancy is for 60 working days on draw down basis, renewable on satisfactory performance.

5. Duty station of the consultants :

The Consultant shall work from home but will be entitled to any travel/mission needed for their respective fulfilment of the duties.

6. Reporting :

The consultant will be working under the overall supervision of the Division manager of ECST.2, and technical supervision of the Principal Agricultural Statistician. S/he 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.

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

MODEL CURRICULUM VITAE – AFDB BAD PDF