REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department (AHAI) Rue Joseph Anoma, 01 BP 1387 Abidjan 01, Cote d’Ivoire

E-mail : R.E.DADZIE@AFDB.ORG & K.YAMEOGO@AFDB.ORG

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY

Terms of Reference Recruitment for an Agriculture Economist

Brief description of the Assignment : The African Development Bank is seeking to recruit an Agriculture Economist to support the Agriculture and Agro-Industry (AHAI) Department in the Feed Africa Strategy initiatives and flagship programs. The objective of the assignment is to provide technical support on the implementation and roll-out of the Feed Africa Strategic flagships programs and initiatives. to the Agribusiness Development Division (AHAI.1), The Agriculture Economist will provide technical input and support on specific programs including, Blue Economy projects, the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation in Savanah (TAAT-S), the Livestock projects, the Food Safety Initiatives. He/She will support the portfolio management pf the and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) coordination under the Agriculture and Agro-industry Department and support resource mobilization for the flagship initiatives.

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Agribusiness Development Division Manager (AHAI.1).

Department issuing the request : Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department

Place of assignment : The Consultant will be based at the Bank’s Headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for the duration of the contract.

Duration of the assignment : 6 months

Tentative Date of commencement : 15^th October 2021

Detailed Terms of reference for the assignment : [TORs below]

Deadline for applications : 28^th September 2021

Applications to be submitted to : Ms. Rebecca DADZIE on R.E.DADZIE@AFDB.ORG and Ms.

Rufine YAMEOGO on K.YAMEOGO@AFDB.ORG

TERMS OF REFERENCE

AGRICULTURAL AND AGRO-INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT (AHAI)

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY : An Agriculture Economist

Introduction and Objectives :

The primary role of the African Development Bank’s Agriculture and Agro-industry Department (AHAI) is to contribute to the Bank’s vision of poverty reduction through increased sustainably agricultural production, productivity, building resilience of agricultural systems, marketing, and trade in its regional Member Countries (RMCs), thereby increasing farm incomes; environmental protection and the resilience and welfare of rural populations in general. The Department is also charged with the responsibility of developing the Bank’s capacity in agro-industry, as well as fostering greater support for African agricultural research and training.

In June 2016, The Board of Directors approved the Feed Africa Strategy (2016-25) for African Agricultural Transformation, which currently guides the work of AHAI. Feed Africa is one of the Bank’s High 5s operational priorities, a blueprint for African countries to embark on a course of sustainable transformation. The others are: Light up and Power Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The principal lending activities of the Department centre on the identification, preparation and appraisal of programmes and projects and their subsequent monitoring and supervision including project completion reviews to ascertain development outcomes. The principal non-lending activities of the Department involve economic and sector work to foster greater understanding of the constraints, challenges and opportunities that obtain in the agricultural and rural development milieu of the respective RMCs and/or region(s).

The Vision of the Feed Africa Strategy is to transform African Agriculture into a competitive and inclusive agribusiness sector that creates wealth, improves lives and secures the environment. Feed Africa aims to transform African Agriculture into a globally competitive, inclusive and business-oriented sector that creates wealth, generates gainful employment, improves quality of life and secures the environment.

Feed Africa focuses on promoting given agricultural commodity value chains along 8 priority investment areas :

• Rice self-sufficiency ;
• Cassava intensification ;
• Freshwater resources management in drylands ;
• Food security in the Sahel ;
• Transformation of the savannah ;
• Revitalization of tree plantation ;
• Promote horticulture Wheat in Africa ;
• Fish self-sufficiency.

This will be achieved through 7 mutually reinforcing enablers (Increased productivity, increased value addition, increased investment in hard and soft infrastructure, expanded agricultural finance, improved agribusiness environment, increased inclusivity, sustainability, nutrition.

The Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department is currently undergoing an expansion of its pipeline programs/initiatives such as the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation in Savanah (TAAT-S), the Livestock Flagship, The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) and Food Safety Initiative. The Bank wishes to recruit the services of an Agriculture Economist to provide analytical support on the Bank’s interventions and impacts in its Regional member Countries (RMCs). Particularly, to contribute towards the relevance of Agribusiness development in programmes/projects, developing robust commodities and market analysis, with focus on wholistic value chain approach, and sustainable growth.

Objectives, major duties and responsibilities of the Agriculture Economist :

Objectives of the assignment :

The objective of the assignment is to provide analytical and technical support to the Agribusiness Development Division (AHAI.1), and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) coordination under the Agriculture and Agro-industry Department. The Agriculture Economist will provide operational and backstopping support on specific programs including the Blue Economy, Post-Harvest Loss Reduction and Agro-processing, the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation in Savanah (TAAT-S), the Livestock Flagship, and the Food Safety Initiatives. He/she will support resource mobilization for the flagship initiatives as well as support the Department-wide strategic initiatives towards achieving the objectives of the Feed Africa Strategy.

Major Duties and Responsibilities of the Agriculture Economist ;

• Support AHAI in implementing its key Flagships, including but not limited to: Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT-S), Post-Harvest Loss and Agro-processing (PHAP), Enable Youth, Agriculture Value Chain Development Projects, Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), Blue Economy, Food Safety Initiatives ;
• Develop technical annex and reports commissioned by the Department to support design of investment projects in RMCs ;
• Support the Department to plan and organize high-level international meetings and workshops through proposal and concept design, identifying viable partners and logistics support ;
• Support the economic and sector work (ESW) studies of the Department, leading to pipeline build-up ;
• To assist with PowerPoint presentations, preparing brief and background papers ;
• Support AHAI teams in reviewing and translating documents in English and French ;
• Attend meetings in or outside the Bank as requested and contribute to documents and presentations prepared by AHAI.

GAFSP :

• Support implementation of GAFSP Program through data collection and analysis, preparation of briefing GAFSP project reports ;
• Deliver portfolio tracking and management mechanism for GAFSP projects, including support in troubleshooting problematic country programs and organizing supervision workshops ;
• Support to enhancing communication strategy through knowledge products ;
• Draft/review statements of expenditure, terms of reference and follow up on deliverables from external consultants ;
• Coordinate the publication of knowledge products on GAFSP programs on various platforms especially success stories of project beneficiaries.

Enable Youth :

• Mainstreaming youth components in the lending program; Coordinating the Enable ;
• Coordinating the Youth Virtual Mentorship Programme ;
• Organizing youth advocacy events such as the annual AYAF-Agripitch ;
• Support the establishment of the virtual mentorship program ;
• Provide support in the development of proposals for Enable Youth funding/resource mobilization.

TAAT-Savannah :

• Support funds mobilization for feasibility study, pilot project and project preparation ;
• Provide support to Task Manager in existing operations, portfolio support and ;
• expansion to new countries ;
• Provide support in identifying opportunities to attract grants and co-financing in implementing operations and program in Regional Member Countries.

Post-Harvest Loss Flagship :

• Provide support in the Strengthening Food Safety Standards for Trade Promotion and Public Health Proposal ;
• Identify adequate grant opportunities from funds and draft proposals for projects Technical Assistance ;
• Provide support in the development of communication materials for high level outreach meetings and workshops ;
• Support agricultural value chain projects in RMCs by mainstreaming components of agro-procesing and post-harvest losses management, including market infrastructure to enhance agribusiness.

Blue Economy Flagship :

• Support the rollout/implementation of the Blue Economy Program through project identification preparation and appraisal, data collection and analysis, preparation of briefing ;
• Provide support in identifying opportunities to attract grants and co-financing in implementing operations and program in Regional Member Countries ;
• Support and monitor smooth implementation in the selected RMCs.

Deliverables :

• A monthly report of activities and achievements ;
• Delivery of lending projects from identification to launching in RMCs ;
• Communication tools including flyers, policy briefs, PowerPoint presentation, posters ;
• Develop proposals for resource mobilization under the GEF, KOAFEC, SSCTF, and FAPA Trust Funds for projects and special programs that contribute to the objectives of the Feed Africa Strategy ;
• Leveraging partnerships for key flagship programs and special initiatives through proposal designs, dialogues and presentation.

Required Skills, Qualifications and Experience :

• Preferably a  Master’s  degree  or  equivalent  in  Agribusiness,  Agriculture  Economics, Development Economics, Rural Development, Finance or a related field, with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience and demonstrated ability to efficiently manage and perform multiple tasks ;
• Knowledge of agricultural entrepreneurship, food supply chains and agribusiness in Africa ;
• Experience in working within multicultural teams and international organizations on agricultural sector-related projects and programs and with different stakeholders, including development partners, government, private sector and agripreneurs ;
• Experience in program portfolio management, monitoring and evaluation ;
• Strong Analytical skills and satisfactory organizational and planning proficiency including previous experiences in organizing important events and meetings preferably for multilateral or bilateral development organizations ;
• Excellent understanding of Bank policies, programs and projects cycle either within AfDB or with a similar development institution ;
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of initiative and, demonstrated ability to efficiently manage and perform multiple tasks ;
• Ability to prepare well-detailed reports on event and project activities ;
• Excellent ability to communicate and write preferably in both English and French. A bilingual will be an advantage.

Duration and Location : The duty station of the Consultant with be at the Bank Headquarters in Abidjan. The Consultancy is for six (6) months commencing on 04^th October 2021, with possible extension based on satisfactory performance.

Reporting Requirements : The Consultant will report to the Manager of Agriculture and Agro-Industry (AHAI1) and the GAFSP Coordinator. S/he will be directly supervised by an assigned Senior Agribusiness Officer of Agriculture and Agro-Industry (AHAI.1).

Remuneration : Remuneration will be commensurate with experience, in line with the AfDB compensation guidelines. In addition, for candidates who need to travel to take up this assignment, a round trip economy class air-tickets with the shortest route will be provided. The candidate will be responsible for obtaining personal health insurance at his or her own cost. The coverage should include all medical expenses, including those resulting from illness or injury incurred during the duration of the assignment.