Consultant, Support Design and Implementation of Transformation of the African Savanah Initiative - AHAI (EOI) at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Expressions of Interest: Individual Consultant to Support Design and Implementation of Transformation of the African Savanah Initiative - AHAI

Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Consultant type: Individual Consultant
Job family: Agriculture, Human and Social Development
Department issuing the request: Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department
Duration of the assignment: 6 months
Tentative Date of commencement: 1st April 2023

Introduction

• The African Development Bank approved the Feed Africa Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa (2016-2025) and its delivery which currently guides the work of the Agriculture and Agro Industry Department (AHAI) and Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Department (AHFR). Feed Africa strategy is one of the Bank’s High 5s operational priorities, a blueprint for African countries to embark on a course of sustainable transformation.
• The Bank, through the Feed Africa Strategy, has adopted a commodity value chain approach aimed to transforming the entire agriculture value chain through a targeted investment strategy involving an initial set of agricultural commodities (also referred to as a Priority Intervention Areas) and agro-ecological zones, identified as being initial lead areas for investment. The strategy, which aims to end hunger and rural poverty in the next decade through self-sufficiency and export leadership in 18 priority commodity value chains has identified a set of Priority Intervention Areas (PIAs), characterized by agricultural commodities and agro-ecological zones, and they include:
  • Achieve self-sufficiency in key staples (rice, wheat, fish);
  • Move up the value chain in key export orientated commodities (cocoa, coffee, cotton, cashew, cassava and horticulture);
  • Create a food secure Sahel (sorghum, millet, cowpea, livestock); and,
  • Realize the potential of the Guinea Savannah (maize, soybean, livestock)
• These will be achieved through 7 mutually reinforcing enablers that is: i) increased productivity, ii) increased value addition, iii) increased investment in hard and soft infrastructure, iv) expanded agricultural finance, v) improved agribusiness environment, vi) increased inclusivity, sustainability, nutrition, and vii) create opportunities for youths and women. The rational for the Agriculture Value Chain approach stems from the response to the Action Plan for Agricultural Transformation in Africa resulting from the Dakar High Level Conference which states need “To execute a bold plan to achieve rapid agricultural transformation across Africa through realizing the value of increased production though catalysing investments into activities to add and fully realize production value, coordinating investments into markets structures; inputs/agro-processing and storage market to drive overall competitiveness of value chains, support/create market governance mechanisms, reduce post-harvest waste and loss to raise level and cost effectiveness of production.
• The Bank’s Agriculture and Agro-industry department has a two-pronged approach to value chain development namely: increased and sustainable productivity, and agribusiness development. The flagship project of the increased and sustainable productivity is the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT); a bold plan to double African farm yields by expanding access to modern food production technologies of high-yield and nutritious crops, livestock, and aquaculture to millions of farmers, and tackling pests and disease epidemics.
• Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation in the Savannah Initiative (TAAT-S) seeks to transfer the experiences of Brazilian Cerrados experience and conservation agriculture to Africa to create a thriving food production sector in the vast African savannahs and to achieve the second major success of tropical agriculture in the world. TAAT-S will facilitate the introduction and adaptation of tropical crop, pastures and soil technologies, entry of commercial farmers and new private sector investments, and engagement of local farmers to achieve an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable global food powerhouse in the African savannahs. TAAT-S is being promoted in Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal & Gabon, and will be expanded to other regional member countries. TAAT-S seeks to pull together and implement the concept of innovation platforms – strategic partnerships made up of technology providers, the best and local R&D institutions, commercial and small holder farmers, input suppliers, equipment manufacturers, policy makers, etc. as the primary vehicle unit for implementation of ‘frontier agriculture’ needed for the transformation of the savannahs.
• The Bank wishes to recruit the services of an individual consultant to support its work, and the governments of Regional Members Countries (RMCs) in particular Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria, and other National Development Institutions in the process of building competitive commodity value chains.

Objectives of the Assignment

• The purpose of this consultancy will be to assist the AFDB, and the governments of TAAT-S selected countries in the process of building competitive commodity value chains, specifically:
• Ensure the implementation of TAAT-S technology and policy recommendations, business plans, and all other recommendation from the consultants and implementing partners on competitive production of soya bean, maize, other cereals, and livestock commodity value chains in Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria.
• Facilitate the TAAT-S private sector investment effort with respect to the identification and recruitment process for local and international agribusiness investors to develop soya bean, maize, other cereals, and livestock commodity value chains in Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria.
• Document and share key lessons that would guide the implementation of similar initiatives in selected TAAT-S countries.
• Support the resource mobilization efforts for the TAAT-S initiatives, by developing concept notes and proposals to be submitted to various funds and donors.

Scope of Work
The Consultant will be required to:

• Support the set-up process of a Public Private Partnership to serve as coordinating entity for Agribusiness Value Chain development; the corporation will be responsible to provide an attractive incentive framework and a transparent, predictable and facilitating environment for private investments in the soya bean, maize, other cereals, and livestock commodity value chains in RMCs; the consultant will work side by side with AfDB, the Governments and other private-public entities;
• Support TAAT-S studies related to soya bean, maize, other cereals, and livestock commodity value chains in the countries where TAAT-S will be deployed, and business plans prepared, facilitate the identification, engagement – including road shows, and recruitment of private sector investors as coordinating companies in the production hubs. Coordinating companies are defined as companies that coordinate the ecosystem of actors required for successful implementation of commercial production, including seed and assorted input providers (fertilizers, plant protection services), germplasm providers, agricultural equipment manufacturers, commercial farmers, domestic and international investors, Agri-processing companies, major integrated agribusiness conglomerates, etc;
• Support the TAAT-S team in the follow up process relative to the implementation activities of TAAT-S projects. The consultant will work together with the selected stakeholders to agree on a tentative work-breakdown structure and a detailed schedule, listing the project milestones, activities, and deliverables relative to the Set-up process of Public Private Investment Promotion Mechanism for Agribusiness Value Chain and the TAAT-S investment promotion activities;
• Prepare detailed annual reports, including interim quarterly reports, for submission to the Governments having TAAT-S projects and to the Bank. The annual report should include a section on a Knowledge Management (KM) on how best practices are being shared between the hubs and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of project KPIs;
• Support the resource mobilization efforts for the TAAT-S initiatives, by drafting and developing concept notes and proposals to be submitted by the bank to various funds and donors. These proposals should be primarily oriented towards developing studies for TAAT-S projects within interested RMC countries, launching of new pilot TAAT-S projects, developing Agribusiness capacities for conservation agriculture techniques, or any other actions that can lead to new TAAT-S projects in African Savannahs.

Reporting Requirements:

• The Consultant will report to the Manager of the Agribusiness Division under the daily supervision of the Principal Agricultural Economist, AHAI.1.

Deliverables

• The deliverables/ outputs of the assignment would include but not limited to the following:
• A monthly report of activities and achievements
• A functioning Public Private Investment Promotion corporation to coordinate development of the Soy and Maize, other cereals, and livestock Value Chains in interested RMCs Is settled.
• At least three coordinating companies identified and recruited for the commercial production of soybean, maize, other cereals and livestock commodity value chains on at least 20,000 to 25,000 hectares in interested RMC with special focus on Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal & Gabon.
• Quarterly Reports of implementation of TAAT-S in countries where TAAT-S is deployed are submitted to the Government (of the countries where TAAT-S is being deployed) and the Bank.
• Visually compelling publications/presentations/reports intended for investors/stakeholders, such as investment guides, etc. are prepared.
• Facilitate the development of a network of the various conglomeration of service providers, which will be linked to the commercial hubs under TAAT-S in the implementing countries.
• At least 3 proposals/requests for funding are prepared and submitted to donors and funds.

Qualifications and Experience

• The consultant should have at least a Master's Degree in one of these specialties : Economics, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Development, International Relations or related field.
• The candidate must have at least 10 years’ experience working in his/her area of specialty; with previous experience working with multi-lateral development institutions and the private sector.
• Working experience within multicultural teams and international organizations or companies and highly knowledgeable of Africa’s social, agricultural and rural development and economic development issues, questions and challenges;
• Proven experience in identifying, designing and implementing solutions for enhancing productivity and commodity value addition in a Multilateral Development Bank.
• Demonstrated track record in mobilizing private sector entities (commercial farmers, agriprocessing conglomerates, impact investors, venture capital/private equity fund managers) towards investment opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness in Africa;
• Knowledge experience of the Flagship “Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation in the Savannah” (TAAT-S) will be an advantage.
• Excellent understanding of Bank policies, programs and projects either within AfDB or in a similar organization
• S/he must have extensive knowledge and experience of in working in Africa;
• The consultant must be conversant with the Bank’s project cycle activities;
• S/he should have excellent communication skills and be proficient in both written and spoken English/French.

Application Closing Date
23rd March, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their Applications to: Mr. Mark EGHAN on [email protected] and copy Ms. Rufine YAMEOGO on [email protected]

Click here for more information

Click here for the Job Description (PDF)

Note

• The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Procurement Policy and Procedure for Corporate Consultants Recruitment.
• Please, note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.