Recruitment of a Senior Consultant to Support Agriculture Value Chains – Côte d’Ivoire

Brief description of the Assignment :

Working from the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) headquarter in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the senior Consultant will support the teams working on Feed Africa initiatives and flagships namely: The African Agricultural Value Chain Flagship (AAVC), the Fall Army Worm Control Initiative (FAW), Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT 7TAAT-S) program, the Post-Harvest Loss and Agro-Processing (PHAP) Flagship. In addition, the Technical consultant is expected to develop an explicit Bank-specific AVCD policy/approach which will include a common terminology; a consistent set of fundamentals, technical guidelines and toolkit to be used by operations staff provide value chain training at the division and complex levels and as required throughout the Bank and support; provide strategic and tactical support and leadership to enhancing the Banks agribusiness with the goal of jobs creation and improving the lives within communities and support the Bank’s High 5s agenda. The senior consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Agribusiness Development Division Manager (AHAI.1).

Introduction :

In June 2016, the Board of Directors approved the Feed Africa Strategy (2016-2025) for African Agricultural Transformation, which currently guides the work of the African Development Bank’s Agriculture & Agro – Industry Department (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 Feed Africa strategy aims to end hunger and rural poverty in the next decade through self – sufficiency in 18 priority commodity value chains specific to the continent’s agro – ecological zones. These objectives will be achieved through 7 mutually reinforcing enablers: increased productivity; value addition; increased investment in hard and soft infrastructure; an enabling agribusiness environment; capital flows; and inclusivity, sustainability and effective nutrition in the Bank’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs). The Department comprises the Agribusiness Development (AHAI.1) and the Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability (AHAI.2) Divisions.

The principal lending activities of the Department center on the identification, preparation and appraisal of programs 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 ;
• Food security in the Sahel ;
• Transformation of the savannah ;
• Revitalization of tree plantation ;
• Promote horticulture ;
• Wheat for Africa ;
• Fish self-sufficiency .

Objectives of the assignment :

The objective of this assignment is to support the Agriculture and Agro-industry Department and liaise with other departments to facilitate a collaborative and unified approach to value chain management in the implementation of the Bank’s Ten Year Strategy (TYS), the High5s agenda. The Consultant will work across the Bank teams on Feed Africa initiatives and flagships, including but not limited to: African Agricultural Value Chain Flagship (AAVC), Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, the Post-Harvest Loss and Agro-Processing (PHAP) Flagship, Enable Youth.

Scope of the assignment :

The Consultant will be required to:

1. Provide advice on strategic options for revenue generation and cost efficiencies of Bank’s Value Chain operations and strategies ;
2. Develop a standardized approach with respect to the implementation of value chain related projects. The incumbent will provide a direct and indirect operational input that will contribute to in-country value chain enhancement and the delivery of the key goals and performance targets of the Feed Africa Strategy ;
3. Identify at least 4 value chain opportunities in regional member countries ;
4. Develop content and deliver value chain training among Bank staffs to ensure a shared understanding of the concept and actual value chains opportunities supports Bank’s lending targets ;
5. Develop and implement a pilot value chain transformation intervention on Rice and other commodities for selected Regional Member Countries ;
6. Support AHAI staff in identifying opportunities and preparing proposals to attract grants and co-financing in implementing value chain operations and programs in Regional Member Countries ;
7. Develop a strategic value chain analysis for the purposes of recognizing the activitiesthat are the most valuable in terms of jobs creation and total financial value across the value chain ;
8. Build strategic partnerships with other Multilateral Development Institutions and Private Sector Organizations on the Agriculture Value Chain Sector.

Qualification and Experience :

• The consultant should have at least a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics or equivalent experience, Agribusiness Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration with considerable knowledge and experience in Value chain management, Private sector development.
• The candidate must have at least 15 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;
• Excellent understanding of Bank policies, programs and projects either within AfDB or with a similar development institution.
• Proven Experience in identifying, designing and implementing solutions for enhancing productivity and commodity value addition in a Multilateral Development Bank.
• S/he must have extensive knowledge and experience in working in Africa;
• The consultant must be conversant with the Bank’s project cycle activities;
• S/he must be computer literate;
• S/he should have excellent communication skills and be proficient in both written and spoken English.

Duration :

The duration of the assignment will be 12 months commencing on 1^th July 2019.

Location :

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

Reporting Requirements  :

The Consultant will report to the Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industries Department (AHAI). S/he will be directly supervised by the Manager of Agriculture and Agro-Industry (AHAI1).

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.

Please send a one page Motivation letter and an updated Curriculum Vitae (see AfDB Personal History Form (PHF) available at https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Generic-

Documents/CONSULTANT_JOB_APPLICATION_FORM.docx