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; L.Nejma@afdb.org
B.Mungyereza@afdb.org; V.Ngendakumana@afdb.org;
Title of Assignment : Consultancy Services for Technical Assistance Expert in Agricultural Statistics.
Brief description of the Assignment : The assignment involves the provision of Technical Assistance to AfDB Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in new cost-effective methods for producing agricultural statistics (including Guidelines for Strategic Plans for the development of Agricultural and Rural Statistics -SPARS-).
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 food production vs. biofuels, global warming, environment, and food security.
In response to meeting these challenges in developing countries, newly cost-effective methods for producing agricultural statistics (including Guidelines for Strategic Plans for the development of Agricultural and Rural Statistics -SPARS-) 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 : Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Duration of the assignment : 6 months, renewable
Tentative Date of commencement : February 01, 2019
Detailed Terms of reference for the assignment : See Terms of Reference listed below
Deadline for applications : January 18, 2019
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) and Ms. Nejma
LAZLEM (L.Nejma@afdb.org); with cc to: Mr. Ben Paul MUNGYEREZA
(B.Mungyereza@afdb.org), and 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 18, 2019 at 17:00 hours Abidjan local time, and specifically mentioning : Consultancy Services for Technical Assistance Expert in Agricultural Statistics.
Terms of Reference for Recruitment of a Consultant Technical Assistance Expert in Agricultural Statistics
- 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, ATA supports the realization of key SDGs through the development of an inclusive and competitive African agribusiness sector. Underpinning this vision 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. The situation has been exacerbated by new data requirements to inform policy on emerging development issues such as food production vs. biofuels, global warming, environment, and food security.
In response to meeting these challenges in developing countries, newly cost-effective methods for producing agricultural statistics, including the Guidelines on Strategic Plans for Agricultural and Rural Statistics (SPARS), Master Sampling Frames (MSF), Agricultural Cost of Production (AgCoP) statistics, Administrative Data, etc. and AfDB is providing TA to African countries for absorbing those methods.
The Bank requires the services of an international consultant to help building country capacity in the use of those newly developed cost-effective methods.
- Tasks of the Consultant
Under the overall direction of the Manager of Statistical Capacity Building Division (ECST.2), and direct technical supervision of the Principal Agricultural Statistician, the consultant will provide technical assistance to countries in the use of above newly developed cost-effective methods.
The specific tasks will include the following :
- Assist the Task manager in charge of agriculture statistics in the coordination of activities related to technical assistance in agriculture statistics ;
- Contribute to the provision of technical assistance in the various agricultural statistical areas ;
- Provide technical assistance and supervise the development of Strategic Plans for Agricultural and Rural Statistics (SPARS) in regional member countries ;
- Provide technical assistance on the integration of agriculture statistics in the national strategies for the development of statistics ;
- Contribute to capacity building/training activities in survey design, data collection, analysis and dissemination in agriculture sector and subsectors ;
- Provide training on the use of newly developed cost effective methods in agricultural statistics, including providing training in survey sampling, etc. ;
- Provide statistical support to agricultural research institutions on request ;
- Contribute to strengthening and visibility of agricultural statistics in the Bank and the countries; and
- 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 5 years working experience in agriculture statistics and/or agriculture research in Africa at the supervisory level. The candidate must possess sound analytical and problem-solving skills; design and monitoring of agricultural surveys and/or experiments; 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; 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, analysis and dissemination of data; ability to interpret and related 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 and complete tasks on a timely basis.
Qualifications :
The candidate 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 5 years relevant professional experience in fieldwork of Agriculture Statistics and/or Agriculture Research, Survey Design, and Capacity Building in Statistics. He must have worked in or closely with international organizations in country and sub-regional statistical activities.
Language :
The candidate should have an excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and/or French; and, a good working knowledge of the other language.
- Reporting :
The Consultant will be required to prepare and submit activity progress reports as appropriate and a Consultancy Report for the period of the consultancy.
- Duration and duty station of assignment :
- The assignment is proposed for a duration of 6 months on a continuous basis, renewable based on need and subject to satisfactory performance ;
- The duty station shall be AfDB HQs based in Abidjan.
- Missions//Travels :
The Consultant would be entitled to any travel/mission needed for his/her 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 template below: