REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Statistics Department (ECST)
Avenue Joseph Anoma
01 B.P. 1387, Abidjan 01
Côte d’Ivoire
Email: F.Deme@afdb.org; N.Lazlem@afdb.org B.Mungyereza@afdb.org; V.Ngendakumana@afdb.org;
Title of Assignment: Consultancy Services for Agricultural Statistics
Brief description of the Assignment: The assignment involves the compilation, review, validation and publication of the MSCD reported by countries.
In order to inform the “Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA)” known as “Feeding Africa” initiative, AfDB has developed a system for compiling the Minimum Set of agricultural Core Data (MSCD) produced by African countries, and monitoring the capacity of Regional Member Countries (RMCs) to produce such data, while assisting them to ensure that such for data as well as their sources are reconciled, consistent and coherent.
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 22, 2019
Applications to be submitted to: Ms. Fatema DEME (F.Deme@afdb.org) and Ms. Nejma
LAZLEM (N.Lazlem@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).
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.
Expression of interest must be received no later than January 22, 2019 at 17:00 hours Abidjan local time, and specifically mentioning: Agricultural Statistics Consultancy Position.
Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference for Recruitment of a Consultant in Agricultural Statistics to assist for the compilation, review, validation and publication of the Minimum Set of agricultural Core Data (MSCD)
- Introduction, background and objectives
Agriculture plays a central and strategic role for Africa development in terms of economic growth, enhanced living standards, poverty reduction, and increased food security. Indeed, all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have direct or indirect linkages to agriculture. Therefore, the importance of agricultural sector requires that its planning, management, and monitoring be based on sound incidence. In turn, this requires the availability of comprehensive, reliable, consistent and timely statistical data in a form that is usable to a variety of users at both national, regional and international levels.
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; 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.
In order to inform the ATA, AfDB has developed a system for compiling the Minimum Set of agricultural Core Data (MSCD) produced by African countries.
MSCD are published on the AfDB’s Africa Information Highway Data Portal. The data can be accessed on the following link:
- http://dataportal.opendataforafrica.org/data#topic=MSCD (for your own data search), and
- http://dataportal.opendataforafrica.org/agriculture (for pre-selected data tables and charts).
The dataset covers crop production, core agricultural inputs, land cover & use, livestock production, aquaculture & fisheries, forestry production, food consumption, trade data, consumer & producer food prices, etc. The information is collected from African countries (& is regularly updated every year) by AfDB, as part of the AfDB activities on agricultural activities in order to inform agricultural & rural development policies in Africa, as well as the Feed Africa agenda of the Bank, and SDGs.
On another hand, AfDB regularly assesses country capacity to produce required MSCD.
AfDB is therefore looking for a consultant to assist with the compilation, review, validation and publication of the MSCD reported by countries, as well as with the assessment of country capacity to produce required agricultural statistics.
- Activities to be undertaken by the Consultants in Agricultural Statistics
Under the overall direction of the Division Manager, ECST2, and direct technical supervision of the Principal Agricultural Statistician, the Consultant in Agricultural Statistics will assist the Statistics Department in the following activities:
- Assist with the compilation, review, validation and publication of reported/collected MSCD time series;
- Follow-up with countries to ensure that all countries report on the MSCD and establish an updated reporting status;
- Identification of missing data and follow-up with countries to fill the data gaps, and/or look for alternative semi-official data sources to get supplementary data;
- Identification of inconsistent data and, together with countries to make the needed adjustments;
- Work with the AIH to keep updated and maintained the MSCD webpage data;
- Responding to enquiries of data users on MSCD;
- To assist in the assessments of country capacity to produce MSCD; checking, processing, validating and analyzing obtained data, and contributing to preparing the result report (on Agricultural Statistics Capacity Indicators -ASCI-);
- Undertake any other activity as requested by the Management.
- Expected outcomes
The main expected outcomes of the consultancy is: (i) Published updated MSCD time series, and (iii) Report on ASCI.
- Duration and duty station of the 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 should be AfDB HQs based in Abidjan.
- Required qualifications of the candidates
The candidates shall have the following qualifications:
- At least a Master’s degree in Statistics and/or economics, with a very good quantitative statistical and IT background;
- Proven experience of at least 5 years in data compilation, review and validation, as well as in data processing and analysis; a specific working experience with MSCD would be an advtange;
- Proven experience in database management;
- Professional experience in agricultural statistics undertakings would be an advantage;
- Ability to interpret and relate statistical data to socioeconomic developments;
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office Package especially WORD, EXCEL, a reputable statistical software, data management software;
- Ability to complete tasks on a timely basis;
- Excellent knowledge of one of the two languages (English or French), and average knowledge of the other.
- Excellent interpersonal skills in liaising with colleagues; and
- 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, and to make presentations.
- Reporting
The Consultant will be required to prepare and submit activity progress reports as appropriate and a final Consultancy Report for the period of the consultancy which should exhibit achievements and recommendations.
- 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: