Individual Consultant

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

BACKGROUND / PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The ability of countries to feed themselves is a key requirement for both economic self-sufficiency and for further development, including industrialization and sustainable human development. As recent global shocks – the pandemic and war in Ukraine - have shown once again, many African countries are highly dependent on imports of food and fertilizer. This makes their development process difficult in normal times, and adds severe pressures during times of crisis, including imported inflation, increased hunger and poverty, and reduced fiscal space.

There are many initiatives and reports that focus on food security – meeting countries’ immediate needs for nutritious food to stave off hunger. UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) is taking a somewhat different route, looking at Africa’s food systems as a whole. The continent’s development needs require it to achieve food sovereignty, which includes four key elements:

1. Enhanced research and development in agricultural practices
2. An optimal production and use of fertilizer to improve agricultural yields while protecting soils
3. Efficient farm management processes during harvest, post harvest and storage (especially with regards to making the latter climate-resilient)
4. Improved distribution and marketing operations that would reduce waste

The current project will build on RBA’s policy brief - Towards Food Security and Sovereignty in Africa – and expand it in line with the annotated outline below.

The report is expected to be launched at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank/IMF.

Duties and Responsibilities

II. SCOPE OF THE WORK

The scope of the work will include the activities below:

1. Survey and review the latest data and evidence on the four dimensions of food sovereignty in Africa.
2. Compare and analyze data discrepancies where relevant (e.g. FAO vs. World Bank on fertilizer application or production).
3. Flesh-out the annotated outline below with initial findings for RBA’s review.
4. Conduct further research based on the revised outline, identifying existing capacities, structural challenges, needs for investment, and policy enablers for food sovereignty in Africa.
5. Prepare a comprehensive draft report on food sovereignty in Africa based on this research.
6. Organize a review meeting with all relevant stakeholders both at UN headquarters and at country and regional levels in Africa.
7. Deliver the final report reflecting all the inputs, comments and reviews received in the previous steps, and with all formatting, references and other metadata complete.

III. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES (WITH TIMELINES)

Outputs for this assignment are:

1. A fleshed-out annotated outline of the report (see Annex II) (3 days).
2. First Draft Report (10 days) to be reviewed by SART and other stakeholders (2 days)
3. One (1) day Review Meeting with all relevant stakeholders
4. Final Draft Report (10 days)
5. Final Report (4 days)

V. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

• The Individual Consultant will be provided with access to necessary resources, in particular access to existing data and analysis, UN colleagues for interviews as well as links to public data sources.

VI. DURATION OF THE WORK[1]

• UP to 30 days

VII. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The selected firm will be supervised by/report Head, Strategic Analysis and Research Team

Competencies

VIII. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Postgraduate degree in Development/Economics/Agricultural Economics.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience working on food sovereignty, food systems, agricultural development or a related field.
• Sound track record of peer–reviewed and data–driven analytical publications on food systems or agricultural development in Africa or other regions.

[1The IC modality is expected to be used only for short-term consultancy engagements. If the duration of the IC for the same TOR exceeds twelve (12) months, the duration must be justified and be subjected to the approval of the Director of the Regional Bureau, or a different contract modality must be considered. This policy applies regardless of the delegated procurement authority of the Head of the Business Unit.

Required Skills and Experience

• VIII. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• Postgraduate degree in Development/Economics/Agricultural Economics.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience working on food sovereignty, food systems, agricultural development or a related field.
• Sound track record of peer–reviewed and data–driven analytical publications on food systems or agricultural development in Africa or other regions.
• Proficiency in English is required

• IX. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE BEST OFFER

  Upon the advertisement of the Procurement Notice, qualified Individuals are expected to submit both the Technical and Financial Proposals. Accordingly; applications will be evaluated based on Cumulative Analysis as per the following scenario:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. In this regard, the respective weight of the proposals are:
  1. Technical Criteria weight is 70%
  2. Financial Criteria weight is 30%