Terms of Reference – Livestock Value Chains Consultant – African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Background
The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized Technical Office (STO) of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission (AUC). Its mandate is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the Member States of the African Union (AU). AU-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the AU Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). AU-IBAR’s vision is of an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty and hunger. Founded in 1951 to study the epidemiological situation and fight rinderpest in Africa, AU-IBAR’s mandate covers all aspects of animal resources, including livestock, fisheries and wildlife, across the entire African continent, but fills a unique and strategic niche by working at continental and regional levels, with the RECs being key partners.

AU-IBAR has led a cross section of stakeholders in the livestock sector on the African continent to formulate the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA), a 20 year framework for the collective and coordinated development of the livestock on the continent. The strategy was approved by the AU Heads of States and Governments of the AU in January 2015. To initiate the implementation of the LiDeSA, the European Union has made available funds to assist AU-IBAR implement the Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) programme, which will initiate the implementation of the LiDeSA.

As part of the pillar of promoting livestock value chains, AU-IBAR is proposing to document some of the success stories in livestock value chain enterprises and bring out the voices of the unsung heroes of the sector. Finding out and documenting the success stories will provide critical lessons which will help identify investment opportunities from the people who are really giving it a go. It will also help in finding ways of how these enterprises can be supported to scale up and innovate. Showcasing the success stories will therefore be vital in attracting more private sector investments both from potential investors and financial institutions.

Achieving these objectives requires an institutionalized continental platform for dialogue between livestock value chain actors, financing, and trade support organizations for the purpose of promoting agribusiness development. This platform will create an enabling environment for mutually beneficial partnerships between financing, technical institutions, and value chain actors and also create strong linkages between public livestock development policies and the business environment.

To kick start this idea, a series of workshops are suggested for AU Member States, working with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to share their success stories. This approach differs from a trade fair where livestock farmers showcase their products. The aim is to document success stories and experiences in a positive light, in an attempt to attract more investment in the sector. With this approach, the gaps and challenges and most importantly, opportunities for scaling up and innovating will be identified.

A pilot workshop targeting 30-40 participants from Eastern African Community (EAC) Member States is planned for the first week of June 2017, for duration of 3 days. The tentative venue for the workshop is Arusha, Tanzania.

In this regard, a consultant is required to facilitate this workshop, collect the information and discussions and compile them into an official AU-IBAR report that will be used as advocacy material for drawing investments into the livestock value chains.

Overall objective
The overall objective of the work is to document success stories and experiences in various livestock value chains in terms of:

Target markets and compliance with market related standards and requirements
Economic viability of identified value chains (e.g. size and age of the enterprises)
Capital investment and source of seed capital
Challenges and ideas for improving investments, innovation and growth in the sector
Scope of Work

The work is for duration of 10 days and involves the following steps:

Facilitation of a 3 day workshop and collecting inputs
Compiling a report from the workshop outcomes in terms of success stories and ideas for growth and innovation (7 days)
Expected outputs

Advocacy material highlighting some of the success stories in livestock value chains (the voices) produced and also covering the following themes:

Areas in the respective value chains that should be improved in terms of value addition identified
Products for selected value chains with potential for investor funding identified
New markets that could be explored identified
Possibilities for innovation identified
Consultant Profile

A Postgraduate Degree (MSc) in animal production, food science, biochemistry, microbiology, agricultural economics or equivalent, or food technology. A first level university degree with a relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD degree in the relevant field will be an added value.

Experience

At least 5 years’ experience in livestock value chain sector, preferably with an international organization.

Skills and competencies

Strong report writing skills
Experience in workshop facilitation
Strong IT and data analysis skills
Effective communication
Professionalism and result driven with the ability to stick to deadlines
Language requirement

Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages is a requirement. Knowledge of English and French will be an asset.

Duration of contract and Remuneration

The contract will be for 10 days at a rate of US$300 per day.

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Successful candidate will be notified by email.

HOW TO APPLY:
Application
To apply, please submit the following:

A letter stating your motivation for the assignment, your understanding of the TORs and a concise and brief methodology;
A detailed and updated CV indicating your nationality, age and gender, experience;
Names and contact details (including e-mail addresses) of three referees;
Applications must be received not later than 30 April 2017 and should be addressed to:
Director of AU-IBAR
P.O. BOX 30786, 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
FAX: +254-20-367-4143

E-mail: applications@au-ibar.org and a copy to: hro@au-ibar.org ; procurement@au-ibar.org

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