The West African region, despite encouraging economic results and a significant increase in crop, livestock and fisheries production, and the reduction of food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition and poverty, is plagued by many vulnerability factors. This vulnerability regularly leads to widespread or localised acute food crises that affect several million people each year. These crises constitute major constraints to the achievement of certain sustainable development and ECOWAP goals: notably poverty reduction, elimination of hunger, food and nutrition security by 2030.

As a result of this situation, in 2012 the Ministers of Agriculture of the Member States adopted the regional food security storage strategy which has two major dimensions: (i) food security storage to cope with shocks, and (ii) commercial storage to structure agricultural value chains and regulate food markets.

The present notice aims at recruiting a consultant for the production and editing of the report of the International Conference on the Regional Storage System and the construction of a multilateral partnership.          

Objective of the service

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of the RAAF and in close collaboration with the Technical Assistant to the Director in charge of the conference steering and the UTGR team, the Consultant will be responsible for supporting the Conference Organising Committee on:

• The preparation of the synthesis of the discussions and recommendations of all thematic sessions;
• The preparation of the synthesis of the results and the recommendations of the technical experts to be presented to the decision makers at the two high level meetings;
• The production of the general report of the conference in three languages (French, English and Portuguese) for publication.

Consultant Profile

The Consultant must demonstrate:

• A Doctorate Degree in the fields of Rural Development (Agronomy, Agro-economics, Sociology, etc.)
• At least 15 years experience working with Regional Development Institutions in the West African region (ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS);
• A very good understanding of ECOWAP and the agricultural and rural development policies of UEMOA and CILSS;
• Very good experience in the analysis of vulnerability to food and nutrition insecurity and of food storage and crisis management policies.

He/she must demonstrate excellent synthesis, written and oral communication skills and the ability to prepare reports for publication targeting Technical and Financial Partners, Policy Makers, Researchers and Development Practitioners.

Language

Fluency in one of the three working languages of ECOWAS (English, French, Portuguese) is required. Good linguistic knowledge (written and oral) of a second working language of the Commission would be an advantage.

Period and duration of the service

The duration of the service is 40 days spread over 3 months: April - May - June 2021.

Application file

The application file consists of:

• A letter of interest, including the time frame for availability;
• A recent curriculum vitae detailing professional experience and similar assignments;
• Three professional references (full name, current position, position at the time of collaboration with the Consultant, email and telephone contacts);
• Certified copy of highest diploma;
• Copies of certificates of work or service rendered, listed in the curriculum vitae.
• A detailed methodology and work plan for the execution of the assignment (candidates can download the terms of reference for the assignment).

NB: Any incomplete application will be rejected.

Submission of applications

Applications must be received no later than 6 April, 2021 at 5 PM GMT, by hand delivery or by e-mail at the following addresses

• Agence Régionale pour l'Agriculture et l'Alimentation (ARAA), 83, rue des Pâtures (Super Taco), 01 BP 4817 Lomé, Togo - Tel.+228 22 21 40 03 in a sealed envelope marked « Selection of a consultant for the production and editing of the report of the International Conference of the Regional Storage System and the construction of a multilateral partnership »
• Email : procurement.consultants@araa.org
• Subject : « Selection of a consultant for the production and editing of the report of the International Conference on the Regional Storage System and the construction of a multilateral partnership ».

NB: Applications that do not bear the subject line "Selection of a consultant for the production and editing of the report of the International Conference on the Regional Storage System and the construction of a multilateral partnership" will not be considered.

Selection method

The consultant will be selected according to the qualification-based selection method as defined in the ECOWAS Procurement Code. To this end, the RAAF will draw up a list of a maximum of six candidates for the continuation of the selection process.

Only shortlisted applications will be contacted. The RAAF reserves the right not to proceed with this expression of interest.