INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION (TSF)
POLICY ENABLER COMPACT
AFRICA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION (AATF)
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES
SECTOR: Agriculture
CONSULTANCY SERVICES: Regional Seed Trade Survey and Listing of Varieties in the Regional Catalogues and Training of Seed Companies and relevant stakeholders on modalities for regional seed trade
Grant No.5900155017251
Project Code: P- Z1-A00-016
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This Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared on the African Development Bank Group’s Internet Website(www.afdb.org) 1st August 2022.
The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Technical Assistance for Agricultural Transformation in countries in transition and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract for two Individual Consultants (one for COMESA and the other for ECOWAS) consultants to facilitate operationalization of seed trade under the regionally harmonized seed regulations in countries in transition state within COMESA and ECOWAS regions.
Two (2) individual consultants will be engaged to facilitate operationalization of seed trade under the regionally harmonized seed regulations in countries in transition state within COMESA and ECOWAS regions and will specifically
- Conduct a survey on the status of high-yielding, nutritious and climate-resilient crop varieties released at least two countries but not yet listed in the regional variety catalogue;
- develop knowledge materials capturing the process and procedures of enlisting varieties in the regional variety catalogues, utilization of the regional seed labels and certificates for use in awareness creation sessions in the target countries;
- implement awareness creation and training workshops for seed stakeholders relevant for cross border movement of seeds such as seed companies, border control personnel, phytosanitary officials, variety release personnel.
- Key tasks of the assignment also includes; carry out a survey to identify the crop varieties with high yielding, nutritious and climate-resilient crop attributes that are bred by CGIAR centres, National Seed Authorities, National Research Organizations that have been released in at least one COMESA Member State;
- Identify the constraints hindering seed companies from enlisting their varieties in the regional catalogues;
- Train small, medium and large seed companies on the application and registration of varieties on the regional variety catalogues. This will be done in consultation with the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), National Seed Trade Associations (NSTA) and other relevant stakeholders;
- Train seed companies/other stakeholders and develop training modules on submission of the DUS and VCU/NPT data across REC Member States as well as on the acquisition, activation and trading using COMESA regional seed labels and the procedures for border clearing of seeds destined for external markets.
The expected duration of the assignment is three (3) months, and the two selected consultants will report to the TAAT Policy Enabler Compact Coordinator. The selected consultants are expected to commence the assignment by December 2023.
The Implementing Agency of Technical Assistance for Agricultural Transformation in countries in transition, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (including their detailed CV and letter of motivation detailing past related experience in similar assignments. Each of the consultants should possess a minimum Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics/Economics/Political Science or any other related field; experience in conducting training for multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder teams; extensive knowledge and experience in developing and utilization of knowledge products; experience in conducting expert interviews and qualitative/quantitative data collection, transcription and analysis using statistical software; demonstrated technical expertise and experience in seed systems in Africa, more specifically in the TSF target countries will be an added advantage; clear understanding of the regionally harmonized seed regulations and state of regional trade of seeds and other agro-inputs in Africa and especially within ECOWAS and COMESA regions; good understanding of Political Economy theories and Models and their application to empirical situations; high degree of independence, flexibility and ability to meet strict deadlines.
Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement Framework, October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours (0800-1630hrs).
Expressions of interest should be delivered to the office address or email addresses below on or before 31st October 2023.
Dr Francis Nang’ayo
Coordinator TAAT Policy Enabler Compact
African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)
ILRI Campus, PO Box 30709, 00100, Nairobi
E-mail: f.nangayo@aatf-africa.org
Copy: a.obasi@cgiar.org
