Development of the Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association Five Year (2020 – 2024) Strategic Plan

Introduction

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized Technical Office 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.

The AU-IBAR Live2Africa Project (Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa), jointly funded by the European Union and the AUC, is designed to support transformation of the Livestock sector for enhanced contribution to environmentally sustainable, climate resilient, socio-economic development and equitable growth. The Project seeks to deliver catalytic action that will trigger both commercialization and an inclusive livestock sector transformation along selected regional livestock value chains.

A consensus building exercise that brought together a diversity of livestock sector actors (The Live2Africa Livestock Value Chain Prioritization Workshop held in Nairobi Kenya 19^th – 21^st February 2019) identified priority regional livestock value chains for Live2Africa intervention. Eastern Africa (represented by the East African Community (EAC)) selected the dairy value chain. The dairy sector in Eastern Africa is dominated by the private sector and informal actors, with urgent need for greater organization and coordination of sector actors at regional level.

In the Eastern Africa region, the Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association (ESADA), a non-political membership organization, is the key umbrella organization that brings together dairy stakeholders. Established in 2004, ESADA is a private sector initiative, with an overall mandate of promoting and advocating for efficient and effective means of achieving quality standards in Africa’s dairy sector. ESADA also promotes trade in African dairy products within and beyond the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. ESADA Currently represents 6 countries in the Eastern region i.e., Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda; and 7 in Southern Africa i.e., Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

ESADA developed and implemented a Strategic Plan for the period 2006-2010 which was focused on guiding the Association to provide efficient and effective services. The process to shape a new strategy for the Association was initiated at the Consultative Dairy Sector Workshop held from 17^th to 19^th July 2019 in Naivasha Kenya. Stakeholders considered initial proposals for framing a new five year Strategic Plan for ESADA. The discussions indicated that a more substantive dialogue to interrogate the evolution of the Association since its inception in 2004 was necessary. There was need to capture the perspectives of Members and allow for collective articulation of an agenda that would position the Association to deliver on its mandate by building a compelling business case. Stakeholders underscored that the new strategy should provide a growth oriented approach, and that sets out a common value system that builds membership and enhances ownership. The new Strategy should provide clear targets, a sequenced implementation plan and functional governance structure. Stakeholders underlined that there was a need to refocus the scope of the draft Strategy on the mandate of the Association rather than on broader sector issues.

Three actions were proposed; of which two have already been undertaken: 1. One on one consultations via phone/ email to further engage key stakeholders understand their perspectives towards framing a more strategic direction for the Association; 2. An Expert facilitated Workshop on Re-drafting and Validation of the ESADA 5-Year Strategic Plan, held 17th – 19th October 2019 in Naivasha Kenya, that brought together ESADA Members to dialogue on a cascade of strategic choices: (i) The new vision and the theory of change to interrogate the social economic challenges ESADA will contribute to addressing, and how the Association should go about delivering the change; (ii) the priority issues that ESADA will focus their efforts on and its role based on its comparative advantages; (iii) How ESADA will know it has succeeded inclusive of actions, adaptations and operating models required and the methodology to measure success; and (iv) the skills and abilities ESADA requires to create the desired impact. These two processes clarified the strategic direction for ESADA and generated the elements for the new five year ESADA Strategy 2020 - 2024.

Purpose and Scope of Work

The purpose of this consultancy is to procure services of an expert to draft the new ESADA Strategic Plan 2020 – 2024 based on the output from the stakeholder consultative processes.

The scope of work for the consultant will include but not be limited to:

1. Review the vision and mission based on ESADA mandate
2. Undertake evaluation of ESADA operations to date and implementation of past ESADA Strategic Plans
3. Assess and analyze ESADA’s internal and external environment including undertaking stakeholder mapping and SWOT
4. Review the institutional capacity, organizational structure, financial and administrative systems against the ESADA mandate
5. Frame the Theory of Change Narrative that explains the overall logic, highlights major assumptions and present a compelling case as to how and why the association is expected to succeed
6. Identify strategic objectives and key result areas and develop the logical framework
7. Develop an operational plan including cost, duration, priority order and accountability for each strategy and objective.
8. Strengthen the membership objective to include membership recruitment, development and retention
9. Develop an Implementation Plan to facilitate immediate roll out of the Strategic Plan; a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan with key tracking indicators, a Communication and Knowledge Management Plan and an Advocacy Strategy
10. Facilitate a Stakeholder Workshop to validate the draft Strategic Plan
11. Finalize the Strategic Plan and submit to the ESADA Executive Director

Description of the Consultancy

Under the direct supervision of the Director AU-IBAR, the Project Officer Live2Africa AU-IBAR and the Executive Director ESADA the Consultant will:

1. Undertake a document review (including policy, legal and regulatory frameworks at national, regional, continental and international levels; the implementation of the past Strategy and any other pertinent ESADA and dairy sector documents). ESADA will provide relevant background documents necessary for the assignment including: Registration documents, Memorandum of Articles, Annual reports, M&E Framework and draft communication strategy.
2. Where necessary conduct phone/internet interview of key stakeholders to collect critical perspectives: ESADA will liaise with the Consultant to identify relevant stakeholders for the situation analysis. The Consultant will be expected to actively engage with ESADA Staff, Board members and other stakeholders
3. Prepare an advanced draft of the Strategic Plan
4. Facilitate a validation workshop
5. Finalize the Strategic Plan integrating input from the validation workshop

Deliverables

1. An advanced draft of the 5 year ESADA Strategic Plan including an Executive Summary, Introduction/Background; Problem Statement/Theory of Change; Approach and Methodology; Situation Analysis; Articulation of the strategic priorities; Governance Structure; Business/ Operating Model; a Balanced Score Card setting out performance metric to improve internal functions; Financials; a Logical Framework;
2. An implementation plan to facilitate immediate roll out of the Strategic Plan; a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan; and a Communication and Knowledge Management Plan; and an Advocacy Strategy.
3. A Report of the Stakeholder Workshop to validate the draft Strategic Plan
4. A Finalized Strategic Plan that integrates the input from the validation exercise
5. A Summary Assessment Report synthesizing outcomes of document review, interview process including stakeholder consultations and workshops

Qualifications and Experience Required

Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Agribusiness Development, Agricultural Economics, Public Policy or Development Studies. An additional degree or other qualification in animal science or agricultural sciences is highly desirable
• Experience and expertise in livestock systems, and development issues in the continent; extensive experience with the dairy sector would be added benefit
• Demonstrated capacity to undertake consultative processes
• Be able to analyze situations, draw conclusions and should have excellent drafting skills;
• Fluency in English or French with a strong working knowledge of English

Experience

• At least five years’ professional experience in strategic planning and management.
• Demonstrated experience in working with private sector, government partners and other stakeholders in private sector development programs especially in the area of strategy development
• Prior working experience on supporting associations and groups is an added advantage
• Experience in research, policy development, management and programming-related work.
• Experience in organizational and change management will be an added advantage.
• Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• High level written and oral communication skills in English
• Must be result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and professional skills in interacting with government and not-for-profit organizations
• Skills in facilitations of stakeholder engagements/ workshops

Language and Other Skills

Proficiency in English with ability to write reports is required. Working knowledge of French is an asset. Knowledge of one or more of the other AU working languages would be an added advantage. Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, AU-IBAR and ESADA staff); and Computer skills: Full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common internet applications will be required.

Duration of the Assignment and Remuneration

This assignment should be implemented within a total period of 20 days across a period of not more than two months. The Consultant will be paid a lump sum amount of $6000 on satisfactory accomplishment of the deliverables. The assignment will be home based. If travel is necessary, air ticket(s) and DSA will be paid where applicable, according to AUC rules and regulations.

Tax and Other Legal Obligations

The Consultant will be responsible for any tax obligations.

Medical Cover

The consultant will be responsible for his/her medical and life covers during the assignment.

Gender Mainstreaming

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

How to apply:

Application

To apply, please submit the following:

• A technical proposal elaborating your understanding of the TORs;
• A detailed CV including information on nationality, age, gender, qualifications and relevant experience;
• Names and contact details (including e-mail addresses and phone contacts) of three referees.

Applications must be received not later than Friday 26^th June 2020 and should be addressed to the Director of AU-IBAR P.O. BOX 30786, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya E-mail: Procurement@au-ibar.org copied to; and khalid.seid@au-ibar.org . FAX: +254-20-367-4143

The successful candidate will be notified by email.