Background
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). AU-IBAR is mandated 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-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the African Union Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other sector stakeholders. 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 Live2Africa Project seeks to deliver catalytic action that will trigger both commercialization and an inclusive livestock sector transformation along selected regional livestock value chains (RLVCs). The IGAD region selected the regional red meat value chain for support under AU-IBAR Live2 Africa project
Livestock are of great economic and social importance at household and national level in addition to significant contribution of export earnings in the IGAD region. Cattle, sheep, camels and goats are the most important sources of live animal, and hides and skins for export markets. However, the potential of the livestock sector is inadequately tapped for various reasons. For instance, in Ethiopia nearly all-operating export slaughterhouses perform below 50% of their designated daily capacity. Limited marketable supply of animals is also observed in other IGAD exporting countries. The major bottleneck to the limited marketable supply consistently are limited knowledge and skill on improved husbandry, limited organization of the producers affecting scale of operations, inadequate linkage that expose them to exploitation by brokers and traders, limited business skill among others , Absence of well-organized market, inadequate livestock policy, inadequate permanent animal route and facilities such as water and holding grounds, lack or non-provision of designated transport trucks, ineffective and inadequate infrastructural and institutional set ups, prevalence of diseases, absence of animal traceability and illegal animal trade are also reported to contribute to inadequate supply of quality marketable animals to export slaughterhouse.
Context of The Consultancies
Contract farming can be a panacea for addressing key marketing and production constrains faced by livestock farmers in IGAD region. Contract farming is an arrangement between the livestock supplier/ producer and marketer; selected export slaughterhouses in this case. The purchasing company of export slaughterhouse provides all intermediate inputs required to produce quality livestock. These can be in form of cost for animal health service provision and supply of supplementary feeds to accelerate quality livestock finishing attaining the desired market weight at the required age. The farmer/ feedlot owner/ pastoralist groups or cooperatives are then paid an agreed upon fee in exchange for labour, management, and use of facilities. The integrator assumes the market risks of changes in input and output prices. The cost of these inputs is charged to the farmer/ feedlot owner/ pastoralist groups or cooperatives when livestock is ready for sale. A minimum forward-price of output could be guaranteed to the producer. (the above is one proposition; different modalities to be discussed /modified and agreed with stakeholders including specific loan for the inputs from microfinance institution or seed money from the project for the pilot producers association /cooperatives)
A training /planning session / will link up two operating export slaughterhouses in Ethiopia and Kenya with functional feedlots and pastoral farmer groups/association to review and agree on market needs. The slaughterhouses will provide market requirements while feedlots and pastoral farmer groups will be assisted to appreciate the input requirement to produce quality livestock to ensure steady supply. Demonstration of targeted supplementary animal feeding for quality livestock finishing in addition to providing better understanding of the medical requirements will be part of training packages. The activity will involve small ruminant producers and two export slaughterhouses in Ethiopia and Kenya and the relevant meat producers and exporters associations in addition to extension service staff from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Aim, Specific Objectives, Structure, Tasks and Expected Outputs of the Consultancies
AU-IBAR is providing support to IGAD to stimulate livestock production through a wide range of interventions that aim to promote red meat value chain transformation, competitiveness and attract investments in the region. AU-IBAR seeks to recruit two (2) suitably qualified individual Consultants to support Kenya and Ethiopia in piloting enhanced capacity to produce marketable animals focusing on sheep and goat value chains with package of market-oriented interventions and facilitating contracting between producers and slaughterhouses and or exporters of meat and live animals.
The Specific Objectives are:
- Identify and evaluate high impact market-oriented livestock production models that can transform and enhance competitiveness of the red meat value chain in IGAD region
- Initiate win-win and sustainable business linkages (contract farming/ SMART Partnerships) between livestock producers and interested livestock and livestock products off takers focusing on sheep and goat value chains
- Support piloting of viable market-oriented livestock production model for both Ethiopia and Kenya
- Provide capacity development of livestock farmers, private sector and government staff to improve knowledge of key livestock market requirements
Structure of Consultancy
- Through a collaborative effort, the Consultants from Ethiopia and Kenya will broker and coordinate for a harmonized approach towards piloting for production of a marketable supply of meat and live animals.
- Coordinated clarification and agreement on the interpretation of the Terms of reference, scope of work and timelines, methodology, consultative processes, report outlines and development, validation, finalization and development of policy briefs.
Tasks
The specific tasks will include:
- Undertake desk study and consultations to update the current status for livestock market-oriented production systems and ongoing best practices and lessons learned to meet the marketable supply to the various markets; This should include trending livestock market models, their strengths, opportunities, challenges, weakness and possible entry points for IGAD region livestock farmers.
- Carryout a stocktaking exercise to identify key stakeholders/ off takers in the livestock sector who can be potentially partnered with livestock farmers to meet the objectives of this work in Ethiopia and Kenya
- Organize and broker stakeholders’ meetings of potential suppliers, feedlot operators, slaughterhouses, and extension personnel to review livestock market requirements and specifications (number of average small ruminants required in a specified time; quality among others) and document.
- Initiate brokering of business linkages/ SMART partnership agreements between livestock farmers and identified off takers with clearly elaborated business models that promotes win-win partnerships.
- Draft contracts/ partnership agreements and facilitate parties to agree on provisions and obligations (inputs–outputs) to ensure sustainable livestock supply between export slaughterhouses and suppliers and support operationalization.
- Support piloting/ operationalization of one or two market-oriented models between livestock farmers in 2 or 3 cooperatives/associations and off takers in Ethiopia and Kenya.
- Develop relevant training materials and provide theoretical and practical training and mentorship of farmers and extension workers to ensure proper selection of animals, feeding, improved husbandry and business skill to ensure desired market requirements are met.
- Facilitate collection of feedback from piloted models, document the best practices and lessons for potential scale up in other similar areas.
Expected Outputs
- Assignment report outlining current status of livestock market-oriented production systems, best practices, potential stakeholders/off takers in Ethiopia and Kenya
- Business model piloted/operationalized with at least 2-3 goat and sheep cooperatives/ associations in districts/regions/Counties with high potential to produce marketable animals in Ethiopia and Kenya.
- Tailored training materials, and Training and Mentorship reports on package of identified interventions
- Best practices and lessons learnt on observed marketable supply from the pilot areas documented for upscaling
- Policy brief on improving marketable supply of livestock in Ethiopia and Kenya developed
Consultancy Modalities
The Pilot countries in the IGAD region are Ethiopia and Kenya, one consultant per country will be recruited. For the desk review, consultancies will be home based with the Consultant expected to access literature, conduct mini-surveys or administer other data and information collection tools, correspond with AU-IBAR, Member States, RECs and other stakeholders mostly electronically or via phone. Consultants will conduct practical activities within Kenya or Ethiopia. The Consultants will be in compliance to covid-19 infection control procedures in the country.
Duration of the Assignments and Duty Station
Activities should be conducted for total of 70 days in a period of no more than 120 days (4 months). The actual length of the period must be justified and rationalized in relation to the tasks and activities. The Consultants are expected to provide a roadmap in their proposal including team of experts to support effective delivery of the assignment. The assignment will start immediately after signature of the contract by both parties. All the Consultancies are home based.
Academic Qualifications and Expertise
The Consultant should have the following expertise:
- Hold a relevant advanced University degree Masters or Doctorate in Animal Science, Agricultural Sciences, Public Policy, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Development and Marketing.
- An advantage will be experience and expertise in livestock production and market systems and value chain development, agribusiness and trade development in African continent and IGAD region in particular
- Track record and experience of working and brokering partnerships with private sector is a strong added advantage
- Proven record of familiarity with and providing support relevant livestock market development and business linkages.
- Excellent drafting and Technical Report writing skills
Experience and Core Competencies
- At least 10 years relevant experience related to the field with proven familiarity with providing relevant support for livestock market development and brokering functional business linkages
- Familiar with development of training manuals and provision of capacity building to farmers and extension workers is desirable
- Native or bilingual level proficiency (verbal and written) English is essential. Knowledge of a second African Union official language (French, Arabic or Portuguese) is desirable.
Supervision
The successful Consultants will work under the supervision and backstopping of IGAD and the Animal Health Expert AU-IBAR
Financial Proposal
The maximum budget for each consultant (Ethiopia and Kenya) is $21,000 each. Therefore the financial Proposal should not exceed the maximum budget.
Duration of the Assignment
70 days on a non-continuous basis over a period of 120 days (4 months) from the date of signature.
The payments will be according to African Union Commission procurement guidelines. The first payment: 20% will be made upon receipt of a satisfactory Inception Report that has been discussed and approved by an Advisory Committee. An intermediary payment of 30% will be made based on satisfactory progress made on assignment delivery. A final payment 50% will be made on delivery of the final approved Report.
Tax and other Statutory Obligations: This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with AU-IBAR. The Consultant is not employed by AU-IBAR therefore all tax and other statutory obligations in relation to this contract are the responsibilities of the Consultant
Medical cover: The Consultant will be responsible for medical, insurance and life cover during the assignment.
Costs of Electronic Communication in the Course of Undertaking the Consultancy: All costs related to internet/phone or other electronic means that the Consultant may use to collect the necessary information/ conduct interviews, or undertake any other tasks related to the Consultancy are consolidated within the payment for this Consultancy, and will be fully borne by the Consultant undertaking the assignment.
How to apply:
Application Instructions
Applicants are required to include a separate Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal.
The Technical Proposal should include, but not be limited to the interpretation of the TORs, objectives, the approach to the assignment, the proposed methodology and work plan, activities to be carried out, expected outputs, an outline of the Report content page, a clear timeframe to carry out the assignment, and three references for similar assignments undertaken with email and phone contacts.
Financial Proposal: should be submitted with budget details in alignment with the maximum budget indicated above.
Evaluation and Scoring Proposals
The evaluation of the Minimum Academic Qualifications and Expertise, Experience and Core Competencies, the Technical Proposal and the Financial Proposal will be used to weigh the quality of the Application and to score proposals.
Declaration Form on Exclusion Criteria
All Applicants will sign and stamp the mandatory Declaration Form on Exclusion Criteria as a requirement for submission of their application. Failure to do so will nullify the application.
Gender Mainstreaming
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
The entire proposal, including all supporting documentation should not be no longer than 8 A4 pages in length, and should be emailed as a single document to:
procurement-210427-2@au-ibar.org, with a copy to Khalid.seid@au-ibar.org by no later than 17.00hrs East African Time on 18th May, 2021.
Specific questions not answered in this call may be emailed to: procurement-210427-2@au-ibar.org not later than 11th May 2021.
Please ensure that the appended Declaration Form is duly filled in, signed, and stamped.
The Declaration form has to be submitted together with the other application requirements. Failure to do so nullifies your application.
Please note that the Personal Data & Privacy Statement is for their perusal and notice. It requires no action.