Expression of Interest - Details
- Eoi Name:
- INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION – AGRIBUSINESS SPECIALIST
- Pack #:
- GH-MOFA/TCDA-380151-CS-INDV
- Post Date:
- 14th February, 2024
- Submit Date:
- 01st March, 2024
- Tender Cat:
- Consultancy Services
- Agency:
- Ministry of Food and Agriculture
- Industry:
- General
- Description:
- 1. BACKGROUND
The Government of Ghana has been granted a $200 million IDA-World Bank Credit Facility for the implementation of a six-year project titled "Tree Crop Diversification Project. The Development Objective (PDO) of the project is to improve economic, climate, and social resilience in selected tree crop value chains in Ghana, i.e., Cocoa, Coconut, Cashew and Rubber. These objectives are to be achieved through three interrelated technical components, all of which support the soft and hard solutions to promoting the tree crops sector development. The components are (i) Institutional Strengthening and Value Chain Governance; (ii) Improving Tree Crops Productivity and Climate Resilience; and (iii) Support for Post-Harvest Management, Value Addition, and Market Access. The fourth project component focuses on project management and monitoring. The project is to be implemented by Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) with focus on cocoa and the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) with focus on coconut, cashew, and rubber.
2. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The objective of the assignment is to recruit an individual Agribusiness Specialist to work with the Project Coordination Unit of the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (GTCDP), and reporting to the project coordinator, to lead the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of agribusiness activities including but not limited to design and implementation of grants administration systems, facilitation of value chain actors’ access to finance, and markets, and setting up of the TCDA Agribusiness desk.
3. JOB PURPOSE
Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Agribusiness Specialist shall facilitate and coordinate the implementation of activities that improve governance and sustainability of the selected value chain associations. The Agribusiness Specialist will have overall responsibility for setting up the TCDA Agribusiness desk, design and implement grants administration systems and ensure that the project grant making is effective and efficient. In addition, he/she will facilitate the access of value chain actors to finance and markets.
The overall purpose of having an Agribusiness Specialist in the PIU is to lead the implementation of component 3 of the project on behalf of TCDA collaborating with GIRSAL, GIPC and GEPA for the mobilization of investors, and the facilitation of their investments, and access to finance and market.
4. KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
The specific tasks of the Agribusiness Specialist within the PIU can be summarized as follows (but not limited to):
• Facilitate institutional capacity building of the respective value chain and business associations.
• Facilitate the setting up of a functional Agribusiness desk at TCDA.
• Coordinate the preparation of the Matching Grant Manual for inclusion in the project implementation manual (PIM).
• Provide technical support to the Project Coordinator for the setting up of the project Grant Committee w/ inclusion of external impartial members, and unbiased selection processes.
• Provide technical backstopping for prospective grantees to develop bankable grant proposals (subprojects) for the Grant Committees approval and award.
• Monitor the utilization of the grants and ensure that grantees are compliant.
• Coordinate production and market research for the selected tree crop value chains in order to generate analytics for evidence-based decision making at TCDA
• Liaise with the World Bank Technical Advisor to develop a Cashew Reference Guide for TCDA that can be used as a source of information on the market structures and a quick guide for production, trading, processing and sector organization.
• Liaise with the appropriate project staff to build the capacity of the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) to ensure that they can manage the environmental and social risks and impacts of their lending, in compliance with WBG ESS9.
• Liaise with the procurement team to facilitate the engagement of a Technical Service Provider (TSP) to provide the requisite technical assistance support to the beneficiary SMEs for the detailed preparation of their business plans and follow-up technical assistance for implementation of matching grant for a given period
• Liaise with Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to provide the necessary after care services to investors (facilitating the resolution of problems).
• Liaise with GIPC to establish a Private Investment Tracking System and a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
• Coordinate investors’ information/promotion campaigns in cooperation with GIPC and GEPA.
• Coordinate in-country Export Exhibitions/Fairs to link local businesses to buyers with support from GIPC and GEPA
• Maintain an up-to-date monitoring report summarizing the data relating to the performance of the project beneficiary SMEs on the basis of the data obtained directly and provided by GEPA, GIPC, GIRSAL, and partner financial institutions.
• Keep a database on the matching grant portfolio, tracking disbursements and the burn rate of grantees.
• Liaise with the project internal audit unit to track compliance and the use of matching grant resources by grantees.
• Analysis of data and activities
• The Agribusiness Specialist will report to the Project Coordinator of the TCDA-PCU, located within the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) in Accra.
• She or he will work closely with staff working on child labor, gender, communications, monitoring, and evaluation. In addition, she or he will work closely with the Environmental Specialist with regards to the review and disclosure of ESIAs and ESMPs and the incorporation of relevant clauses in matching grant agreements.
5. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED
The following qualifications are required:
• Masters /MBA in social sciences (especially, Economics), project management, Business Administration (marketing or finance option), or any other relevant discipline from a recognised institution;
• A professional certificate in Marketing Research and or Business Development would be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in socioeconomic development work.
• Strong track record of undertaking market research and business development advisory service for agribusiness SMEs.
• Extensive knowledge of the challenges confronting cashew and coconut processors.
• At least three years’ experience in coordinating matching grants in the Agribusiness sector.
• At least 5 years’ experience in market research, and business development and advisory services for SME.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Project Management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of World Bank safeguard policies/Environmental and Social Framework.
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Ability to present clear, concise, accurate and structured reports.
• Proficiency in the usage of computers and office software packages (word processing, spreadsheet etc.) and experience in handling web-based data and information management systems;
• Ability to prepare and deliver coherent presentations to a range of different audiences including community-based organizations.
• Experience working in other donor funded projects and the government of Ghana system would be added advantage.
• Proven ability to multi-task and work independently;
• Highly self-motivated, confident and with good interpersonal skill;
• Ability to arrange and facilitate consultations, meetings and workshops;
Remuneration: Competitive Salary
Job Location: Accra
Job Duration: Expected duration of the assignment is 12 months. The contract will be renewed based on satisfactory performance. The services will be provided on a full-time basis.
6. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture through TCDA invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest to providein providing the service. Interested Consultants should provide information through a Curriculum Vitae (CV) demonstrating that, they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the service.
7. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0900 to 1700 hours.
8. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 15:00 GMT, 1st March, 2024.
- Source of Funds:
- World Bank
- Region:
- Greater Accra
- District:
- Accra Metropolitan District
- Contact Person:
- The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (GTCDP) Ministry of Food and Agriculture P. O. Box M37 Regional Office, Kumasi
- Email :
- orleansboateng@gmail.com
- Tel :
- 054 011 6738/ 024 600 9505
- Fax :
- Website:
- Additional Info:
- Download File