Knowledge Products Development Support Consultant- RAFFS Project. 168 views1 applications

Background

The Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project is an emergency response initiative jointly implemented by AU-IBAR and the Gates Foundation, designed to address short- and medium-term feed and fodder shortages that have severely impacted Africa’s livestock production, food systems, and nutrition security. The project responds to multiple converging crises, including COVID-19, climate change, and global conflict, that have exposed the structural weaknesses of Africa’s feed and fodder sector.

In its first two years of implementation, RAFFS has delivered foundational technical assessments, developed national feed inventories and feed balance estimates, initiated policy reforms, supported investment dialogues, and operationalized multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) across six core countries: Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon.

Through its continental survey and country assessments, RAFFS has produced a unique body of evidence. This includes:

1. The articulation of feed and fodder as a multi-billion-dollar unstructured subsector of critical importance to delivering better human nutrition outcomes, livestock sector productivity and production, youth employment and agricultural sector stability and resilience.
2. The development of national investment profiles.
3. Mapping viable business models and private sector engagement and investment opportunities.
4. Policy and regulatory diagnostics and reforms.
5. Design of emerging Feed and Fodder Early Warning Systems (FFEWS).
6. Gender-focused empowerment programs through AWARFA-N.
7. Development of integrated data management frameworks and draft CAADP indicators for feed and fodder.
8. Multi-stakeholder mobilization and organization.
9. Communication behavior change.

Given this rich evidence base, AU-IBAR now seeks to consolidate, synthesize, and translate these outputs into strategic knowledge products that serve both technical and policy audiences at national, regional, and continental levels. These knowledge products will contribute directly to:

1. Strengthening AU-IBAR’s policy advocacy efforts and enhancing visibility on political and public policy agendas.
2. Inform industry practices.
3. The CAADP Biennial Review Process.
4. Investment resource mobilization.
5. Peer-reviewed scientific literature.
6. Strategic guidance for Member States and Regional Economic Communities.
7. Promoting behavior and attitudinal change.

Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to develop, synthesize, and publish a suite of high-quality knowledge products that document, analyze, and disseminate the RAFFS Project’s emerging body of evidence, experiences, and policy innovations; and to provide technical support in finalizing strategic CAADP indicators for feed and fodder.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives will be:

1. Synthesize RAFFS outputs and translate them into peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and discussion papers.
2. Provide technical support to finalize feed and fodder CAADP indicators aligned with AU frameworks.
3. Facilitate stakeholder engagement, validation workshops, and dissemination of outputs.

Methodology of Conducting the Assignment

The institutional partner will work closely with AU-IBAR RAFFS technical teams to:

1. Review all RAFFS project documents and data sets, country assessments, continental survey reports, technical reports, and investment profiles.
2. Identify priority thematic areas for immediate policy and practice relevance and research impact.
3. Support technical validation and peer-review processes.
4. Support the drafting of:

• Three comprehensive review articles suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Three discussion papers addressing cross-cutting policy and technical issues drawn from RAFFS implementation.
• Three policy briefs targeting decision-makers, continental policy platforms, and donors.

Technical Support to Finalize Feed and Fodder CAADP Indicators

1. Review the proposed RAFFS CAADP indicator list.
2. Provide technical inputs to refine, prioritize, and operationalize strategic indicators.
3. Assist AU-IBAR in aligning final indicators with CAADP Biennial Review frameworks and African Union Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting systems.
4. Prepare an operational guidance note for AU Member States on how to collect and report on these indicators.

Support Stakeholder Engagement

1. Participate in bi-weekly coordination calls with AU-IBAR and RAFFS Project team to monitor progress and ensure alignment.
2. Provide technical presentations and discussion materials for one virtual workshop to validate knowledge products before finalization.

Deliverables/Outputs

The institutional partner will submit:

1. Inception Report (within 2 weeks): Workplan, methodology, and priority topics.
2. Three Draft Review Articles (Month 3): Peer-reviewed article drafts.
3. Three Discussion Papers (Month 4): Thematic discussion papers.
4. Three Policy Briefs (Month 5): High-level policy briefs.
5. CAADP Indicator Technical Note (Month 5): Finalized indicator list with operational guidance.
6. Validation Workshop Support (Month 5): Presentation and summary report.
7. Final Knowledge Product Package (Month 6): All finalized documents incorporating feedback.

Qualifications

1. The institutional partner must demonstrate.
2. Extensive experience in systems research, food security, feed and fodder sector development, and policy analysis in Africa.
3. Proven capacity to produce high-quality scientific publications and policy-oriented knowledge products.
4. Expertise in CAADP reporting processes, agricultural statistics, and indicator frameworks.
5. A multi-disciplinary team with experts in any of the following: Agricultural Economics, Food and Agricultural Policy Analysis, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), Data Science and Statistics, Regional Engagement and Policy Liaison.
6. Track record of successful collaboration with national and international agricultural research institutions, as well as policy-making bodies. This should include partnerships with either national agricultural research systems, universities, and or policy-making bodies across Africa.

Selection Criteria

The consultancy will be awarded on the basis of evaluation of institutional profile, CVs of key personnel, and submission of a technical proposal detailing methodology, workplan, and approach.

Evaluation Criteria and Scores

Criteria Scores

Qualifications 20

General Experience 20

Specific Experience 35

Methodology & Approach 10

Other Skills 10

Proficiency in AU Languages 5

Time Frame

The duration of this assignment is six (6) months. The facilitating institution should be prepared to allocate resources and expertise throughout this period to ensure the success of this assignment.

Remuneration

In total, the lump sum consultancy fee for this assignment is USD 20,000.00. This includes all the Consultant’s administrative costs, travel costs, incidental expenditure, profits and any tax obligation.

Supervision and Approval of Reports

Under the supervision of the RAFFS Project Coordinator with oversight by the Director of AU-IBAR.

Confidentiality

All documents and data acquired from the records and during related workshops, field work and meetings are confidential and will be used solely for the project.
The deliverables and all material linked to the training (produced by the facilitator or AU-IBAR itself) is confidential and always the property of the contracting party.

Working language

Fluency in English and or French with a strong working knowledge of English.