Proofreading and finalization of various Project Reports, Policy Notes/ Briefs, Best Practices documents – Genetics Project 361 views0 applications

ackground

The African Union – Interafrican 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’s mandate is to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries and wildlife as a resource for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union (AU). The mission of AU-IBAR is to provide leadership in the development of animal resources for Africa through supporting and empowering AU Member States and regional Economic Communities (RECs).

Under this mission, AU-IBAR has developed a framework to mainstream livestock in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development program (CAADP) pillars. Sustainable utilization of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) is a priority area under pillar 4 of the AU framework. In order to successfully implement this strategy, AU-IBAR has received a financial support from the European Union (EU) and the AUC to implement a project “Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of African Animal Genetic Resources”.

The project, commonly known as the Genetics Project, aims at strengthening the capacity of African countries and Regional Economic Communities to sustainably use and conserve animal genetic resources (AnGR) through institutionalizing national and regional policy, legal and technical instruments and implementing actions that will result in judicious exploitation of AnGR in Africa. This will be achieved through:

• Establishing the status and trends of animal genetic resources in selected countries in Africa
• Developing policy frameworks for the sustainable utilization and conservation of AnGR
• Establishing national and regional utilization, conservation and improvement strategies and initiatives
• Increasing knowledge, attitude and practice on the use and contribution of livestock to economic growth, food security and poverty reduction.

Context of the Consultancy

Over the past 6 years, the project has through the implementation of various activities, generated many reports including: project activity and consultancy reports. The project has also developed various policy notes, briefs and Best Practice and Lessons Learnt documents. All these documents will contribute immensely to the wealth of information and data available on African animal genetic resources. Although these documents are useful project outputs, they are not in formats that the general public, particularly livestock farmers, policy and key decision-makers and other stakeholders, can easily understand. The project therefore, wishes to package these documents and experiences to create easy-to-read knowledge products accessible to the intended beneficiaries of the outputs of the project. Indeed, the project has been consistently requested during the various Project Steering Committee meetings to enhance communication and dissemination of the project outputs and achievements to the relevant stakeholders.

It is therefore, proposed to edit, synthesize, simplify and format the various activity, consultancy reports, policy notes/briefs, best practice papers into knowledge and information products. The products should ensure that key messages are clearly pronounced to induce Member States, RECs and other regional institutions into improving the management and development of AnGR in their respective domains. It is intended that these products are published and disseminated widely.

The documentation is important to showcase the significant achievements of the key project activities which could be used to provide knowledge, information, visibility and be used for interaction with beneficiaries, stakeholders, RECs, Member States, donors and partners. The Project has produced the following documents, in English and French, including the following:

Draft Policy Notes on:

1. Selection and breeding programs in Africa
2. The need to develop effective conservation strategies for Indigenous AnGR in Africa
3. Promotion of Regional Cooperation for the sustainable management of animal genetic resources in Africa: A Policy Brief
4. Mobility and conservation programmes for animal genetic resources
5. Crossbreeding: Panacea or curse to African Animal Genetic Resources improvement?
6. Mobility of animal genetic materials
7. Characterization, inventory and monitoring the game changers to sustainable utilization and conservation of animal genetic resources in Africa
8. Identification, traceability and performance recording to better support the management of AnGR in Africa
9. Applying Ecosystem Services approach for AnGR management in Africa
10. Ethical challenges related to the conservation of animal genetic resources and other management practices in Africa
11. The Nagoya Protocol A missing opportunity to maximize the benefits from conservation and sustainable use of African animal genetic resources
12. Will the farming of the GIFT Fish be a Panacea or Enigma for Africa
13. Promotion of Traditional Knowledge to achieve socio-economic and environmentally-sustainable gains in the management of animal genetic resources
14. Participatory planning and implementation of crossbreeding activities in Africa
15. Awareness creation, Communication and Advocacy in support of better Management of AnGR in Africa
16. Public Investments and Payoffs in the Livestock and Animal Genetic Resources in Africa
17. Public Private Partnerships for Animal Genetic Resources conservation and management in Africa
18. Promotion of indigenous animal genetic resources and their products in Africa

Draft Best Practices documents on:

1. Policies and regulations on the use of AnGR in Africa
2. Past and current selection programs (including breeding objectives) on AnGR in Africa
3. Piloting the AnGR-Characterization, Inventory and Monitoring (CIM) tool
4. AnGR conservation and improvement initiatives

Consultancy Reports

1. L’évaluation de l’impact des systèmes de production, de la mobilité du bétail et la commercialisation sur la base des ressources zoogénétiques locales en Afrique Centrale
2. Impact of livestock production systems and livestock mobility linked to commercialization and production systems on animal genetic resource base in East Africa
3. Impact Des Systemes De Production Animale, La Mobilite Et La Commercialisation Du Betail Sur La Base Des Ressources Genetiques Animales En Afrique Du Nord
4. Assessment of the impact of livestock production systems, livestock mobility and livestock commercialization on AnGR resource base in Southern Africa
5. Evaluation de l’impact des croisements, des systèmes de production de l’élevage, de la mobilité et du commerce des animaux d’élevage sur les ressources zoogénétiques en Afrique de l’Ouest
6. Facilitating the development of regional policy frameworks for the management of animal genetics resources (AnGR) in Central Africa
7. Facilitating the development of regional policy frameworks for the management of animal genetic resources (AnGR) in Eastern Africa
8. Facilitation de l’élaboration d’un cadre de politique régionale pour la gestion des ressources génétiques animales dans l’Afrique du Nord
9. A study to facilitate the formulation of regional policy or regulatory frameworks for the conservation, management of transboundary breeds and crossbreeding in Southern Africa
10. A study to facilitate the formulation of regional policy or regulatory frameworks for the conservation, management of transboundary breeds and crossbreeding in West Africa
11. Assessment of the socio-economic impact of selection and breeding programs in Southern Africa
12. Analyse de l’impact socio-économique des programmes de sélection et d’amélioration génétique en Afrique Centrale
13. Assessment of the socioeconomic impact of selection and breeding programs in East Africa
14. Assessment of the socio-economic impact of selection and breeding programs in Northern Africa
15. Assessment of the socio-economic impact of selection and breeding programmes in West Africa
16. Assessment of Animal Genetic Resources Characterization, Inventory and Monitoring tools to guide revision and harmonization processes
17. Development of revised and harmonized characterization, Inventory and monitoring Animal genetic resources tools’ guidelines
18. Deepening the analysis and interpretation of questionnaires from member states on animal genetic resources
19. Regional Regulatory Frameworks for Exchange, Use and Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) Northern Africa Region
20. Report on regional regulatory frameworks for exchange, use and conservation of animal genetic resources in the Southern Africa region
21. Report on regional regulatory frameworks for exchange, use and conservation of animal genetic resources in Central Africa
22. Report on regional regulatory frameworks for exchange, use and conservation of animal genetic resources in East Africa
23. Report on regional policy and legislative frameworks for the conservation and management of transboundary breeds and crossbreeding activities for Eastern Africa
24. Report on the effects of transhumance on the management of animal genetic resources of Africa
25. Guidelines and regional strategies for the sustainable utilization of selected transboundary breeds of livestock in West Africa
26. Towards the formulation of guidelines and regional strategies for the utilization of selected trans-boundary livestock in Africa
27. Formulation de lignes directrices et de stratégies régionales pour l’utilisation durable de certaines races transfrontières d’animaux d’élevage en Afrique – Document de réflexion pour la région de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
28. African Communication to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Access and Benefit Sharing Focal Points and National Coordinators for Animal Genetic Resources
29. Technical procedures for the collection, handling, transport and storage of animal genetic materials

AU-IBAR is seeking the services of one (1) qualified and experienced consultant for a short-term consultancy to proofread, edit and finalize for publication various project documents for the Genetics Project.

Objectives

The aims of this consultancy are to:

1. Proofread, edit and format as necessary the project documents on various aspects of animal genetic resources management and development to international publication standards;
2. Produce final versions of professionally-edited documents ready for publication and dissemination.

Expected Outputs

Working closely with the Genetics Project team and building on the above, the expected outputs of the consultancy will be:

• 18 soft copies of professionally proofread and well-written Policy Notes/Briefs on animal genetic resources in Africa ready for publication
• 4 soft copies of professionally proofread and well-written documents on Best Practices related to the sustainable utilization and conservation of animal genetic resources in Africa ready for publication.
• At least 29 soft copies of professionally proofread and well-written documents derived from project and consultancy reports

Duration

The consultancy will be conducted for two months (60 days), starting from the day of the signature of the contract.

Remuneration

The total fee of the consultancy will be a lump sum of USD 20,000 (twenty thousand US dollars), covering all the costs of all tasks undertaken.

Qualifications

A minimum post-graduate degree in Animal Science, Communication, Journalism, Social Policy or English and French Literature. A PhD is an added advantage.

Experience: Minimum seven (7) years’ work experience writing and editing to international standards, preferably with a focus on developing countries, including working with social development programmes. Must have at least two years’ experience working in international settings, with practical experience in the adaptation and application of complex language into compelling communication tools.
Language: Excellent grasp of both written and oral English and French is a must.

Competencies

Professionalism – good understanding and knowledge of animal breeding and genetics, agricultural economics, communication, advocacy or other relevant disciplines.
Planning and Organizing – Ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Demonstrate effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner.
Writing and Communication – excellent writing skills; ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate messages effectively

Supervision and Coordination

The consultant will work closely with the Genetic Project team.