Description

Call for Expression of Interest

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Recruitment of two individual consultants for the figuration /establishment of innovation platforms in Gambia and organized National Training courses on “Innovation platform for agricultural development”

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Opening Date: April 7, 2023

Closing Date: April 17, 2023

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CEI No. 06-2023 – RELAUNCH

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West Africa (WA) and the Sahel region are home to about 387 million inhabitants, which represents over 5% of the world’s population. The average annual growth rate of the population in WA stands at 2.7% against an annual agricultural productivity growth of less than 2% (CORAF, 2017). Much of the concern over feeding Africa by 2050 relates to the relative slowing down of food production in the face of rapidly growing populations. Food demand is projected to increase, especially in the growing urban centers of West Africa to about 60% to 80%, but agricultural yields are not keeping pace, with gaps estimated to be 75% of potential yield. As the population grows and fields shrink from generation to generation, farmers must produce more food on less land. As a result, African farmers have faced an inexorable pressure to intensify their production. Intensification of agriculture production requires adoption of good agriculture practices and use of agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, etc.

Agriculture makes up a significant proportion of the Gambia‘s economy, comprising 25% of its GDP. About 75% of workers in the Gambia are employed within the agricultural industry. Though agriculture is a major part of the Gambia’s economy, food insecurity is still an issue for the population. The Government of Gambia with the support of the World Bank is implementing a 5 year project entitled “Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV)”. Under this initiative, CORAF is supporting the Ministry of Agriculture of Gambia to foster establishment of Innovative scaling framework for Agri-input Technologies and Innovations in West Africa to insure sustainable scaling and adoption of best-bet agriculture technologies and innovations. In this regard, CORAF solicits the services of appropriate consultants to help to do the situation analysis of potential existing innovation platforms in Gambia, revigorated existing or establish new innovation platforms and strengthen the capacity of innovation platform stakeholders.  

The objective of this consultation is to recruit two individual consultants for the figuration /establishment of innovation platforms in Gambia and organized National Training courses on “Innovation platform for agricultural development”.

The tasks to be carried out as well as other information relating to the conduct of the mission are detailed in the terms of reference below.

CORAF invites experienced and highly qualified consultants and experts to express their interest in this call by providing information indicating that they are qualified to provide these services (Updated CV detailing previous similar experience, references, etc.).

General Selection Criteria

Criteria

PhD or Master in agro-economics, agronomy, economics or development

At least 7 years of experiences in value chains development or Integrated Agriculture research for development

Good knowledge of innovation systems and a good experience of multi-stakeholder process establishment and management

Familiar with the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) approach and the management of value chains

Track record in training on Integrated Agricultural Research for Development in West Africa

Knowledge of value chain actors organization, technologies and innovations diffusion and adoption, agricultural research and development in West and Central Africa within the overall global development context

Good command of English

It is brought to the attention of the candidates that the provisions of paragraph 3.14 of the “Procurement Rules for Borrowers Seeking World Bank Financing for Investment Projects” of July 2016, revised in November 2017 and revised in August 2018 (“The Rules”), relating to the World Bank’s rules on conflicts of interest are applicable.

The Consultants will be selected according to the rules contained in the Manual of Administrative, Financial and Accounting Procedures of CORAF.

Interested candidates may obtain additional information on any working day from the CORAF Executive Secretariat at the following address: [email protected]  and copy at [email protected].

Expressions of Interest (EoI) must be submitted by e-mail to the following address: [email protected] not later than the April 17, 2023 at 17:00 GMT

CORAF Executive Secretariat reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the EoI or annul the EoI process at any stage without assigning any reason(s) whatsoever and without incurring any liability to the applicants. For more information, please consult the attached terms of reference of the mission.

Dr Abdou TENKOUANO

Executive Director of CORAF