Individual Consultant to Develop AfCFTA Implementation Programme on Animal Resources and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Background

From 1 January 2020, the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) will become operational. The AfCFTA is a flagship program of the African Union which is expected to boost intra-African trade across the 55 African countries. Being the biggest free-trade area in the world with a single market of 1.2 billion people, and gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion, across all 55 member States of the African Union (AU), the AfCFTA is seen as an important vehicle for delivering Africa’s economic transformation and regional integration. The Agreement is expected to result in an expanded and single market for the goods and services of State Parties through securing adequate infrastructure, trade liberalization and the reduction or progressive elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment.

The AfCFTA is further expected to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources. The agricultural sector presents an enormous resource for African country’s participation in the AfCFTA and is a major contributor to the GDP of many African countries. By 2030, food demand is projected to increase by 55%, bringing the size of Africa’s food and agribusiness to $1 trillion and opening up huge employment opportunities along the value chain.

African Union Member States stand to benefit greatly from the AfCFTA since they are well endowed with agricultural produce including animals and animal products. The challenge however, is producing adequate safe, quality and marketable supplies for export to other countries within the AfCFTA and other regions of the world. Compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and quality requirements and efficient enforcement by regulatory authorities will be crucial in positioning countries to take advantage of the opportunities that the AfCFTA presents.

In support of member states to better position the animal resources sector (livestock, fisheries and aquaculture) to participate in the AfCFTA, the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is leading the development of a continental AfCFTA implementation programme and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework in collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States.

Objectives, Scope and Deliverables of The Consultancy

Objectives

To identify an individual consultant to support the development of an AfCFTA implementation programme for Africa’s animal resources sector and a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

Tasks to be performed

The assignment will cover all 55 AU Member States and will focus on the animal resources sector. Under the overall technical supervision of the Food Safety Officer at AU-IBAR, and in close collaboration with REC’s Livestock and Fisheries Desk Officers, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Carry out a survey on the preparedness and needs of AU member states with regards to implementation of Annex VI (TBT provisions) and Annex VII (SPS provisions) of the AfCFTA
2. Facilitate Regional consultations on AfCFTA
3. Preparation of continental AfCFTA implementation programme with regional components
4. Preparation of Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the continental AfCFTA implementation programme

Deliverables

1. Survey on the preparedness and needs of AU member states with regards to implementation of Annex VI (TBT provisions) and Annex VII (SPS provisions) of the AfCFTA
2. Reports of Regional consultations on AfCFTA
3. Continental AfCFTA implementation programme with regional components
4. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the continental AfCFTA implementation programme

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the skills and competence of the consultant, the technical and financial proposals

Required Skills and Competencies:

Applicants must have the following skills and competencies

1. The applicant shall have a minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine. Applicants should have additional qualification in either agricultural economics (livestock economics), trade, agribusiness, project management or other field relevant to the consultancy assignment.
2. At least 10 years of hands-on relevant professional experience in the management, prevention and control of animal diseases, food safety and trade aspects of animals and animal products,
3. Knowledge of the African animal health and food safety policy and institutional environment,
4. Working experience on regional and international trade Agreement with emphasis on Annex VII of the Agreement on AfCFTA and WTO SPS Agreement, WTO Agreement on TBT,
5. Working experience in value chain analysis and development,
6. Experience in developing implementation programmes for similar Free Trade Agreements within the African context,
7. Experience in developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks,
8. Fluency in English and French with demonstrated facilitation and diplomatic skills
9. Computer proficiency

Submission of Technical and Financial Proposals

The proposal should be divided into a technical and a financial part.

The technical proposal must indicate the applicant’s understanding of the assignment (including a brief literature review with references), methodology to be used, a work plan with timelines, key performance indicators, outputs, deliverables and outcomes. The technical proposal should also include description of similar assignments conducted and appropriate references.

The financial proposal for the consultancy should reflect the work plan and proposed activities to be undertaken.

Consultancy Duration

The Consultancy Duration is 75 Days Maximum.