Agricultural Mechanisation Survey Consultants

COALITION FOR AFRICAN RICE DEVELOPMENT (CARD)

VACANCY FOR AN SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY:

CONSULTANTS FOR AGRICULTURAL MECHANISATION SURVEY

(TWO POSITIONS, SENEGAL AND TANZANIA)

Conditions

Entry of Duty (expected) 20 January 2012 (expected)

End of Duty (expected) 31 March 2012

Number of working days Maximum 25 days for honorarium (including preparation and reporting)

Payment Consultant fee and travel cost (air tickets and per diem)

Coalition Of African Rice Development (Card)

CARD is a multi-stakeholder initiative launched at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in May 2008. The Coalition aims to double rice production in Sub-Saharan Africa within ten years through increased and better-coordinated investment and assistance in the rice sector. Major bilateral and multilateral donors, African and international institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations which attended TICAD IV formed a consensus on the goals and objectives of CARD and showed a deep commitment to working together to respond to the needs of the African rice-producing countries that will be identified and prioritized in their National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS). (For detailed information on the CARD initiative, please refer the web site: http://www.riceforafrica.org/about-card)

National Rice Development Strategies (NRDS)

The CARD Secretariat provides assistance to the formulation and implementation of NRDS in the 23 SSA countries, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. Each country has set up the NRDS Task Force which is the main stakeholder of NRDS implementation.

The Coalition, cognizant of the significant roles of the private sector in promoting rice development in Africa, has undertaken to capture various categories of the private sector in its network. Several events were conducted in the area of mechanization, with particular emphasis on providing an enabling environment for private players on the value chain.

The CARD Fourth General Meeting, held in Kampala, Uganda, 8 – 9 November, agreed to continue this effort by having some NRDS Task Forces work on policy recommendations in the NRDS implementation round next year, with full participation by key in-country stakeholders. One of the recommendations was as follows:

· Concerned NRDS Task Forces will follow up on the recommendation on mechanization in the context of relevant processes at the country level. Relevant Steering Committee members will provide technical assistance to the process, while others will explore opportunities for advocacy at the high-level forums. The CARD Secretariat will provide financial and technical assistance for in-country / regional meetings.

(For more information, please visit : http://www.riceforafrica.org/meetings/gm/gm4 )

The CARD Secretariat is seeking the services of two experienced consultants to provide consultancy services to conduct surveys on Agricultural Mechanization in Senegal and Tanzania.

Duties

Under the general supervision of the Coordinator, CARD Secretariat, and in collaboration with the CARD Steering Committee, lead consultants and other resource persons, the consultant will:

· Prepare the draft questionnaire survey and other relevant document(s) in consultation with the Secretariat and other consultants;

· Conduct the survey through desk/ literature reviews, interviews and field visits including travels to Senegal and Tanzania;

· Report progress, problems and other relevant issues concerning Agricultural Mechanization to the Secretariat;

· Produce report of the survey results;

· Submit the Consultancy Report to the Secretariat upon completion of the duties;

· Undertake other duties relevant to the Agricultural Mechanization Survey as requested by the CARD Coordinator.

Qualifications

· Familiarity with / experience on analysing of agriculture sector strategy, in particular, agricultural mechanisation.

· Thorough knowledge of African rice sector.

· Good skills in conducting surveys.

· Excellent skills in reporting, information management and controlling expenditures.

· Possession of satisfactory personal working environment, e.g. personal computers with full-time internet connection.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office. Competence in Excel and web browser software would be valuable additional assets.

· Highly focused and results-oriented in supporting complex, deadline-driven tasks; able to identify goals and priorities and resolve issues in initial stages.

· Good health and fit for extensive travelling.

· Working-level command of French in case of Senegal. Proficiency in KiSwhahili in Tanzania advantageous.

Applications

Applications accompanied by the applicant’s curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of three confidential referees should be submitted, by Friday 13 January 2012, to:

Mr. Kaz FUJIWARA CARD Secretariat, c/o AGRA Eden Square, Block 1, 2nd Floor PO Box 66773, Westlands, 00800 Nairobi, Kenya

Telephone (operator): +254-(0)20-3750-627 or 3675-000 Telephone (direct): +254-(0)20-3675-338 Facsimile: +254-(0)20-3750-653 or 3675-269 E-mail: KFujiwara@agra-alliance.org