Expression of Interest at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Posted by Future on Mon 04th Apr, 2022 - nigeriantenders.com


Mercy Corps Nigeria invites interested and qualified consultants to submit EOI applications for the following works:




Mercy Corps is a global non-governmental, humanitarian aid organization operating in transitional contexts that have undergone, or have been undergoing, various forms of economic, environmental, social and political instabilities.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Expression of Interest - Gombe State Agriculture and Livestock Policy

Background

Achieving Zero Hunger is among the key aims of Agenda 2030 (SDG 2) and requires a holistic and consistent approach that encompasses productive support and social protection systems, as well as partnerships, multi-stakeholder participation, and inclusive governance. The Gombe State Government has partnered with the Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity to develop an all-inclusive agricultural and livestock policy, which is aimed towards the achievement of agricultural and livestock transformation in Gombe State. The State has demonstrated commitment and ability of different parts of government to catalyse competitiveness through: coherent implementation of policy and regulatory frameworks and providing an enabling environment for both large scale and microenterprises; targeted investments in sector support; and, avoiding vested interests that constrain effectiveness of agricultural and livestock policy. The Gombe State Government intends to implement policies with the goal of achieving a specific outcome in the domestic agricultural and livestock product markets in accordance with the provisions of its 10-year Development plan (2021-2030)-DEVAGOM which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Agricultural and livestock policies use predetermined goals, objectives and pathways set by an individual or government for the purpose of achieving a specified outcome, for the benefit of the individual(s), society and the nation’s economy at large.Agricultural and livestock policies take into consideration the primary, secondary and tertiary processes in agricultural and livestock production. Outcomes can involve, for example, a guaranteed supply level, price stability, product quality, product selection, land use or employment.

Purpose / Project Description
The Feed the Future Rural Resilience Activity is a five-year, $45 million initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the states of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe in North Eastern Nigeria. The goal of the Activity is to facilitate economic recovery and growth in vulnerable, conflict-affected areas. The purpose of the Activity is to sustainably move people out of chronic vulnerability and poverty in NEN. This will be accomplished through expanded economic opportunities. Its overarching approach involves strengthening resilience capacities at household, community, and market-systems levels to ensure the sustainability of poverty reduction and economic recovery efforts.

Consultant Objectives
The broad objective of the assignment is to support the Gombe State Government to develop an inclusive agricultural and livestock policy, an initiative for working towards the achievement of agricultural and livestock transformation in Gombe State. The purpose of agricultural and livestock policy is the development of favourable and sustainable guidelines for the promotion of efficient agricultural and livestock practices that will guarantee food security, provide employment for the citizens, raw material for all agro – based industries as well as to earn foreign exchange. The policy will take into account various federal level and regional policies, complemented by partners working in the agric Ecosystem to support state residents to also access benefits from these agro-schemes in addition to the state level initiatives.

Consultant Activities

The Consultant will:
  • Analyze various existing State strategic documents and instruments for improvement of agricultural and livestock policy goals relating to agriculture, food systems and nutrition. This is not limited only to what is available through the Ministry of Agriculture, but inclusive of relevant MDAs, including Ministries of Health, Youth and Social Development, Commerce, Science and Technology, and Women Affairs.
  • Analyze goals, targets, and programs in these strategy instruments, to identify and select components of great relevance for Zero Hunger engagement.
  • Identify constraints in the policy (including legal and regulatory) framework and actions to address constraints that are realistic and actionable, including quick wins, by meeting with private and public sector stakeholders, and prioritizing policy reforms at both the state level that are both aligned and are realistically addressable given the time and financial resource constraints.
  • Analyze existing agricultural and livestock policies of Gombe State in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders, and draft concrete and implementable reform recommendations, and possible solutions on how these constraints can be resolved or at least lessened.
  • Analyze trends in Agricultural and livestock Sectoral capital and recurrent budgets to determine budget performance in the sector (Investment in the sector)
  • Analyze existing federal and regional as well as Development partner policies and identify opportunities for linkages.
  • Interview public and private sector stakeholders regarding the impact of agribusiness policies and their subsequent implementation.
  • Support the activities of voluntary change champions and members of policy reform coalitions on consultative processes amongst themselves and with government to foster needed agricultural and livestock policy reviews and reforms.
  • Participate in other policy reform related plans or interventions as may be directed by the Executive Governor or his designee.
  • Illustrative deliverables include: implementation plans on how to approach, attract, organize, and motivate relevant stakeholders to engage in advocacy efforts related to improving the agribusiness enabling environment; concept notes for new policies for consideration by the relevant government agency; implementation plans regarding current policies that identify prioritized actions regarding policy reform.
Consultant Deliverables
The Consultant will:
S/N Activity Activity Type Days Required
1 Conduct an analysis of agricultural and livestock potentials and resources. This also includes introductory/planning meeting with Ministry of Agriculture, the private sector and other related Public Sector actors for the field visit and work plan. Research/ Desk review 15
2 Conduct a gap analysis of the agricultural and livestock sector. Desk review and analysis of existing agricultural and livestock policy and other related documents.

Analysis of agricultural and livestock potentials and resources.
Research/ Desk review 15
3 Conduct Policy Dialogue meeting on agricultural and livestock potentials and gap analysis. Program Activity 2
4 Analysis of Policy Frameworks for Agricultural and livestock Sector. Conduct interviews with relevant MDAs, private sectors, market actors, and other relevant actors in the agricultural and livestock sectors including development financial institutions.

Gap analysis of the agricultural and livestock sector.
Research/ Desk review with key Informant Interview 15
5 Conduct Stakeholder and Institutional Mappings for developing an effective state policy on agriculture. Organize a feedback session with relevant stakeholders on findings from desk review of existing policy document, findings from interview with relevant stakeholders and possible recommendations for review and inputs. Undertake Policy Dialogue meeting on agricultural and livestock potentials and gap analysis. Research/ Desk review with key Informant Interview 15
6 Undertake Stakeholder engagement on proposed state policy on agriculture and value chain strengthening. Analysis of Policy Frameworks for Agricultural and livestock Sector. Develop and share a draft agricultural and livestock policy brief. Program Activity 5
7 Conduct a Stakeholders’ validation. Stakeholder engagement on proposed state policy on agriculture and value chain strengthening. Program Activity 2
8 Disseminate findings.
Program Activity
4
9 Submit finalized copy of the agricultural and livestock policy brief developed and shared.   4
10 Present final report to Mercy Corp Nigeria.   3

Timeframe / Schedule:
  • 80 days in 6 months
The Consultant will report to:
  • The Consultant will report to the Deputy Chief of Party and Chief of Party.
The Consultant will work closely with:
  • The Consultant will work closely with the Deputy Chief of Party who will be providing oversight support functions throughout the duration of this assignment.
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
  • University graduate in social sciences, agricultural and livestock economics, economics, law or a related field (PhD preferred)
  • 20+ years of relevant policy reform and/or agribusiness work experience in Nigeria
  • Work experience with USAID and/or other donor-funded projects is strongly preferred
  • Experience working collaboratively with institutional and private‐sector partners and stakeholders in Nigeria, preferably on government policy matters
  • Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural and livestock value chains and an understanding of the agribusiness enabling environment
  • Excellent analytical, written and oral communications skills in English is a top priority
  • Ability to work well in diverse teams but also able to work productively as an individual with minimum supervision
  • Well organized, strong analytical skills, creative thinker, innovative, demonstrated personal initiative, with unquestionable integrity and ethics
  • Ability to communicate in other Nigerian languages is a plus
  • A relevant network of policy related influencers and decision makers in Nigeria.
Application Closing Date
11th April, 2022.

Submission of Documents
Interested consultants, consulting teams, or consulting firms should send a technical and financial proposal to: ng-gmbprocurement@mercycorps.org
  • Further Information
  • Related to financial proposals, please note that Mercy Corps will directly cover the costs of travel, accommodation, meals, and incidentals for a maximum of three people per consulting team or firm.
  • Other costs such as halls for conducting digital literacy training and associated logistics and refreshment costs will be covered by Mercy Corps.
  • Thus, financial proposals should focus more on the overall daily rates while providing an indication of other costs which will be covered by Mercy Corps.
In addition to the technical and financial proposal, expressions of interest should include the following:
  • For consulting firms, company profile demonstrating relevant qualifications, skills, and experience of similar assignments conducted by the firm, or CVs of individuals representing the consulting firm on this assignment. Please note that firms are allowed to collaborate with other firms to deliver this assignment, however, payments for any services will be to one firm and not multiple firms.
  • For consulting teams and individual consultants, CVs of Consultant or members of the Consulting team demonstrating relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.
  • Samples of evidence of previous experience in conducting similar assignments
  • A work plan showing an indicative timeline for each part of the assignment
  • Daily rate/fees.
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