The International Potato Center Job in Abuja for a Situation Analysis Consultant
International Potato Center (CIP) is a not-for-profit international
agricultural research organization with a global mandate to conduct
research on genetic resources of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other
Andean roots and tubers, crop genetic enhancement and improvement,
integrated crop management and sustainable management of natural
resources.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on behalf of The
International Potato Center seeks suitable candidates for the position
of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. The candidate selected for this
position will be based in Abuja and will work under the supervision of
the Sweet potato for Health and Wealth project leader in Nigeria. The
employment will be for a period of one year with a possibility of
renewal subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
International Potato Center is recruiting to fill the position of:
Job Title: Situation Analysis Consultant
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Duration: 30 working days over a period of 2 months
Responsibilities
- The primary aim of the SITAN is to gather analytical data and
information that establishes baseline status of the key thematic
components of the project and key actors responsible for realizing the
objectives of the BNFB project.
- The study will also help to identify and map gaps in on-going
complementary initiatives that BNFB can add value to as well as
recommend necessary action on issues affecting the scaling up of
bio-fortification in the country.
- The process will be used to understand the key actors, causes
of, and linkages necessary for accelerated uptake of bio-fortified crops
and their products and how the country’s human, social, economic and
organizational resources and structures (including its policies and
institutions) can contribute to solving this problem.
- This SITAN is an assessment and analysis of the country
situation, with respect to BNFB objectives and indicators. It will serve
to increase understanding and to identify gaps and necessary action on
issues affecting the scaling up of biofortification in the country.
- The SITAN will be prepared with the active participation of the
six BNFB consortium partners and national and local partners. The study
will be conducted in the target areas in both Nigeria and Tanzania and
contribute to knowledge of the factors involved in nutrition and
bio-fortification of the various food crops in each of the country.
- Apart from being a national comprehensive report providing a
snap shot of the situation of bio-fortified crops and nutrition status,
the report will provide information and data needed to plan the
development of the national advocacy, seed systems and capacity building
plans for 2016-2018 for the project.
Essential Duties
- To conduct a disaggregated assessment of the status of and
trends in the realization of scaled up dissemination and consumption of
bio-fortified crops and their products;
- Conduct an analysis of the immediate, underlying and structural causes of the slow uptake;
- Map linkages and actors necessary to achieve the scaling up process for bio-fortified crops; and
- Identify policy and programmatic gaps in accelerating the uptake and consumption of bio-fortified crops and their products
- Suggest recommendations to address the gaps in the process of
accelerating the uptake and consumption of bio-fortified crops and their
products.
The general objectives of conducting the SITAN is to:
- Improve the understanding of decision-makers, partners and all other stakeholders working on bio-fortification in the country
- Strengthen the knowledge base on current consumption patterns of biofortified crops and their products;
- Map out key actors, needs of the population / communities,
bottlenecks/gaps to be addressed in order to unlock the value chains of
the bio-fortified crops in the country and prioritize interventions that
need to be implemented (advocacy, promotion, seed systems, and
institutional and individual capacity building and training
opportunities).
- Identify the major policies, strategies and plans in place that
favour bio-fortification and areas for further policy engagement.
- Identify the causes of slow uptake of biofortification, as the basis for recommending actions;
- Identify mechanisms to support national and decentralized
planning and development processes including influencing policies,
strategies, budgets and national policies to contribute towards an
enabling environment for scaling up bio-fortification;
- Identify the current levels on funding/investments in bio-fortification by development partners and the government;
Specific objectives of SITAN is to:
- Use available data and other information to accurately identify
key actors in scaling up bio-fortified crops and trends and patterns of
consumption of bio-fortified crops and their products, disaggregated by
relevant segments of the country and of the population.
- Identify and analyze the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent
disadvantaged groups from accessing and benefiting from
bio-fortification, including the social, political and economic
conditions that result in shortfalls in the creation of an enabling
environment for the scaling-up of bio-fortification
- Analyze governments (and its agencies) policy and funding priorities as far as nutrition and bio-fortification is concerned.
- Analyze current institutional and structural bottlenecks to
address in order to unlock the value chain for the bio-fortified crops
in the country including the varietal release policies/criteria and the
bio-fortified varieties currently in the pipeline (for release)
- Assess the needs of the population / communities,
bottlenecks/gaps to be addressed and prioritize interventions that need
to be implemented (advocacy, promotion, seed systems and institutional
and individual capacity building and training opportunities).
- Assess the current investment pattern in bio-fortification and
main donors to approach and to unlock increased investments in
bio-fortification
- Analyze the extent to which bio-fortification is prioritized in
national policies, law, strategies, plans and budgets. This would
include an analysis of the extent to which there is an enabling
environment for the realization of the scaling up consumption including
the promotion of positive social norms and behaviors, organization of
services, institutional capacities at national, sub-national and
community levels.
Methodology
- The process of developing the situation analysis will make use
of multiple methodologies and techniques. Both primary and secondary
data will be collected, and quantitative as well as qualitative
information used. Analysis of available quantitative data and
undertaking detailed analysis of the existing secondary data to
establish trends and relationship is needed. We anticipate that the
SITAN will include in-depth dialogue with key stakeholders.
- Focus will be on a collaborative partnership with national
partners to ensure government, private sector and civil society
ownership and the identification of national priorities and proposed
national solutions. The participation by government agencies (at the
national and local/state level), other development partners, private
sector and civil society actors is therefore absolutely critical.
The major activities of STAN will be:
- Desk review and conceptual and analytical secondary research on
key reports, policy documents, published studies, research and survey
reports and relevant grey literature;
- Comparative analysis of available legislation, social policy,
budget allocation and expenditure documents in conformity with
objectives of BNFB;
- Key informants consultations including Expert Group meetings
with those who shape and implement public policies, implementers, donors
etc, and
- Participatory workshops to conduct the causal analysis, role
pattern analysis and capacity gap analysis including validation of the
SITAN findings.
These methods are only indicative as the consultant is expected to
propose a methodology that will ensure that the deliverables of the
study objectives are as a result of a thorough and a participatory
approach and have been arrived at through broad consensus with the
stakeholders from the public and private sector institutions.
The consultant will need to develop a study design and methodology to
undertake wider consultations and interviews with stakeholders
nationally and at local government/state levels as well as facilitate
consultation with experts working in biofortification (agriculture,
health and nutrition).
Scope of Work:
- The Consultant will work closely with CIP and the other
consortium partners, take the overall responsibility of the SITAN, and
make reports and disseminate the same. The SITAN will focus on
collecting the data related to BNFB objectives and the key performance
indicators that will help complete the results framework. This is a
national study and may require a multi-disciplinary team.
Outputs and timeframe:
- A report of the situational analysis containing recommendations
for unlocking the scaling up of biofortification in the country. A
country strategy and work-plan document that will promote principles of
inclusivity, participation and effective public-private sector
engagement in the scaling up biofortification in the country.
These outputs will be delivered in the following manner:
- An Inception report: detailing the approaches and methodology of
the study, list of stakeholders proposed to be consulted/interviewed,
interview guide, initial literature review and work plan. The report
shall also include a proposed outline for the final report to be
presented to the project management team. This is to be delivered within
14 days of signing the contract.
- The final report; consultations with stakeholders to obtain
feedback facilitated and a final report prepared within 7 days after
feedback on the first draft research report.
- Draft country strategy document; from the final report, prepare a country advocacy and seed system work-plan and strategy
- Expert meetings facilitated: The consultants shall facilitate a
final meeting with key stakeholders and advocates at validation meeting
to endorse the strategy and work-plan.
- Final Strategy; prepared and submitted 7 days after meetings and
consultations with stakeholders, incorporating the feedback during the
consultations.
- First draft research report; based on extensive literature
review, stakeholder consultation and analysis, interviews /
consultations conducted with key informants and a draft report with
initial recommendations will be delivered within 30 days after feedback
on the inception report. This report shall be presented for critique and
inputs at an experts meeting which will include the project management
team and country advocates.
Requirement / Qualification
- A Masters degree in Socio-Economics / Social Science with
adequate experiences in monitoring and evaluation, specifically in
Agricultural sector
- A Seed System Specialist: Master’s degree in related subject and
at least 5 years working experience in baseline studies/ evaluation /
impact studies. Experience in livelihood and seed value chain is highly
recommended.
- A nutritionist: Master’s degree in Nutrition with at least 5 years implementing nutrition based intervention
- Minimum of 10 years experience
- The candidate should have either led or carried out baseline
studies and evaluation/impact studies and experienced in team leadership
and coordination at a Masters level degree in Agricultural Economics or
Business Administration are desired.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply
Application Deadline 14th January, 2016.