Expertise France recruits an agronomic expert (consultant, short term, approx. 20 man days)

1. Context and content of the technical assistance project
The Agriculture Division, within the Sustainable Development Department at Expertise France, is responsible for the following areas:
• Agri-food sectors
• Resilient agriculture
• Agricultural entrepreneurship and rural development
• Agricultural policies

Currently comprising seven (7) project managers and one (1) administrative and financial project manager, the Agriculture Division has a portfolio of more than 10 projects ongoing and under development.

Expertise France’s Agriculture Division, in partnership with the Economic and Commercial Policies (ECP) Division of the Sustainable and Inclusive Economy Department, has positioned itself to implement a project to support private sector development, focusing in particular on improving the business climate and developing agricultural value chains in Liberia, for a total budget of around 25 MEUR, financed by the EU. The project targets the development of strategic value chains for Liberia’s agriculture and economy.

2. Expected support
The European Delegation in Liberia has finalised an action document on a project to support the development of the private sector for a total amount of 25 MEUR.

The overall objective of the project is to build sustainable, green and inclusive value chains to improve job creation, sustainable economic development and the competitiveness of Liberian businesses.

The specific objectives of this action are as follows:
i) The overall business climate is improved through structured public-private dialogue, regulatory reforms and an ecosystem conducive to the development and competitiveness of the private sector;
ii) The sustainability, inclusiveness, performance and growth of targeted value chains (cassava, aquaculture and fisheries, timber) and related services are strengthened and contribute to fostering industries, regional trade, exports and decent employment.

We are recruiting an agronomic expert on a work load basis of approx. 20 man days to support Expertise France in formulating this project on the topics of private sector development, improvement of the business climate and development of agricultural value chains, and to appraise this project in accordance with Expertise France’s procedures and models.

The consultant will be expected to make a flexible offer to meet the donor’s preferences. The aim will be to present an offer that can be adapted to the final total amount granted and to the financing method chosen. The project will be set up in tandem with an economic expert who will develop the private sector development and business climate improvement section. It is expected that the final offer will be coherent, including both parts and presenting an aligned approach. A head of mission based in France will coordinate between the two experts and oversee the development of the technical and financial offer.

The consultant will be provided with a documentary database on the work carried out by the two divisions and the agency in Liberia and the region.

The consultant’s tasks would be as follows:
• Formulation of a technical offer for a project to support private sector development in Liberia with a focus on the development of sustainable, green and inclusive value chains, the sub-themes being:
o Development of the private sector and improvement of the business climate in connection with the development of agricultural value chains (cassava, aquaculture and fisheries, timber)
• Drafting of the following documents in English:
o Concept note (listing the broad outlines of the project and activities, identification of stakeholders) and participation in the preparation of a joint mission document (a template will be provided) – Word;
o Description of the action and how it will be implemented (a template will be provided) – Word – including:
– Narrative of implementation activities for the component: Developing agricultural value chains – Word,
– Budget for the action (preparation of the budget including the technical and human resources components) – Excel,
o Pre-identification of the resources required and sourcing of the players involved (partners, experts, service providers, etc.) – Word;
o Any other relevant documents.

3. Desired profile
– Graduate with 5 years’ higher education (master’s degree or engineer) in agriculture, agronomy, agro-industry, international trade in the field of agriculture, agricultural economics or an equivalent discipline;
– At least 8 years’ professional experience in carrying out field diagnostics and setting up projects in the field of rural development/agriculture;
– Proven experience in formulating and writing service offers or technical bids for international projects (a sample report will be requested);
– Good knowledge of at least 2 of the following sectors: cassava, wood, aquaculture and fisheries, and of the agricultural context in Liberia;
– Knowledge of Liberian regulations, public policies and techniques relating to agricultural sectors: cooperative or associative dimension, storage, processing, marketing, job creation, business creation, etc.;
– Very good knowledge of agricultural sector development projects and agriculture adapted to climate change;
– Writing skills in English

Please send your CV and your cover letter mentioning your daily honorary to the two email adresses below.: alina.hoferichter@expertisefrance.fr and marc.channelliere@expertisefrance.fr