Project/Consultancy Title: Assessment of Port Logistics, Inland transportation, Warehousing, Customs Clearing and Regulations in Liberia for imported and locally procured commodities

Project Location(s): Liberia (Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Rivercess, and Grand Bassa counties)

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Mercy Corps intends to conduct a comprehensive capacity assessment of Liberian ports and associated logistics systems to support the importation and inland transportation of humanitarian commodities under a USDA funded Food for Education Program.

Purpose / Project Description:

The assessment will examine the movement of goods from the port of entry to central warehouses (locations to be determined by the Liberia country team) and onward to last mile/school delivery points.

The assessment will also evaluate potential warehousing arrangements at the Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Rivercess, and Grand Bassa counties level, including whether commodities should be dispatched directly from the central warehouse to schools or whether intermediate warehouses should be established within each county to facilitate onward transportation and distribution.

For the country team to decide on the feasible warehouse locations

1. Having a warehouse at a central location (for eg. in Monrovia) and then the commodity is directly dispatched to schools
2. Having a warehouse at a central location ( eg, Monrovia) and a warehouse in each county and then to schools
3. Have a central warehouse in each county ( receiving commodities directly from the port) and then dispatch to schools

This assessment will inform operational planning, warehouse and transport procurement decisions, budgeting, risk mitigation, and potential humanitarian and development programming involving imported commodities. The consultancy aims to provide a detailed, evidence-based understanding of logistics capacity in country to ensure effective and efficient delivery of humanitarian supplies.

Consultant Objectives:

The consultant will carry out a detailed assessment and analysis of the following elements: Liberian ports of entry, including name(s) and capacities to receive commodities from the Unted States; customs clearance processes and requirements; inland transportation systems, routes and associated costs; availability of warehousing (including conditions, capacity, and suitability for humanitarian food commodities in all relevant locations); feasibility of last mile/school delivery facilities; food handling, storage, tracking and reporting procedures and what existing means are at the school level to limit spoilage, damage, theft and misuse of commodities.

The consultant should plan to cover the following areas as part of this assessment: The capital, Freeport of Monrovia (and any other relevant ports), and the Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Rivercess, and Grand Bassa counties.

The consultant will identify key potential operational risks and mitigation measures associated with import permits, port handling, customs processes, transportation, and storage of commodities. The consultant will also identify recommendations for school personnel on commodity management that can be integrated into the planned works.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will undertake the following aeras of assessment:

The consultant should work closely with existing Mercy Corps team members in country and in the global office to ensure that all relevant information has been identified, mapped, and presented appropriately throughout the engagement.

The consultant is expected to conduct this assessment using a combination of: Stakeholder interviews, site visits, market assessments, key informant interviews, desk reviews of local government regulations, and direct meetings with transporters, warehouse operators, customs agents, and port authorities.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

• Collect all of the above information and prepare a formal report detailing all key findings and recommendations to be shared for exclusive use by Mercy Corps Liberia and Mercy Corps Global.

• This report should include: Findings, Cost Analysis, Route Assessments, Port and Warehouse Capacity Analysis, Risk Assessment, Proposed Mitigations/Controls, and other key recommendations

Timeframe / Schedule:

TBC

The Consultant will report to:

Jacob A. Sambolah

The Consultant will work closely with:

Optional – E.g. TSU, Program Desk Officers, Program Manager

The Global Distribution Quality Advisor, The wider Liberia Country Team, The Proposal Development Team

Required Experience & Skills:

What experience do they need – bulleted list

• 5-10 years of experience in relevant technical field (required)
• 5 to 10 years of experience in commodity management and handling
• Experience in international importation of food commodities
• Experience in Liberia of working with port authorities, logistics companies, and local government

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere toMercy Corps Code of Conduct Policiesand values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.