Terms of Reference Project Title: CBC Local Sourcing for Partnerships Project Project Number: CBC/ICF: 101 Date: 11 th November 2015 Deadline for application: 1 st December 2015 Assignment title: National Business Consultant- Zambia Contract duration: Sixty five (65) estimated working days spread over a Nine (9) month period. Duty station: Home-based. I. Objective of Assignment The position will provide leadership, coaching, mentoring and technical support services to a selected group of Agro suppliers within the selected sectors of hospitality industry and food and beverages industry in developing their quality standards. The Consultant will ensure that accountability mechanisms are established to allow the CBC remain accountable to the stakeholders and to donors. The Consultant will also monitor, document and report on the progress towards meeting the standards requirements. This pilot project has a strong element of learning that will require the Consultant in consultation with program staff to document any identified learnings as guided by the objectives of the project. II. Background The COMESA Business Council is the recognized apex business organization in the region, representing private sector interests at the highest levels of decision making in the region. The CBC provides key market driven services to its membership. CBC has developed the Local Sourcing for Partnerships Project with the main objective of increasing local sourcing from small growth enterprises by large companies in the COMESA region in order to create jobs and economic development. The project will be piloted in six countries, namely Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia and aims to strengthen capacity of 480 suppliers in the hospitality industry and food and beverages sector within a period of one year. The expected result is that by the end of the project the trained enterprises will, i) meet the standards required for them to integrate into the purchasing systems of the Multi-National Companies in the region, and ii) will establish sustainable partnerships with buying companies who are partners to the project. The project is funded by the following partners;
The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) which works to improve the climate for investment in Africa by removing barriers to doing business. http://www.icfafrica.org/; USAID- IPAA, a regional Integration program under COMESA that funds private sector development, climate change and agriculture led agendas under the chapeaux of trade and investment. Lastly, the project is funded by the Private sector through the CBCwww.comesabusinesscouncil.org; The COMESA Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) Unit will also provide food safety technical support to ensure that selected businesses, meet the key agricultural practices demanded by the selected corporate industries. The Training capacity building plan will be carried out in a two phase approach, PHASE 1- Introduction, PHASE II- Monitoring and continuous coaching. The Project seeks a qualified National Business Consultant to carry out the assignment. The key tasks of the Consultant include: III. Summary of Key Tasks Participating in training the suppliers on quality standards Supporting the suppliers to develop and implement action plans to improve their performance standards Conducting post training technical support, monitoring and audit of suppliers to ensure adherence to agreed standards and protocols. Follow up, document and report on number of companies who have met standard requirements and well as recommend remedial measures for companies falling short of standards. Specific tasks are as follows; Task 1: Support enterprises to develop action plans to implement technical capacity programs from training and up-grade their standards This task includes but is not limited to: Developing action plans with enterprises for onward monitoring on progress made towards implementing the learning and up-grading standards. Where needed providing coaching on quality management standards, food safety requirements and technical efficiency in delivering quality products. Task 2: Training & technical backstopping The task includes: Conducting scheduled bi-monthly physical visits to the suppliers to assess progress and provide technical support. Providing administrative and technical support to regional consultancy in training workshops and field visits. Providing progress reports as required, indicated in the project implementation schedule. Maintaining constant communication links with the Project Manager. 2
S/he will also offer advisory support to ensure the objectives of the Project are fulfilled as and when requested. Task 3: Monitoring and Evaluation This task will include: Using a Monitoring and Assessment system/ tool to assess and reporting progress of companies. IV. Performance period The performance period for the assignment is from the date of signing up to August 2016 spread within the working days provided (65 working days), as per the project implementation schedule. V. Qualifications, Competencies and experience required Core Competencies Ability to plan and prioritize own work and to work well under tight deadlines. Ability to structure and manage complex tasks Strong communication and information-gathering skills Resourcefulness Good understanding of markets and standards in both the agro manufacturing sector and hospitality industry. Demonstrated working competence in establishing, coaching and auditing food safety/ quality management systems in the production within companies and enterprises. Demonstrated understanding of market driven standards such as GFSI. Education A Bachelor s degree or equivalent in a relevant field, such as food science, nutrition, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, human ecology or similar fields Certification by an internationally recognized body on food management standards is preferable. Work experience At least four years demonstrable experience performing food management systems audits or evaluation of companies Experience of working within the agriculture value chain, preferably with an understanding of implementing and/or operating an food management system of a company, especially SMEs Understanding the principles of HACCP and relevant good practice guides, such as GMP, GHP, GAP, GVP, etc. as well as principles of food safety risk management and risk mitigation. Language Requirements Proficiency in written and spoken English and ain national dialect for the country of exercise. VI. Outputs Payment schedule The total budget for this assignment is USD 18,000. Payment to the consultant will be made upon satisfactory completion of the following deliverables: Output Month Activity Relative Payment 3
Inception Approved final report Upon receipt of Signed contract and inception report November 2015 January 2016 March April June August September Phase I- Participate and support Training Evaluation, coaching 10% 20% evaluation, coaching 30% Phase II- Participate and support training reporting reporting Final Field monitoring and final draft report 10% 30% Total 100% VII. ing The project is under the overall management of the CBC Chief Executive Officer, herein referred to as the Project Director. On a day to day basis, the consultant will report to the Regional Consultant. The consultant will report for contractual purposes to the Project Manager. The Project Manager will provide quality assurance of the National Business Consultants on the key requirements for monitoring and assessment of the trained agro food suppliers are met in a timely manner. The Project Manager will support the Regional Consultant to ensure quality of the deliverables of the National Consultant. The Project Manager will ensure that the Consultant receives all relevant documentation with respect to ICF Guidelines, Rules and Regulations necessary for the execution of his/her tasks. The Regional Consultant and National Business Consultants will develop a work schedule, Monitoring and Assessment Guide for this exercise. The Regional Consultant will also ensure that the documentation produced is reviewed and approved. The National Consultant will maintain close consultation with the Project Manager on the progress made; and will offer advice and guidance to ensure the objectives of the Project are fulfilled as and when requested. 4
VIII. Submissions The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Council- now invites eligible consultants to submit application in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (applications, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. Applications must be emailed to the address below by 1 st December, 2015 Email: Procurement@comesa.int ; comesabusinesscouncil@comesa.int; 5