Summary of the assignment:

Nature of assignment	Short term
Location	Within EAC
Timeframe	20 working days
Reporting	To Executive Director/CEO
Application Deadline	15th January  2023

1.0         ABOUT EABC

EABC is the regional apex body for the private sector in the EAC, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. EABC’s vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment with a mission to promote sustainable private sector-driven growth in the EAC.

EABC supports the private sector to become competitive in the region and internationally by advocating for a conducive business environment and articulating private sector interests in the EAC integration process, and continental and international trade agreements. To achieve that EABC has acquired observer status at the EAC which enable it to participate in all EAC policy formulation process such as technical meetings, committee meetings, sectoral councils, the council of ministers meeting and EAC Heads of State.

• RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, economic growth in East Africa was very strong – the highest of all sub-Saharan regions. In light of the global crisis, the declining external growth may slow down the recovery of the East African bloc. (World Bank, Global Economic Prospectus, June 2022).

International trade and supply chains were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and worsened by the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The global crises pose serious challenges to SMEs and the EAC economies.  During the pandemic, prices in Eastern Africa generally rose for the transport and food sectors. The Global Food Price index of cereals, meat, and dairy rose by 26% and increased inflation in the region due to disruptions in global supply chains (Source: FAO, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, COMESA). According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), in 2021, Russian and Ukraine wheat and sunflower oil exports to the world accounted for 30% and 55% respectively. Russia and Ukraine are also significant exporters of maize, barley and rapeseed oil. Russia and Belarus are leading exporters of fertilizers but both are currently under economic sanctions. According to EAC-Trade and Investment Report, the most traded goods from Russia and Ukraine to the EAC region are non-commodity, wheat, fertilizers, iron & aluminium products, machines and pharmaceuticals. While most exported goods from EAC to Russia and Ukraine are horticultural products, flowers, coffee, tobacco and tea.

Half of the countries in the Eastern Africa sub-region are net food importers – thus extremely vulnerable to higher global food prices plus are heavily dependent on imported fuel and hence impacted by higher global energy prices. According to UNECA, about 17% of food imports for East African countries are wheat of which 50% of the imports are from Russia and Ukraine. Due to the increasing global prices the region has witnessed increased food inflation.

In addition, the EAC is affected by climate change. The region was recently affected by desert locust invasion, flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains thus, increasing food insecurity.

These Global Crises of Covid-19, Conflict and Climate Change exacerbated risks of food shortages, inflation and poverty in the region as the prices of global food and fuel rose. The current account balance is likely to decline and put pressure on exchange rates, interest rates and debt burden in the region thus, make it costly to borrow and trade. These concurrent global crises disarmed Partner State’s capacity to address multiple and simultaneous disasters increasing the prevalence of food insecurity in the EAC States.

To mitigate the high inflation caused by the global crisis some of the EAC Partner States have put various interventions to control inflation including subsidizing fuel prices and lowering import duties of food grains such as wheat, barley, edible oil, rice, sugar and maize. On the business side, industries, especially in the agro-processing, beverage and food industries, are challenged on how to control the increasing cost of doing business and citizens’ cost of living as their final products are becoming unaffordable.

TheGlobal crisis significantly poses challenges to EAC’s economic and business growth and expansion. The East African Business Councils with the support from GIZ Business Scouts for Development seeks to hire the services of a consultant to undertake a study/analysis to identify selected regional food products affected significantly by global crises and chart out measures to improve food security in EAC.

• SCOPE OF THE WORK AND DUTIES

The consultant should undertake the following:

• Analyze the impact of global crises on food security in EAC 
• Analyze the price volatility of imports of the selected food products into EAC from the Rest of the World
• Analyze domestic production data related to the selected food products produced in the EAC
• Capture trade data related to regional exports of selected food products to the Rest of the World 
• Analyze prices of energy (fuel), freight, fertilizer and other imported agricultural-related inputs (e.g., seeds)
• Analyze the needs/challenges/opportunities of both Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and large companies engaging in value addition and processing of grains, edible oil, fertilizers and major staple food in the region and advice on the measures to be taken in terms of capacity building, markets access, diversification, import substitution, advisory services, technological transfer to enhance their competitiveness
• Forecast demand both internal and external for the selected food products in the region
• Demonstrate the local innovations, substitutions and diversification options of selected regional food products against the selected major food import products 
• Analyze climate changes patterns and predicted impact on food security in EAC
• Analyze EAC Partner States’ measures undertaken to mitigate the impact of the global crisis and climate change on food security 
• Analyze current policy measures that impact food production and security in selected value chains
• Analyze changes in production costs for farmers and companies (capacity, utilization, yield) and show interlinkage of yields, food supply and prices
• Propose measures to improve food production to substitute major food imports
• Propose opportunities for export/business/product diversification products to new and emerging value chains and options for import substitutions
• Propose measures by the Private, Public sector and Development Partners to boost resilient, reinvigorated and strengthened regional value chains in agriculture and agro-processing for increased food security in selected food products
• Analyze export opportunities/ markets for critical crops on food security
• Propose measures to open up export opportunities for selected food products
• Develop and demonstrate the opportunities for the EAC Partner States to enhance food security and open export opportunities for selected food products 
• Co-organize workshop to validate the findings of the study
• Develop and propose policy recommendations to the EAC Partner States on how to mitigate the impact of global crises on food security in the EAC region
• Submit an inception report with key deliverables
• Present a draft report for validation by stakeholders
• Develop EABC Policy briefs on improved food security in EAC amid global crises

4.0         deliverables

The key deliverables include:

• Inception report which among other things, details the proposed table of contents, methodology, research design; analytical framework, stakeholder engagements and work plan for carrying out the assignment,
• Draft report
• Report of the validation workshop which will include stakeholders’ inputs:
• Approved Final report
• Policy briefs.

5.0         QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

A suitable candidate should hold the following qualifications and key competencies:

1. Academic qualifications: A Master’s degree or postgraduate qualification in any of the following fields, Agronomist, Economics, Statistics, International Trade, Trade Policy, Taxation, Business Administration, or any other relevant field is required;
2. Work Experience: A minimum of four (4) years of demonstrable experience in conducting research/surveys in agriculture business-related fields, regional and/or international trade-related issues. The consultant must have the capacity to carry out the survey/study within the stipulated timeframe;
3. Proven track record; Demonstrate track record in conducting at least three similar works; 
4. Communication and Networking: Must be able to identify key stakeholders; seek their views, correctly interpret their messages, and respond appropriately;
5. Knowledge of EAC Integration: Must demonstrate strong knowledge of EAC integration, and international trade, very conversant with social, economic, and geopolitics of EAC and experiences in agriculture and/or international trade on commodities/food products;
6. Languages: Fluency in oral and written English is required as it is the main EAC working language. Good working knowledge of French and Kiswahili will be an advantage.
7. Additional Skills: Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, Email, analytical tools/software for data analysis, experience in working with internet searches, online databases, and data retrieval) are required.
8. Nationality: The position is only open to Nationals of any of the EAC Partner States: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Sudan.

6.0         TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Technical Evaluation:	Maximum
A minimum of four (4) years of demonstrable experience in conducting research/surveys in agriculture economics, business-related fields, regional and/or international trade-related issues. The consultant must have the capacity to carry out the survey/study within the stipulated timeframe	10
Knowledge of EAC Integration: Must demonstrate strong knowledge of EAC integration, and international trade, very conversant with social, economic, and geopolitics of EAC and experiences in agriculture economics and/or international trade on commodities/food products; .	10
Proven track record; Demonstrate track record in conducting at least three similar works preferably in EAC;	15
Approach and Methodology: Proposed methodology and approach focusing on how the assignment will be conducted (10) Demonstrate knowledge in analyzing impact of global crises on economies (05)Demonstrate knowledge in analyzing food security issues (05)Stakeholders mapping, management plan and stakeholder engagement plan (05)  Work plan and sequencing of activities (05)  Anticipated issues, challenges, and mitigation in undertaking the assignment (05)	35
Academic qualifications: A Master’s degree or postgraduate qualification in any of the following fields, Agriculture Economics, Economics, Statistics, International Trade, Trade Policy, Taxation, Business Administration, or any other relevant field is required;	5
Total technical score	70
Financial Evaluation (Financial Quotations)	Maximum
Fees	20
Reimbursable	10
Total Financial Score	30
Overall Score	100

7.0         THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The technical and financial proposal must be submitted separately and addressed to:

The Executive Director / CEO

East African Business Council (EABC) 

Ninth Floor, Mafao House, Old Moshi Road P. O. Box 2617 Arusha, Tanzania.

Email:procurement@eabc-online.com with a copy to director@eabc-online.com

Clearly marked “Consultancy to undertake a study to analyze and identify regional food products and chart out measures to improve food security in EAC amid global crises.”

The technical proposal should also contain a current curriculum vita, work plan and methodology.

The financial proposal should be protected with a password.

Applications close on 15^th January 2023 at (5.00 p.m.)

EABC is an equal opportunity employer thus recruitment is on merit and with no regard to one’s age, colour, gender, marital status, disability or impairment, race, or creed.

Canvassing shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Environmental aspects will be taken into consideration.

END