Introduction

Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has been implementing the Regional Fund for Strengthening Drought Resilience Project (RFSDR) in Ethiopia in three woredas of Afar and one wereda of Ethiopian Somali regional states since September 2017.

The project is financed by KfW grant and financial contribution of the Ethiopian government and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture with technical assistance of an International Consultant, International Consulting mbH.

International Consulting mbH is providing technical support for the Ministry of Agriculture, the two regions and the project target wereda through deploying long and short-term experts in various fields relevant to the three project components.

The project lifetime will be for five years starting from 2017 -2022 with a total project cost of 16 million Euro of which 13 Million Euro is financed by KfW and 3 million Euro is financed by Ethiopian government.

The project is on implementation in Elidar, Afambo and Aysaita weredas of Afar region and Aysha wereda of Somali region. It is mainly implemented in 16 kebeles of the four project woredas to benefit a total of 132,605 people in the project intervention areas which is bordering Djibouti and Ethiopia in each target wereda.

The general objective of the project is to strengthen the drought resilience of the pastoral and agro-pastoral population living in Ethiopia-Djibouti border area in northeast Ethiopia. The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the production systems of the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, to increase their income and diversify their livelihoods in cross-border areas. The project comprised three inter-related components, namely

• Component 1: Water Resource Development & rural infrastructure;
• Component 2: Improvement of rangeland and Fodder development;
• Component 3: Alternative Livelihoods and basic services.

The actual implementation of the project has been started as of May 2018, after approval of the inception report by the Ministry and KfW in June 2018. In the inception phase, the project five years indicative plan has been developed through Local Level Development Process and Endorsed by the Ministry.

The overall physical and financial performance of the project for the past years is at lower level when compared the project implementation schedule. Particularly the implementation of the planned project intervention in relation to fodder development under component 2 are not progressing as anticipated. Although the contributing factors for these low performances are many, institutional constraints and inadequacy of technical expertise at regional and wereda level is the key problem containing project performance.

To fill this gap, International Consulting mbH intends to employ a Forage and Fodder Development short-term National Expert for a period of one month.

This Terms of Reference briefly presents the objective, employment modalities, administrative setting and detail tasks of the expert.

Scope of the work, responsibilities and description of task

General task

The consultant will work under the general guidance and supervision of the Team Leader and work in close coordination with the project staff to finalize its assigned task. He/she shall provide guidance and technical support to local technical staff, target communities and local institution so as to effectively initiate and manage irrigated forage and fodder development in sustainable way, to enhance their livelihood and resilience against drought shock.

Specific tasks

The consultant shall perform a desk review followed by fieldwork to compile the required information and produce the relevant analysis and action plans of performing overall assignment. The consultant shall perform amongst others, the following tasks:

• Conduct assessment on the specific needs and interest of the forage producing group in relation to fodder and forage production specifically in Aysaita & Afambo weredas of Afar region
• Jointly with the fodder groups, project staff and wereda technical staff prepare fodder production action plan/business plan for selected fodder producing group.
• Mapping of forage production areas jointly with project staff and target community.
• Selection of appropriate technologies and forage species for target community.
• Develop manuals for the production and management of the recommended forage and fodder varieties.
• Develop effective institutional set up for forage producing group to sustain production and market linkage.
• Organize on Job training for front line technical staff.
• Provide technical support and guidance in the establishment and operation of Government fodder banks.
• Develop strategies and plan to sustain operation of Nursery sites.

Expected outputs and deliverables

• A brief initial community need assessment report and detail action plan to perform the assigned task.
• Map and location of forage development site.
• Assessment report on selection of recommended fodder /forage species for production.
• Simplified manuals and guideline on the production and management of fodder.
• Local staff and selected community training report.
• Recommended institutional set up for community fodder producing group and government fodder bank including business plan.
• An action plan/business plan for selected fodder producing group.
• A brief strategy and plan to sustain nursery operation.

Duration of the contract

The overall duration of the assignment covered by this ToR is 30 person-days from the date of signing the contract. The working days should be continuous but, if some unforeseen issues arise, the working days can be split, after the approval of the MoA Project Coordinator and the GOPA Team Leader.

Management, reporting line, line of budget

The consultant will closely work with the International Consulting livestock specialist and will report to the GOPA Team Leader. His/her duty station will be Semera. The consultant will also work with close coordination of Federal, regional and wereda government staff.

Duty station, Supplies and office equipment

Duty station of the assignment of the expert is in Semera with frequent travel to Aysaita and Afambo weredas of Afar region. The staff will be based at the GOPA Semera office.

The Project Office will cover the cost of travel from Addis Ababa to Semera and to the project sites.

Office stationeries, computer and communication cost are under the responsibility of the Consultant.

Tentative work schedule

No.TasksEstimated # of person days 1Familiarization with the project, need assessment and preparation of updated work plan32Mapping and evaluation of forage development site, government fodder bank & Selection of species63Guideline and manual preparation44Design of Institutional set up, business plan preparation for fodder group45Preparation of strategies and plan to sustain nursery site operation36Technical staff and community group training87Final reporting2

Job Requirements

Qualifications and work experience

• At least Master’s degree in forage production or in related field.
• At least 15 years of experience in forage production and management.
• Good technical knowledge of policy and practice in the field of livelihoods, crop and livestock productivity as well as other cross cutting issues.
• Demonstrated experience in carrying out fodder and forage development.
• Prior experience in pastoral area such as Afar and Somali regions or similar areas.
• Deep understanding of and work experience on Ethiopia’s agricultural systems, climate-smart agriculture and weather system, with a broad perspective on agricultural value chains and an intimate knowledge of how public, private and informal actors operate within the system.
• Excellent analytical skills and strong project management background.
• Practical experience in piloting and scaling up relevant solutions at the local level.
• Excellent interpersonal skills as well as stakeholder management and coordination experiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong set of personal values including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service.
• Fluency in Amharic and sufficient command of English language are essential. Knowledge of Afar or Somali language is an asset.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can send their CV to  gopa@ethiojobs.net