REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

INDIVIDUAL NUTRITION ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIP CONSULTANT

AGRICULTURE AND AGRO-INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT

Rue Joseph Anoma, 01 BP 1387 Abidjan 01, Cote d’Ivoire

 

 

Background :

  1. Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank’s development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In order to sharply focus the objectives of the Ten Year Strategy (2013 – 2022) and ensure greater developmental impact, five major areas, all of which will accelerate our delivery for Africa, have been identified for scaling up, namely; energy, agro-business, industrialization, integration and improving the quality of life for the people of Africa ;
  2. The Vice Presidency for ‘Agriculture, Human, and Social Development’ (AHVP) is a Sector Complex charged with the implementation of two of the Bank’s High 5 priorities of “Feed Africa” and “Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. The complex objectives are fourfold: to develop, policy and strategy; to provide deep sector expertise to the Regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions and to develop new financing instruments. The Vice President acts as the spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on aspects of “Feed Africa” and Improve Quality of Life for the People of Africa” ;
  1. The complex has departments, which implement its operational and strategic programs. They include Agriculture and Agro-Industry; Agricultural Finance and Rural Development; Gender, Women and Civil Society; Water Development and Sanitation; and Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development. Each department is led by a Director who supervises a number of Division Managers and Program Coordinators. The Complex will drive the Bank’ bold vision and focus on “Feed Africa and Improve Life in Africa” ;
  2. The African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) secretariat is hosted by the African Development Bank at the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department (AHAI) in the Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability division (AHAI2) ;
  3. The establishment of the ALN was in recognition of the far-reaching and long-term effects of malnutrition on the continent’s human capital potential; and thus, the need to build and sustain high-level political leadership, commitment and accountability on the part of African Heads of States to invest resources in the fight against malnutrition ;
  4. The ALN is a high-level platform for political engagement. The platform works to mobilize Nutrition Champions from amongst African Heads of States and Eminent Personalities and forge strong partnerships with other stakeholders working in nutrition agenda at continental and global level. By working with these champions, the ALN is committed to increase the visibility and strengthen political will to address complex underlying problems confronting nutrition and encourage specific policy and financial commitments to the nutrition agenda in Africa. The political dialogue with Heads of States and Ministers of Finance is expected to accelerate progress toward the achievement of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)/Malabo targets, the six World Health Assembly (WHA) nutrition targets, and the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2), through sustained and increased investment for nutrition.

PURPOSE / OBJECTIVES OF ASSIGNMENT :

  1. The consultant will be based in the in the Agriculture Research, Production and Sustainability division (AHAI2) under the supervision of the ALN Coordinator. The consultant works closely and directly with the division Manager and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer in the ALN secretariat as well as those managing various crosscutting initiatives ;
  2. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, the consultant will provide support to ALN activities as indicated below :
  • The Advocacy, Communication and Partnership consultant drives strategic advocacy engagement and creative communications to achieve ALN’s advocacy objectives in line with broader and specific nutrition agendas. The consultant provides technical support towards the engagement of ALN champions by developing and disseminating materials explaining the mandate of ALN and rationale for investing in nutrition and liaising with country level partners and stakeholders across multiple sectors. The consultant provides leadership on global policy discussions and linkages to the ALN, identifying appropriate forums and engages with strategic partners to that effect ;
  • The consultant develops and executes advocacy and communications strategies, which communicates complex research concepts in compelling ways through advocacy materials and builds strategic relationships with major partners and stakeholders to enhance ALN’s visibility. The consultant serves as a principal liaison with the outside world bringing on board stakeholders, partners and policy makers across multiple sectors for a common goal and messaging towards nutrition. The consultant supports ALN Secretariat in setting advocacy agendas that drive and executes campaigns for high-level political engagement alongside strategic partners. The consultant overseas the achievement of communication objectives and content generation for digital and traditional media to promote a better understanding of ALN and its mandate ;
  • In terms of expected deliverables, the incumbent’s role includes :
  1. Jointly develop and implement with partners and stakeholders, champion engagement plans and campaigns that position ALN in the global community and build collaborations that benefit ALN, amplify its work to new audiences, and enhance existing impacts of its work ;
  2. Develop and deliver champion profiles and templates to engage champions and leverage evidence-based advocacy and nutrition agendas at continental and country level platforms for traction ;
  3. In collaboration with Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL) officer frame and develop assorted messages and knowledge products to support advocacy and champion engagement ;
  4. Create and disseminate relevant content for that furthers ALN’s work through digital and traditional media as part of knowledge management.
  1. In this regard, the Agriculture Research, Production & Sustainability Division (AHAI.2) invites Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-described services. Interested Consultants shall provide information on their qualifications and experience demonstrating their ability to undertake this Assignment (CVs, reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, etc.) ;
  1. The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for the Use of Consultants under projects financed by the Bank Group, available on the Bank Website at http://www.afdb.org. Please, note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the African Development Bank to include him/her in the final shortlist ;
  1. Duration of the Assignment: This is a long-term consultancy with initial contract of five and half months with possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance ;
  2. Desired Qualifications :
  • A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, Public Health or closely related fields; ii. At least 10 years work experience in Nutrition project design and management; iii. Good speaking and writing proficiency in both English and/ or French ;
  • Ability to work and integrate multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional dimensions in his/her inputs ;
  • Experience in international development is an added advantage ;
  • Each applicant will be required to submit, during the application, both technical and financial proposals.
  1. Selection criteria: The consultant will be selected based on i) qualifications, ii) years of experience and iii) experience of working in developing countries.

Expressions of interest must be received no later than 3rd November 2020 at 5pm Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire time and sent to [email protected] with copy to [email protected]