UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
South Sudan has an estimated population of 13.3 million (2020. Est) in an area of 644,000 square kilometres. 75 percent of the country's land area is suitable for agriculture and about half of the total land space, is estimated to be suitable for cultivation. Population growth rate is exceedingly high at 3.1 percent (2010-2019), with 40 percent of the population younger than 15 Years. 80% of the population lives in rural areas (as compared to 60% in overall sub-Saharan African in 2018) with limited access to services, support, and markets.
South Sudan remains highly dependent on oil, which accounts for about 90 percent of government revenue, 95 percent of total exports and more than half of the country’s GDP. Outside the oil sector, livelihoods are concentrated in low productivity, unpaid agriculture, and pastoralist work. Agriculture sector, accounts for 15 percent of GDP and employs 80 percent of the population. Low agricultural production, however, has led to the country to be heavily dependent on food imports, despite the abundance of arable land. Food imports as a percent of merchandise imports have consistently increased throughout the last decade.
South Sudan has opportunity in key agricultures Value Chains, with high export potential in Fisheries, gum Arabic, Timber, Sesame, Honey, and others. The challenge remains in investment to scale up production, value addition and take advantage of emerging regional Markets like the African Continental Free Trade area (AfCFTA) to support the national Economic Diversification agenda as envisaged in the Revised National Development Strategy (R-NDS) 2021-2024.
The AfCFTA aims to connect 1.3 billion people across 55 countries thus providing market access opportunities for South Sudan made products and inputs to support structural transformation through value addition. The AfCFTA signals a paradigm shift and a commitment to deeper integration. The agreement is hailed as a potential economic game-changer for South Sudan’s development, owing to its potential to provide an opportunity for South Sudan to competitively integrate into regional and global value chains through increased market access.
AfCFTA is expected to provide the impetus for reforms that boost productivity and job creation, further reducing poverty. By providing a large and attractive market, the AfCFTA offers “an apt response to the reluctance of companies to invest in small, fragmented and uncompetitive national markets like South Sudan. The immediate benefits of the AfCFTA are expected to emerge from the reduction in tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and the establishment of a continental framework for trade in goods and services. By boosting intra-African trade and fostering regional value chains and production networks, the AfCFTA is expected to drive South Sudan structural transformation through increased investment in key Agricultural Value Chains where the country has comparative advantage. Developing national value chains to leverage on improved market access, requires an evidenced based approach, to identify opportunities in Key agricultural value chains in relation to AfCFTA.
An assessment of potential opportunities and challenges of AfCFTA, with reference to key domestic Agricultural value chains and SMEs, assessment of potential sectors of impact for SMEs and youth contribution and benefit to/from the AfCFTA is important in understanding the potential contribution of AfCFTA in spreading the benefits of trade to all actors in the economy. Developing viable value chains and building the capacity of MSEs and vulnerable youth and women on agricultural value chains and AfCFTA linkages, has the potential to increase private sector participation in AfCFTA, productivity, economic growth, create jobs and contribute to poverty reduction.
a) Examine macroeconomic environment in which Agriculture and trade policy is being formulated in South Sudan including the following:
b) Review key relevant provisions of AfCFTA, existing reports and policies in relation to AVCs and trade.
c) Identify viable AVCs with potential to increase productivity, economic growth, create jobs and contribute to poverty reduction in the Context of AfCFTA based on the following criteria:
d) Review scope for export expansion of the selected AVCs, analyse potential challenges and recommend measures needed to fully realize selected AVC’s Potential in the context of AfCFTA.
e) Assess potential opportunities of AfCFTA to SMEs, youth, Women in relation to the selected AVCs, identify possible gaps and provide policy recommendations
f) Develop a draft Agricultural Value Chain and AfCFTA Report, highlighting potential opportunities, challenges, and recommendations in relation to the scope of the assignment (a)-(e).;
g) Undertake consultations with key stakeholders in Juba to gather information in line with the scope of the assignment. The consultation must include government officials; private sector; SMEs, women and youth engaged in Agricultural value chain and trade.
h) Present the draft Report to Key stakeholders in Juba and finalise the report considering the comments from all stakeholders.
i) Prepare 5 Pager policy brief on Agricultural Value Chain and AfCFTA linkages with key findings and policy recommendations.
j) Develop separate training Manuals on Agricultural value chain and AfCFTA Linkages for (1) Trainer of Trainers and (2) Private Sector.
k) Undertake 2-day Trainer of Trainer (TOT) based on the Training Manual. The training should target government policy makers.
l) Undertake 2-day training targeting Private Sector based, SMEs, Youth and Women in Business on the training Manual
m) The consultant is expected to undertake 4 missions to South Sudan (3 Missions to inform the development and validation of the report and 1 Mission (10 days) to implement Capacity building activities)
Deliverables.
The consultant is required to produce the following outputs:
Corporate Competencies:
Demonstrates professional competence and expertise on the subject matterDisplays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptabilityAble to work in team environmentTreats all people fairly without favouritismFunctional Competencies:
Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to Trade and Agricultural Value Chain.Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet, and other databases.Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
Academic Qualifications
At least a master’s degree in economics; Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, International Trade, or related qualification.Specific professional experience
Have at least 10 years’ experience in Trade and Agricultural analysis.Demonstrated experience and understanding of agricultural value chain analysis, Trade policy and Export development, agribusiness, Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).Demonstrated record of publications, reports, and policy documents in Agricultural value chain, Agro-processing; Trade; and regional trade agreements.Experience in developing training manuals and implementing capacity building programmes in Trade policy and agricultural value chains.Demonstrated familiarity with the social and economic conditions of post conflict environment.Language requirements
Fluency in written and spoken English language is required.Institutional arrangements
The Consultant will work with Ministry of Trade and Industry and UNDP’s STARR Unit. He/she should visit various stakeholders while undertaking the assignment.Ministry of trade and Industry will provide access to office space, organise meetings and provide administrative support where needed.The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.The consultant will report to the Senior Program Advisor in UNDP and, who will review and approve delivery of outputs.Consultancy Evaluation Criteria.
Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.
International Consultant technical evaluation criteria
Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience is outlined below:
At least a master’s degree in economics; Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, International Trade, or related qualification (10 Marks)Have at least 10 years’ experience in Trade and Agricultural analysis (10 Marks)Demonstrated experience and understanding of agricultural value chain analysis, Trade policy and Export development, agribusiness, Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) 20 Marks Demonstrated record of publications, reports, and policy documents in Agricultural value chain, Agro-processing; Trade; and regional trade agreements (20 Marks)Experience in developing training manuals and implementing capacity building programmes in Trade policy and agricultural value chains (10 Mark)NOTE: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Financial evaluation (total 30 points)
All technically qualified proposals will be scored up to 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p y (/z)
Where:
p = points for the financial proposal being evaluatedy = maximum number of points for the financial proposal price of the lowest priced proposalz = price of the proposal being evaluated.UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Payment Schedule
Sn.
Deliverable
Payment
1
Approved Inception Report
10%
2
Approved 1st Draft Agricultural Value Chain and AfCFTA Linkages Study report with list of stakeholders consulted
10%
3
Approved 2nd Draft Agricultural Value Chain and AfCFTA Linkages Study report with list of stakeholders consulted;
20%
4
Approved Final Agricultural Value Chain and AfCFTA Linkages Study report with list of stakeholders consulted;
30
5
Submission of 5 Pager Policy brief with key Findings and policy recommendations.
10%
6
Submission of 2 Training Manuals on Agricultural Value Chain and AfCFTA for TOT and Private Sector; 2 Training Outcome reports for (1) TOT and (2) Private Sector, SMEs, and Women Organisations
20%
Total
100%
This vacancy is archived.