VCA4D launches a call for experts for a value chain analysis on wheat in Moldova

VCA4D launches a new call for experts to conduct a value chain analysis on wheat in Moldova.

The profiles are detailed below. Each expert will have 45 working days (50 for the team leader). The
period for the study is September/October 2024 – March 2025.
The ToR will be circulated as soon as approved – but this is expected to be a standard study,
undertaken by using the VCA4D methodology, as described in the ‘Methodological Brief. Tools and
Methods’. https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/value-chain-analysis-for-development-vca4d-/wiki/1-
vca4d-methodology
Please send the CVs of candidates to vca4d@agrinatura-eu.eu , by 23 th August 2024, CoB, at the
latest.

Context
The EU Delegation to Moldova requested the VCA4D programme to perform a VCA4D analysis on
the wheat value chain.
This study will be followed by the VCA4D analysis of the maize and sunflower value chains that will
be realized by national experts trained on the methodology in the framework of the capacity
strengthening activities of the VCA4D programme.
The VCA4D analyses will be a guiding document to contribute to the policy dialogue undertaken by the EU Delegation in support of the strategy promoting the expected integration of Moldova into the EU.
Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe and the country faces political instability in a very uncertain regional geopolitical context, the Russian invasion of Ukraine being the latest. Agriculture is still of strategic importance to achieve the expected economic transition and it is a major factor for the economic integration into the European economies.
The Moldovan agricultural structure is still marked by the coexistence of different types of
production systems. On the one hand, there are “industrial farms” inherited from the large collective farms during the Soviet Union. In 2023 these farms managed about 42 % of the land used and produced 70% of the cereals. On the other, a “farm” sector has emerged with the agrarian reforms.
It represents about 25% of the total land managed but with a high diversity of land holding; 60% of these farmers have less than 10 ha while 28% own more than 50ha.
The EUD is looking for an overview of the status of the wheat value chain as there is a need forevidence-based information to reflect on its future, either from a perspective of diversification or for the strengthening of the wheat value chain itself. National experts will accompany the team of three international experts. They will both serve as national experts for the wheat VC as well as local experts to perform the VCA on sunflowers and maize that will follow the wheat study.
This call for experts refers to the expertise requested for the wheat value chain. The other call for
experts will be published soon.

EXPERTISE REQUIRED

1) Agro-Economist

• S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge and experience in value
  chain analysis from an economic point of view, possibly with knowledge of cereal value
  chains.
• S/he will elaborate financial and economic accounts of the VC (and its sub-systems) as a
  whole and of its actors.
• He/she will analyse the VC from the different actors’ perspectives,
  as well as its contribution to the main economic indicators (GDP, the balance of trade, public
  finance, etc.).
• He/she will be at ease with the concepts of income distribution, job creation,
  growth and distributive effects, viability of the VC in the international economy, etc.
• S/he will undertake a full functional analysis with the support of his/her colleagues.
  Experience in economic analysis in the value chain is required, and experience in the cereal value
  chain is an asset.
• Professional experience in Moldova and/or in the region is an asset.
• Knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Rumanian is an asset.
• Experience in teaching the methodology will be an asset, as a capacity-strengthening
  component will be running in parallel to the study.
• Experience in stakeholders’ management (including relations with high-level officials and
  private sector) and analysis of public policies are a plus.

The economist will coordinate and consolidate the functional analysis, compiling the
contributions from all experts. S/he will provide a Functional and Economic Analysis that will
be included in the final report.
A collective training or at least an individual introduction to the AFA software will be made
before the first mission. In the case the training cannot be done before the first mission, it
will be done before the second mission.

S/he will help the team leader (if another member of the team) to (i) define the typology of
actors that will be adopted throughout the study; (ii) formulate an executive summary and
conclusions that combine the results of the different analyses to answer the
framing questions and finalise the report (reading, formatting of the report…). The expert
will collaborate and integrate the analysis of market trends provided by COLEAD, if
applicable.

2) Social expert

• S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge of and experience on social issues related to
  agriculture in transition countries, particularly on inclusiveness of the most vulnerable
  groups.
• The expert has experience at least in two of the social domains covered by VCA4D (working
  conditions, land and water rights, gender equality, food and nutrition security, social capital,
  living conditions) and can handle and inform the other ones.
• Experience in social analysis of the agricultural sector is required, and specific experience on
  social issues in developing and transition countries are strongly appreciated.
• Experience in social aspects of the wheat/cereal VCs is highly appreciated.
• Professional experience in Moldova is compulsory.
• Knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Rumanian is an asset.
• Experience in teaching the methodology will be an asset, as a capacity-strengthening
  component will be running in parallel to the study.
• Experience in stakeholders’ management (including relations with high-level officials and
  private sector) and analysis of public policies are a plus.

The social expert will provide a social analysis to be included in the report, based on
the VCA4D Social Profile. An introduction on how to complete the Social Profile will be made
before the first mission.
The Social Expert will also support the economist in the analysis of inclusiveness and the
LCA expert to deal with the Biodiversity Analysis.
S/he will help the team leader to (i) define the typology of actors that will be adopted
throughout the study; (ii) formulate an executive summary and conclusions that combine
the results of the different analyses to answer the framing questions and to finalise
the report (reading, and formatting of the report…).

3) Environmental/LCA expert,

• S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge of and experience on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).
• Experience in wheat/cereal VCs is an asset.
• Professional experience in Moldova and/or in the region will be appreciated.
• The LCA Scientist must be able to investigate also local health risks and biodiversity issues in
  the environmental analysis.
• Knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Rumanian is an asset.
• Experience in teaching the methodology will be an asset, as a capacity-strengthening
  component will be running in parallel to the study.
• S/he will preferably use the SimaPro software for LCA.

S/he will provide the part of the report on the Environmental Analysis that will be included
in the final report. His/her analysis will focus on the analysis of damages to resources,
ecosystems, and human health, as well as on the impacts of climate change.
S/he will help the team leader to (i) define the typology of actors that will be adopted
throughout the study, (ii) formulate an executive summary and conclusions that combine
the results of the different analyses to answer the framing questions and to finalise
the report (reading, and formatting of the report…).