New call for experts for a value chain analysis on cocoa in Nicaragua – apply now!!!

04th August 2020
by secretary

Agrinatura News

We are glad to share with you a new call for experts for a value chain analysis on cocoa in Nicaragua.

The profiles are detailed below. Each expert will have 45 working days (50 for the team leader).The period for the study is August/September 2020– February 2021.

NB: the period of implementation might vary depending on the COVID-19 restrictions. Missions to Nicaragua shall soon be possible. Shall that not be the case, the selected team and the PMU will see options for undertaking the assignment.

The ToR will be circulated as soon as approved – but this is expected to be a standard study, undertaken by using the VCA4D methodology toolkit, as described in the ‘Methodological Brief. Tools and Methods’. https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/value-chain-analysis-for-development-vca4d-/documents/methodological-brief-v12 . A new version of this brief will be available and shared at the moment of the briefing.

Please send the CVs of candidates to sara.baumgart@agrinatura-eu.eu and giorgia.mei@agrinatura-eu.eu , by Thursday, 13^th August, COB.

Context

Nicaragua is the main cocoa producer in Central America, with around 7.000 t produced yearly. Production is often of Quality A (the highest) and certified organic. Most of the cocoa is exported, both to regional (Guatemala and El Salvador) and to international markets, mainly to Europe and at higher prices. The overall balance of trade for the sector is traditionally negative as the country is a net importer of transformed chocolate products.

It is estimated that 95% of Nicaragua’s cocoa producers are small-scale farmers who are among vulnerable population in indigenous zones, often organised in cooperatives and associations. Cocoa is typically produced in agroforestry systems and only in recent years it turned into a cash crop. The demand for high quality and ethic production is pushing value chain actors towards traceability and certification processes. This trend opens interesting market potentials, as well as opportunities from the social point of view to engage with the indigenous producing communities.

Despite the political instability in the country, investments have recently been revamped, mostly driven by chocolate enterprises for the EU market. The next challenges of the sector are to increase production (improving crop management and focusing on high quality), to attract and diversify investors and to increase exports, with a specific attention to the integration of small producers to contribute to poverty reduction and to adapt to the threats of climate change and lack of water. The EUD is asking a value chain analysis of cocoa in order to have an evidence-based reference document to serve as a basis for the possible formulation of new actions in the framework 2021/2027 EU/Nicaragua cooperation programme.

Experts’ profiles

Agricultural economist

S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge and experience on agricultural value chain analysis from an economic point of view. S/he will elaborate financial and economic accounts of the VC actors (and VC sub-systems) and calculate standard indicators of economic analysis as specified in the toolkit.

S/he is able to undertake a full functional analysis with the support of his/her colleagues.

Experience on economic analysis in value chain, and in particular in developing countries, is required.

Experience in the cocoa value chain is highly appreciated.

Professional experience in Nicaragua/Central America is an asset.

Experience in project management, policy analysis and capacity building are a plus.

Knowledge of Spanish is required.

The economist will use the software AFA. A collective training or at least an individual introduction to the tool will be made to him/her prior to 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 provide a report on Functional Analysis and Economic Analysis that will be included in the final report.

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 in order to answer the framing questions and to finalise the report (rereading, formatting the report…).

The expert will assure also that the market analysis provided by the COLEACP is well integrated in the VCA4D study.

Social expert

S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge of and experience on social issues related to agricultural value chains in developing countries the project wants to delve (working conditions, land and water rights, gender equality, food and nutrition security, social capital and living conditions).

The expert has experience at least in one (but preferably 2 of 3) of these domains and is able to handle and inform on the other ones.

Specific experience in social analysis of the agricultural sector in developing countries is required.

Experience in the analysis of social aspects of cocoa value chains is an asset.

Professional experience in Nicaragua is compulsory.

Knowledge of Spanish is required.

Experience in project management, policy analysis and capacity building are a plus.

The Social Expert will use the Sociale Profile. An introduction to this guiding tool will be made to him/her prior to the first mission.

S/he will provide a report on Social Analysis that will be included in the final report, based on a completed Social Profile.

The Social Expert will support the LCA expert to deal with the Biodiversity Analysis.

3) Environmental/LCA expert

S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge of and experience on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

Experience on LCA value chain analysis in developing countries is required.

Experience in the cocoa VC is appreciated.

Professional experience in Nicaragua/Central America is appreciated.

Knowledge of Spanish is required.

S/he will preferably use the SimaPro software for LCA.

S/he will provide a report on Environmental Analysis that will be included in the final report.

His/her analysis will have to focus on resource depletion, damages to the ecosystem and to the human health, as well as on the analysis of the value chain impact on climate change. The expert will also perform a Biodiversity Analysis, with additional information provided by the JRC and with the support of the Social Expert.

4) Cocoa Value Chain National Expert

S/he is a specialist of the cocoa value chain in Nicaragua.

Relevant knowledge of the national institutions (technical, economic and political ones) and stakeholders involved in the cocoa value chain is required.

At the beginning of the study, s/he will provide overall information on the value chain, identifying key players and existing and relevant information and data for the analyses. The national expert will help to select the most relevant data from available sources, to clarify inconsistencies and to improve coherence between analyses. S/he will facilitate and complete the data collection, in agreement to guidelines of the Team Leader. S/he will facilitate the contact between the whole team and the local stakeholders.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in contact!

Tel: +32 (0) 2 545 11 40

email: Giorgia.mei@agrinatura-eu.eu

Skype: giorgia.mei

Photo credit: Photo by Ly Le Minh on Unsplash

New call for experts for a value chain analysis on cocoa in Nicaragua – apply now!!!

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