New Value Chain Analysis in Ecuador on Cacao! Call for Experts ! Apply now!

15th November 2019
by secretary

Agrinatura News

We are glad to share with you a new call for experts for a very interesting value chain analysis in Ecuador on cacao.

The profiles are detailed below. Each expert will have 45 working days (50 for the team leader).The period for the study is January – June 2020.

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-/documents/methodological-brief-v12

Please send the CVs of candidates to sara.baumgart@agrinatura-eu.eu and giorgia.mei@agrinatura-eu.eu , by Monday, 2^nd December, COB.

Context

Ecuador became the cocoa third largest exporter in the world, with a production of around 320,000 tonnes per year, grown on over 500,000 hectares by over 120,000 households (mostly small producers on plots of 4ha on average). In 2018 the cocoa industry generated around 800 million dollars in exports. The country’s market position in cocoa is to build up on the child labour free and zero deforestation aspects. The aromatic profile of its cocoa is interesting for cholate maker and cocoa is beginning to be transformed in country.

The government of Ecuador considers cacao as one of the main drivers for poverty reduction and the realization of the sustainable development goals by 2030. This is reflected in the recently approved ‘Plan to Improve the Competitiveness (PIC) of the Production Chain of Cocoa and its by-products’, whose objective is to produce, by 2030, 40% of sustainable cocoa (regular cocoa that is completely traceable and certified), 40% of premium cocoa (cocoa characterised by superb aromatic profiles) and 20% of cocoa converted into semi-finished products and chocolate.

The EUD and Ecuador asked this study to have a clear evidenced based overview of the sector in support of the effective implementation of the national strategy on cocoa.

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Experts’ profiles

Agricultural economist

S/he is a senior expert with deep knowledge and experience on value chain analysis from an economic point of view. S/he will elaborate financial and economic accounts of the VC actors and the VC (and VC sub-systems) as specified in the toolkit (see https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/value-chain-analysis-for-development-vca4d-/documents/methodological-brief-v12).

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 Ecuador is an asset.

Knowledge of Spanish is required.

A collective training or at least an individual introduction to the software AFA will be made to the Economist 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…).

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 into (gender equality, land and water rights, working conditions, living conditions, social capital, food and nutrition security).

S/he 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 social aspects of the cocoa value chain is an asset.

Professional experience in Ecuador is compulsory.

Knowledge of Spanish is required.

Experience in stakeholder management or policy and practice capacities are a plus.

An introduction to the Social Profile as a guiding tool will be made to the Social Expert 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.

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 Ecuador will be 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 (together with the other environmental expert) that will be included in the final report.

4) Cocoa Value Chain National Expert

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

Relevant knowledge of the national institutions (technical, economic and political ones) and stakeholders involved in the cacao 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.

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

Giorgia MEI, PhD

Project Officer Value Chain Analysis for Development,
Project Management Unit

Avenue des Arts 8, 1210 Brussels

email: Giorgia.mei@agrinatura-eu.eu

Skype: giorgia.mei

The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by Agrinatura

Visit our page on Capacity4Dev

photo credit:

https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2014/09/18/Ecuadorian-arriba-cocoa-could-get-protected-geographical-status?utm_source=copyright&utm_medium=OnSite&utm_campaign=copyright

New Value Chain Analysis in Ecuador on Cacao! Call for Experts ! Apply now!

We are glad to share with you a new call for experts for a very interesting value chain analysis in Ecuador on cacao.

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