Outline of the VCA4D Intervention in Somalia & Call for Somali Expert Profiles

OUTLINE OF THE VCA4D INTERVENTION IN SOMALIA

and requested profiles for the Somali experts

 

Deadline for submitting your candidature: 18/07/2025. Candidatures to be sent to: vca4d@agrinatura-eu.eu and laura.felisatti@agrinatura-eu.eu with the indication of the profile you are applying for.

BACKGROUND

Value Chain Analysis for Development (VCA4D) is an EU-funded project implemented by Agrinatura, the European Alliance of European Universities and Research Centres specialised in agricultural research for development.

The main activity of VCA4D is to perform value chain analyses according to the VCA4D Methodology (whose approach is summarised in this short video: EN). These analyses provide a functional analysis and information on the economic, social, and environmental aspects of a value chain, providing elements of reply to the following framing questions:

• What is the contribution of the value chain (VC) to economic growth?
• Is this economic growth inclusive?
• Is the VC socially sustainable?
• Is the VC environmentally sustainable?

VCA4D has performed more than 50 studies in EU partner countries since 2016. The analyses aim at providing evidence-based information to decision makers, to take informed decisions on their policies and programmes.

VCA4D IN SOMALIA:

The EU Delegation to Somalia, together with the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, is asking for a specific and comprehensive value chain study on the sesame value chain to have an evidence-based reference for promoting targeted initiatives in its support. The findings of the VCA4D study on sesame could be presented at the Second International Conference on Investment in Agri-Value Chains in Somalia, foreseen in October 2026.

In this context, the three parties are also interested in strengthening the capacities of Somali value chain technicians. This initiative aims to equip local stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the VCA4D methodology effectively.

 

SEQUENCING OF THE ACTIVITIES :

 

A multi-disciplinary team composed of 3 international and 3 Somali experts will carry out the study and cover together the functional, economic, social, and environmental analyses.

The work will be organized as follows:

1. Inception phase: preliminary desk analysis of available data and documentation; definition of the work plan and use of budget; briefing with the VCA4D Project Management Unit (PMU) and the EU: first meeting of team members, familiarisation with the methodological framework, overview of the tools, preparation of contacts with national institutions and stakeholders, exchanges with EUD and INTPA.
2. Kick off meeting in Nairobi with the EUD, the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation: the 3 international experts and the 3 Somali experts will participate in the kick-off meeting.
3. Training/twinning phase: the 3 international experts and the 3 Somali experts will spend two weeks in Nairobi. The focus of these 2 weeks will be on structuring the study, including: an introduction to the VCA4D methodology, the functional analysis, review of the literature, structure of the brief note, mission planning, data collection, identification of information gaps, survey preparation, data interpretation, and plan for final reporting. The Somali experts will be trained, as needed, on the VCA4D methodology and its application.
4. Field missions for data collection: the field phase in Somalia will be undertaken by the 3 Somali experts under the guidance of the international team and with the continuous online support of the 3 international experts. The MOAI will facilitate the data collection process. At the end of first mission and based on the field experience, the international team, in collaboration with the Somali team, will submit a brief note to the PMU, national counterparts and the EU, to exchange on the first findings, refine the scope of the study and validate the proposed typology for analysis. If necessary, a second mission will be organised after the data analysis step.
5. Data analysis: one week in Nairobi for the international and Somali team
6. Reporting: the 3 international experts will be in charge of the draft of the final report in collaboration and with active participation of the Somali team.
7. Final phase: submission of the draft final report to the PMU, eventual work on PMU comments after quality check, presentation of the results in an online debriefing with INTPA/EUD/PMU and national counterparts, and integration of comments into the final report.

 

The findings of the VCA4D study on sesame could be presented at the Second International Conference on Investment in Agri-Value Chains in Somalia, foreseen in October 2026, and the Second Somalia International Investment Conference due to take place in November 2026 (these presentations are out of the scope of the present ToR).

 

TIME, LOCATION, AND INPUT REQUIRED

Location: Nairobi, Somalia, and home-based

Duration: The period for the study is September 2025- February 2026

Number of working days per Somali expert: 50 days

ToR: HERE

 

Profiles of the experts:

 

• Somali Agricultural Value Chain Economic Expert  

S/he is a specialist in sesame and its oilseed crops, in particular the sesame value chain in Somalia.

S/he will be the national expert team leader and will be coordinating all matters relating to this study with the international economic expert, who is also the team leader for the international expert team.

S/he is an expert with knowledge and experience on value chain analysis from an economic point of view. S/he will support the elaboration of 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, 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 support the undertaking of the functional analysis.

Experience in economic analysis in the value chain is required.

S/he will facilitate and complete the data collection, in agreement with the guidelines of the Team Leader. S/he will facilitate the contact between the whole team and the local stakeholders.

S/he will support 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 (reading, formatting of the report…).

Qualifications and skills

• The expert should hold a degree and/or an advanced degree (certified Master’s or equivalent) in Economics or Agricultural Economics. In the absence of requested degrees, the expert must have at least 15 years of professional experience in the field of agricultural economics.
• Excellent communication skills, both in written and spoken English. (Written and spoken Somali language will be an added advantage)
• Fully computer literate.

General professional experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the development field and/or in agricultural economics.
• At least 10 years’ experience in value chain analysis or value chain development

Specific professional experience

• At least 10 years of previous experience in carrying out assignments in the field of Policy and Strategic Technical Assistance on Agriculture Development.
• At least one long-term assignment (more than 6 months), preferably performed as an expert to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation or equivalent in a developing country.
• Work experience in Somalia is compulsory
•  Relevant knowledge of the national institutions (technical, economic, and political ones) and stakeholders (public and private) involved in the oilseed crops, in particular the sesame value chain, is required.

At the beginning of the study, s/he will provide general information on the value chain, identifying key players and existing relevant information and data for the analyses. The national agricultural value chain economic expert will help to select the most relevant data from available sources, to clarify inconsistencies, and to improve coherence between analyses

 

• Somali Social Expert  

S/he is a specialist in the oilseed crops, in particular the sesame value chain in Somalia.

S/he will work in twinning with the international social expert.

S/he is an expert with knowledge of and experience in social issues related to agricultural value chains in developing countries, particularly on the inclusiveness of the most vulnerable groups.

The expert has experience in at least 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 is able to handle and inform on the other ones.

 

Qualifications and skills

• The expert should hold a degree and/or an advanced degree (certified Master’s or equivalent) in sociology, anthropology, or any equivalent degree. In the absence of requested degrees, the expert must have at least 15 years of professional experience in the field of agricultural economics.
• Excellent communication skills, both in written and spoken English. (Written and spoken Somali language will be an added advantage)
• Fully computer literate.

General professional experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the development field and/or in social analysis

Specific professional experience

• At least 10 years of previous experience in carrying out assignments in the field of Policy and Strategic Technical Assistance on agriculture development.
• At least one long-term assignment (more than 6 months) performed as an international expert to the Ministry of Agriculture or equivalent in a developing country.
• Work experience in Somalia is compulsory
•  Relevant knowledge of the national institutions (technical, economic, and political ones) and stakeholders (public and private) involved in the oilseed crops, in particular the sesame value chain, is required.
• Experience in social analysis of the agricultural sector is required.
• Experience in stakeholders’ management (including relations with high-level officials and the private sector) and analysis of public policies is a plus.

 

The social expert will support the team in providing a social analysis to be included in the report, on the basis of the VCA4D Social Profile. An introduction on how to complete the Social Profile will be made prior to the first field mission.

The Social Expert will also support the economists for the analysis on inclusiveness, and the environmental 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 in order to answer the framing questions and to finalise the report (reading, formatting of the report…).

 

• Somali environmental expert

S/he is an expert with knowledge of and experience in environmental aspects linked to value chains. S/he will work in twinning with the international environmental expert.

 

Qualifications and skills

• The expert should hold a degree and/or an advanced degree (certified Master’s or equivalent) in environmental studies. In the absence of requested degrees, the expert must have at least 15 years of professional experience in the field of the environment.
• Excellent communication skills, both in written and spoken English. (Written and spoken Somali language will be an added advantage)
• Fully computer literate.

General professional experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the development field and/or in environmental analysis

Specific professional experience

• At least 10 years of previous experience in carrying out environmental analysis in the Somalian context
• Work experience in Somalia is compulsory
•  Relevant knowledge of the national institutions (technical, economic, and political ones) and stakeholders (public and private) involved in the oilseed crops, in particular the sesame value chain, is an asset.
• Experience in environmental analysis of the agricultural sector is required.
• Experience in stakeholders’ management (including relations with high-level officials and the private sector) and analysis of public policies is a plus.
• Experience in oilseed crops, in particular sesame VC, is an asset.

 

S/he will support the international environmental expert in providing their 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 on resources, ecosystems, and human health, as well as on the impacts on climate change. The expert will also integrate and complement an analysis of biodiversity.

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 (reading, formatting of the report…).

 

All experts must be independent and free from conflicts of interest in the responsibilities they take on. The National team is expected to be available to undertake field missions in Somalia in his/her respective region.