Result of Service

The Consultant will submit a monthly report on the progress and completion of project activities for validation, as follows: Output 1. Substantive technical inputs are provided (in writing and verbally during consultations) to project stakeholders, including government agencies, partner organisations, trade promotion/support institutions, farmer-based organizations etc. Output 2. Written inputs are submitted on the documents, project-related reports, publications, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports, studies etc. Output 3. MOUs and Implementing partner agreements and other relevant contracts are implemented/monitored and corrective actions are taken in timely manner. Output 4. Continuous development/expansion of ITC inclusive partnerships is maintained and technical advice is provided on-timely manner for the above mentioned projects, including the collaboration with relevant stake holders. Output 5. Regular technical meetings/sessions/workshops are conducted and strong communication mechanisms is set up to maintain efficient and effective relations with different stakeholders in project countries. Output 6. Regular communication with ITC-HQ and national/regional team is maintained to ensure timely and efficient project implementation. Output 7. Final report (15 pages) is submitted on detailed activities, outputs and lessons learnt and validated by ITC, 31 December 2025.

Work Location

Home-Based, Accra, Ghana

Expected duration

12 months, starting on 01/01/2025 (with possible extension)

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND: The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. The Green & Inclusive Value Chains section (GIVC) within the Division for Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) is responsible for sector-wide transformation, improving market linkages and private sector competitiveness linked to responsible production and consumption, climate resilience, food security, sustainable standards, and market systems. The section utilizes the Alliances for Action (A4A) methodologies to implement projects in its Inclusive and Sustainable Agribusiness value chains areas of work. The Division of Country Programmes (DCP) is responsible for defining the ITC strategy and coordinating all interventions, either for individual countries or at the sub-regional and regional levels. The Alliances for Action (A4A) service centre intends to support the scaling of the approach by expanding partnerships and networks and by supporting knowledge dissemination and innovation. When implemented in ITC projects or programs, A4A seeks to develop responsible, inclusive and sustainable trade by aligning investment and coordination across the full ecosystem of VC actors and by building competitiveness especially in agribusiness. The establishment of partnerships and networks is an essential underlying element of the A4A approach as it contributes to mobilise collaboration, expertise and investment into the alliances along with sustainability of the approach over time. ACP The project ‘ACP Business-Friendly (BF): Supporting value chains through inclusive policies, investment promotion and alliances’ aims to complement the European Union support for private sector development in ACP countries, under the context of the joint ACP-EU Programme for ACP Private Sector Development Support and is financed from the 11th European Development Fund. ITC is collaborating with UNIDO and the World Bank in the implementation of the program. ITC will lead the implementation of the micro pillar level of the Programme, which will focus on two core themes: 1) Promoting inclusive productive and commercial Alliances and investment to strengthen VC governance and MSME competitiveness; and 2) Increase small farmers and processors value addition, productivity and competitiveness. Piloting Innovative Alliances to address root causes of Child labour in supply chains The “Ending child labour in supply chains: Addressing the root causes of child labour in supply chains through an area-based approach” (CLEAR Supply Chains) project, co-funded by the European Union, brings together the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the leading UN agency, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address jointly the root causes of child labour, with a primarily focus on the coffee supply chain. ITC aims to provide support to farmer organizations and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the implementation of strategy options for increasing commercial value, sustainability, Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) alignment and incomes for smallholder farmers in the coffee supply chain and associated crops. The aim is not only to increase but also to diversify farmers and MSMEs income, through product and market diversification targeting value addition, coffee products and associated crops. This project will promote resilient and sustainable global value chains for all by providing strong accompanying support, especially for supply chain actors in producer countries where the most salient adverse impacts occur. Hence, training and technical guidance will be provided to advance market development aligned with HREDD and to de-risk investment, in the coffee and other supply chain for all relevant actors, including farmers’ organizations and MSMEs. Ghana: Developing cocoa and associated crops through the Sankofa Project empowered by Alliances for Action The Sankofa Project is a multi-stakeholder project that aims to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Through the establishment of alliances between local and international partners, the project is implementing re-afforestation activities with cocoa farmers, belonging to the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union (KKFU), through the development of an agroforestry system referred to as Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF). It is aimed at implementing agroforestry, climate-smart agriculture, and diversification of crops. The project is expected to result in improved cocoa yields, biodiversity, market linkages, better trade, and higher farmer incomes. The Project also sets out to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of stakeholders in the cocoa and associated crop value chains. It is expected to extend to other crops and cropping systems as appropriate to contexts. The Project is currently located in the Ahafo Region with plans to extend into Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Western, Western North and Central Regions. Based on the successes achieved by the project since its inception, Kuapa Kokoo has adopted the DAF approach as the nucleus of its future strategy of transitioning towards organic production. In support of this strategy, and to build local marketing channels and create corporate partnerships for the sales of the associated crops a service of marketing officer is required. NTF V is contributing to the market development activities of the Sankofa project with the objective of strengthening KKFU’s marketing strategy for associated crops leading to increased sales and provide alternative income to the smallholder farmers. NTF V The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) programme’s ambition is to contribute to rebuilding back better in the targeted countries with a focus on MSMEs in the digital technologies and agribusiness sectors, linking up both for synergies and business opportunities. The programme covers both sectors in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal, as well as a multi-country approach aimed at the digital technologies sector in Ivory Coast, Benin, Mali and Uganda. Through the project, ITC aims to promote more efficient and sustainable agribusiness and support services that will lead to increased trade, better incomes and livelihood opportunities, for smallholder farmers. In NTF V Agribusiness, activities will focus on identifying resilient and sustainable business and production models, strengthening public-private alliances and support ecosystems, and building capacity for value chain operations in areas such as market development, climate-smart operations, value addition, quality, access to finance, digitalization and developing investment strategies to ensure leveraging of investment. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The International Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems (DSIT/GIVC), the direct supervision of the Inclusive Agri-Business and Food Expert and in close coordination with the project managers and project local team. The consultant will carry out the following tasks and will submit a monthly report on the progress and completion of project activities for validation, as follows: 1. Project coordination and implementation at national and regional level • Develop/expand the Alliances for Action portfolio in the project countries and monitor the implementation progress according to project log frames for each project; • Provide substantive and strategic backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparing of documents/presentations • Perform advisory assignments, in collaboration with public and private sector representatives to facilitate participatory processes in establishment of public-private alliances from producer to consumer and building of competitive and responsible value chains. • Engage project stakeholders in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies; • Initiate outreach activities: conduct training workshops/seminars, by providing high-level technical inputs on assigned topics/activities • Lead and/or participate in complex field missions to support the strengthening of the productive and commercial alliances, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, including partner organisations, trade promotion/ support institutions, farmer-based organizations part of the value chain support environment and drafting mission summaries, etc. • Review relevant documents, project-related reports and identify problems and issues to be addressed and take corrective actions in coordination with project teams; • Facilitate the preparation of contracts and MOUs for relevant projects including field staff, national/regional consultants (technical and M&E), and implementing partners; • Monitor the implementation of work plans, MOUs and Implementing partner agreements for activities delivered by alliances partners (and in accordance to agreed project logframe); • Coordinate activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepare related documents/reports; • Oversee generation and/or strengthening of market linkages between producer cooperatives and buyers for each project for prioritized products in key target markets, good governance, and support to the delivery of extension and market-based support services to smallholder farmers and cooperatives; • Prepare and pilot methodologies and knowledge products in relations to the above-mentioned projects 2. Communications with Government Agencies, International Organisations and relevant public & private sector stakeholders • Organize frequent meetings with government agencies, international organisations, institutions, farmer cooperatives and private sector alongside the lead consultants on market partner development and to maintain efficient stakeholder relationships and set-up strong communication mechanisms amongst the various agencies and institutions. • Perform consulting assignments according to the Alliances for Action approach, in collaboration with the clients and project partners, by planning and facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plans for clients to use to manage the change. • Consolidate and/or prepare written outputs, e.g. inputs to publications, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies. 3. Strong feedback mechanism between ITC Geneva, national and regional teams • Participate in weekly/monthly coordination calls with ITC Geneva to ensure strong feedback and communication mechanisms and monthly progress reports on activities and alliances formation; • Oversee the budget forecast preparations for upcoming meetings/ workshops and relevant project activities to ensure timely and efficient project implementation process at national and regional level; • Facilitate and manage the successful in-country missions of ITC Geneva teams, by organising meetings with key public and private stakeholders and ensure the organization of logistical support Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that he/she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons – of all genders – equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics, law, trade or a related field. A minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in project or programme management, administration or related area Strong capabilities to synthetize a large amount of complex data and information; Project coordination skills; Knowledge of Alliances for Action approaches for project implementation; Knowledge of value chain and private sector development concepts, as well as development theory; Understanding and direct knowledge of the countries Public Sector functioning and dynamics; Understanding and direct knowledge of the agribusiness sectors in the country; Understanding of international development project functioning and dynamics; Ability to work with minimum supervision, efficiency, competence and integrity and in harmony with people from different backgrounds. Knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.