Result of Service

Output 1 by end of July 2024: • Coaching schedule per company finalized, first round of coaching sessions for 5 MSMEs finalized and documented in the first sections of the company strategy document. Output 2 by mid-September 2024: • Second round of coaching sessions for 5 MSMEs finalized and documented in the next sections of the company strategy document; • Third round of coaching sessions for 5 MSMEs finalized and documented in the next sections of the company strategy document. Output 3 by end of October 2024: • RECP company strategy documents for 5 MSMEs finalized; • Preparation and presentation of 5-10 summary slides of strategies for each MSME. Submission of completed ITC’s monitoring table.

Work Location

Home-Based, with possibility of travel in Rwanda

Expected duration

01.07.2024 – 31.10.2024 (40 workdays)

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND: The Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) is funded by the European Union (EU) and runs from 2023-2027. With a view to contribute to economic development in the East African Community (EAC) through increased sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade, MARKUP II has been designed to improve livelihoods, employment, export competitiveness for MSMEs and economic growth in Africa through supporting the development and strengthening of key export-oriented priority value chains with high potential. MARKUP II aims at strengthening MSMEs’ market access and export competitiveness by enhancing value addition and diversification and by promoting business to the regional and international markets. The programme will cover activities in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda through the provisions of partnerships with national, regional, and international institutions. MARKUP II will address trade barriers, value addition, compliance, trade facilitation, investment, technology transfer, and institutional support. MARKUP II builds on the achievements of its predecessor, MARKUP I, streamlining procedures, supporting enterprises, and facilitating international trade. The focus sectors of the programme are avocado, cocoa, coffee, essential oils, French beans, gum Arabic, horticulture, leather, packaging, spices, and tea. The following sectors, have been selected, prioritizing the regional dimension and allowing for some countries specificities if a sector is a priority focus in one country or to build on the achievements of MARKUP I: • Uganda: coffee, cocoa, avocado, packaging • Burundi: coffee, tea, essential oils, avocado, packaging • Kenya: coffee, packaging, leather • Tanzania: coffee, avocado, spices, packaging, leather • South Sudan: coffee, gum Arabic, packaging, leather • Rwanda: coffee, avocado, French beans, packaging, leather MARKUP II will deliver a coaching component on Resource Efficiency and Circular Production (RECP) targeting MSMEs in selected countries and value chains to support them strengthen their competitiveness through the adoption of resource efficient and circular practices. This approach aims at improving the productivity and environmental performance of beneficiary MSMEs, while supporting them to lower their environmental footprint and realize cost savings. In 2024, the RECP component will focus on the coffee value chain in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. The project is looking for a National Consultant to support its activities in Rwanda (coffee value chain). The consultant will coach 5 Rwandan MSMEs to develop a Resource Efficient and Circular Production (RECP) strategy. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Senior MARKUP II Programme Manager (DCP/OA), and under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Officers of the Trade and Environment team within the Green and Inclusive Value Chains section (GIVC). The Consultant will have the following duties and responsibilities: • Coaching 5 Rwandan MSMEs to develop a Resource Efficient and Circular Production (RECP) strategy, including various measures and related business cases. • Utilize the ITC Resource Efficiency and Circular Production (RECP) Approach to assist MSMEs in defining measures to enhance resource efficiency and circularity in their existing production practices and develop a strategy for implementing these measures. Conducting a cost-benefit analysis for each high-cost recommended measure is essential. • Conduct approximately 3 face-to-face meetings (additional telephone/email engagements as necessary) with each company to guide them through the different steps of the ITC RECP Approach. • Ensure thorough documentation of the content discussed in each meeting in a mission report (using a template provided by ITC), along with images of current practices, machinery, improvements, etc. • Prepare a strategy document, aligned with MSME management (referred to as the “company RECP strategy”), which should include: a) Description of the company’s environmental performance (e.g., water and energy usage, waste disposal, pollution, etc.). b) Identification of resulting environmental impacts and cost inefficiencies. c) Description of measures to address resource efficiency gaps and promote circular production processes. High-cost prioritized measures should include a cost-benefit analysis to confirm their viability. d) Recommendations for implementation, assigning responsibilities and identifying potential external financing needs for measures and next steps. • Engage with other consultants working on similar assignments with other MSMEs as part of the RECP component in Rwanda to exchange best practices. • Present the content of each strategy document to the MSME management and facilitate discussions on the implementation of the recommendations. Note: ITC’s project team will provide feedback on the strategies developed by the consultant as feedback in the development of the final draft. Copyright Clause: The Consultant has to ensure that s/he 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 prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. 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

Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other). Engineering (environmental, agronomy, production, electrical etc), sustainability, or related field. Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. At least 5 years of experience working with the coffee sector in Rwanda. Experience in undertaking environmental assessments of MSMEs, preferably resource efficiency and circular production assessments (water, waste, chemicals and/or energy-related). Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint). Data analysis and ability to interpret financial feasibility. Attention to detail. Ability to work independently and to solve problems. Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, both oral and written.

Languages

Advanced English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.