AGRI-CONNECT - Supporting value chains for shared prosperity

The project "Agri-connect: Supporting value chains for shared prosperity" will contribute to inclusive economic growth, promote private sector development and job creation in the agricultural sector and to increase food and nutrition security in Tanzania. This will be achieved in four areas:

i) improvement of sector enablers and business environment,

ii) support to the tea, coffee and horticulture value chains,

iii) improvement of selected rural roads;

iv) raising awareness of good nutrition practices.

The technical assistance services herewith requested will support the implementation of the first componentand coordinate the overall programme. Specifically, the contractor is expected to provide services to institutionalpartners and value chain actors contributing towards:

i) improved policy, legislative and regulatory framework;

ii) increased trade promotion services;

iii) improved sector governance, coordination and dialogue mechanisms across institutions and other actors;and

iv) increased capacity of District Authorities.

Furthermore, the contractor will support existing ministerial sectoral coordination units to

i) ensure coordination and coherence of the different components under Agri-connect;

ii) act as a secretariat of the steering committee;

iii) establish an action level M&E system and draft reporting.

Under the supervision of the Directors for Policy and Planning within MoA and MANRLF, and in coordination with the AGRI-CONNECT focal points, the NAO and EU Delegation,  the Team Leader is expected to:

• Provide leadership in the coordination and management of the TAT (both Long Term and Short Term Experts);
• Guide the team so as bring benefits to MoA and MANRLF capacity in agricultural policy analysis and planning, incorporating a private sector/business development approach;
• Provide collaborative policy research and outreach to MoA and MANRLF, combined with policy advisory and coordination activities;
• Liaise with other decision-making institutions (including MIT, Registrar of Treasury of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the institution responsible for parastatals and boards, etc.) when reviewing and assessing laws, policies and regulations affecting the selected  commodities;
• Ensure coordination with ongoing projects stemming from the other components of Agriconnect. For the purpose, liaise regularly with the project managers of grants selected under the call for proposal, the fund manager in charge of the blending component, the infrastructure project officer in charge of the rural road component within TARURA, the TA working on the nutrition awareness raising campaign, the Communication and Visibility event coordinator, etc. to ensure smooth flow of information on programme implementation and progress;
• Assist the contracting authority to monitor the implementation of Agri-Connect as a whole;
• Ensure technical management of this contract in conformity with 11th EDF rules and procedures;
• Draft a work plan for the full duration of the assignment, and annual work plans disaggregated according to the key-experts responsibilities; these shall be agreed upon and approved by the Contracting Authority after consultation with the EU Delegation. Such  Work Plans will be revised every 6 months so to coincide with the Steering Committee meetings;
• Prepare projects report every 6 months, in coordination with the other key-experts and the M&E expert;
• Facilitate regular monthly meeting with the contracting authority and the EU Delegation;
• Coordinate the preparation of documentation and logistical arrangement for the Programme Steering Committee meetings and act as a Secretary to it;
• Prepare technical specifications, terms of reference and tender dossiers for the mobilisation of short term expertise (STE);
• Liaise with the Communication and Visibility contractor in order to implement the suitable communication strategy, observing the latest EU Communication and visibility Manual;