Institutional Partner to Undertake Capacity Building on National Feed Inventory with Focus on Spatial Analysis

Introduction and Context

The African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical Office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR’s mandate is to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries and wildlife as a resource for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

AU-IBAR and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) are collaborating in the implementation of an action: “Evidence Driven Short Term Solutions to Build Resilience and Address the Adverse Effects of Crises on African Feed and Fodder Systems” commonly referred to as the ‘Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems Project’ (RAFFS Project). This emergency and short-term action will contribute to understanding the effect of recent and on-going global crises (3Cs: COVID-19, Climate Change shocks and the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine) on the African feed and fodder supply chain and subsequently their effects on the Livestock Sourced Foods (LSFs). This will generate evidence base critical to shaping coordinated action to respond to the feed and fodder shortages that have led to huge losses of livestock (e.g., over 9.5 million livestock in the Greater Horn of Africa region alone), eroded livelihoods, loss of incomes, and driven up prices of highly nutritive livestock sourced foods making them inaccessible to sections of the population that need them most.

Feed constitutes 60 – 70% of the total cost of animal production: the crises have exposed the significant weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the African feed and fodder input and supply chains. Addressing feed and fodder shortages in the short-term ensures business continuity and sustainable livelihoods. The multiplicity and increasing frequency and severity of shocks and their complex and interlocking effects demands an approach that will also strengthen resilience in feed and fodder systems.

The action proposes strengthening analytical capacity for evidence-based decision making and attracting investment, identifying and upscaling viable existing approaches and innovative models, and harnessing partnerships for coordinated action to galvanize impactful immediate and short-term investments. Women, who are largely rural-based or in the informal sector, are disproportionately poor and vulnerable to the increased prices and unavailability of livestock-sourced foods. Working through the African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network, established under the ambit of AU-IBAR, the action proposes interventions to ensure women’s meaningful involvement in gainful activities in the feed and fodder and the livestock sourced foods supply chains.

The Project Goal is to respond to the worsened food and nutrition security occasioned by recent crises that have negatively affected African feed and fodder systems and production of animal sourced foods.

The Purpose is to harness evidence driven solutions for short term interventions to enhance access to affordable and quality feed and fodder critical to ensure sustainable production of animal sourced foods.

The RAFFS Project has four Results:

• Result 1: A Knowledge and Analytical Ecosystem for Informing Evidence Based Solutions Established
• Result 2: Viable business models, Strategic Partnerships, Catalytic Interventions for Coordinated Action Supported to Attract Enhanced Investment for Short Term Solutions to Feed and Fodder Shortages
• Result 3: Women Empowered to Participate and Benefit from Feed and Fodder and Animal Sourced Food Supply Chains to Enhance their Food and Nutrition Security
• Result 4: Policies, Regulations, and Institutions Reformed for the development of a more sustainable and resilient feed and fodder industry.

National Feed Inventory Capacity Building Focusing on Spatial Analysis

The Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project aims to address a critical gap in livestock feed management across African nations. Recognizing that effective livestock management and policy-making require accurate, up-to-date information on feed resources, the project seeks to tackle the lack of comprehensive, national-scale data regarding feed availability in relation to demand, as well as the need for a deeper understanding of livestock feeding practices.

To achieve these objectives, the RAFFS Project will employ cutting-edge technology, including sophisticated satellite imagery and advanced spatial data sets. This approach allows for a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of feed resources across large geographic areas, surpassing the capabilities of traditional ground-based surveys alone.

Crucially, the project focuses on building the skills and knowledge necessary for African Union Member States to routinely undertake feed inventories. AU-IBAR has committed to enhancing the capacities of these nations, ensuring the long-term sustainability and widespread adoption of these advanced methods.

This comprehensive approach is designed to provide the information crucial for ensuring food security, improving livestock productivity, and enhancing the resilience of African livestock systems in the face of climate change and other challenges. By bridging the data gap and building local capacity, the RAFFS Project aims to significantly improve livestock feed management across the continent.

This capacity-building initiative will target six countries: Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Somalia. These countries represent a diverse range of agro-ecological zones and livestock production systems, allowing for a comprehensive approach to capacity development.

The capacity-building process will be multifaceted and hands-on. It will involve the development of a core group of experts from each target country, equipping them with the skills to:

1. Conduct comprehensive feed inventories using both traditional methods and advanced geospatial techniques.
2. Develop accurate feed balance estimates that account for seasonal variations and different production systems.
3. Establish and maintain early warning systems to predict and mitigate potential feed shortages.
4. Interpret and apply the gathered data to inform policy decisions and investment strategies in the livestock sector.

This process will be collaborative and participatory: experts from the six target countries will not only receive training but will also actively contribute their local knowledge and expertise. This collaborative approach will ensure that the resulting guidelines and manual are contextually appropriate and applicable across diverse African settings.

A key outcome of this capacity-building initiative will be the development of contextualized feed inventory and feed balance guidelines. These guidelines will be comprehensive, incorporating best practices from each country and addressing the unique challenges faced in different African contexts. Additionally, a practical manual will be produced, providing step-by-step instructions for conducting feed inventories, developing feed balances, and implementing early warning systems.

AU-IBAR is therefore seeking a qualified institution or firm to facilitate and conduct a comprehensive capacity building effort on National Feed Inventory focusing on Spatial Analysis. The selected institution will be responsible for designing and delivering an engaging training program, developing learning materials, and contributing to the creation of contextualized guidelines and a practical manual for feed inventory and balance assessment.

Capacity Building Goal and Objectives

Goal: To enhance the capacity of the six core African Union Member States participating in the RAFFS Project to conduct national feed inventories and develop feed balance estimates using spatial analysis techniques.

The Specific Objectives are

• a) To train participants on utilizing data collection and analysis tools/approaches (DMP, MODIS, and Gridded Livestock)
• b) To build capacity in performing analysis and interpreting generated data
• c) To enhance skills in joint data interpretation for utilization in planning feed outlooks, early warning systems, and informing investment decisions
• d) To facilitate knowledge sharing and outreach among participating countries
• e) Capacity building and support to Nigeria to conduct ground truthing to validate the information derived through the spatial analysis
• f) To build the capacity of the Member States to interpret the ground truthing data and information

Expected Outputs

• Trained personnel capable of conducting national feed inventories using spatial analysis techniques
• Nigeria feed inventory data ground-truthed
• Improved capacity for data interpretation and utilization in feed and fodder system planning
• Materials produced towards development of a consolidated capacity building manual/tool for future use in other African Union Member States

The selected firm or institution will be responsible for designing, organizing, and conducting the National Feed Inventory Capacity building exercise, focusing on spatial analysis techniques; and for Nigeria conducting the ground truthing. The institution will provide expert trainers, develop training materials, undertake capacity building and ensure effective knowledge transfer to participants from the target countries.

Scope of the Consultancy

The facilitator will work closely with technical staff from AU-IBAR RAFFS Project in executing this assignment, and will undertake the following specific tasks:

• a) Develop a detailed training curriculum based on the project’s methodology and objectives
• b) Prepare comprehensive training materials, including presentations, hands-on exercises, and case studies
• c) Conduct a training workshop, covering topics such as:
  • Use of spatial data layers (Copernicus, MODIS, Gridded Livestock)
  • Modeling feed availability and demand
  • Estimating feed balances at various scales
  • Data interpretation and application for policy and investment decisions
• d) Conduct a second training Workshop covering the key elements of the ground truthing process
• e) Facilitate knowledge sharing sessions among participants
• f) Provide post-workshop support and follow-up to ensure effective application of learned skills
• g) Capacity building and support Nigeria to undertake a feed inventory.
• h) Contribute to the development of the capacity building manual/tool

Expected Deliverables

• a) Detailed training curriculum and schedule
• b) Comprehensive set of training materials
• c) Conduct of the National Feed Inventory Capacity Workshop
• d) Post-workshop reports, including participant feedback and recommendations for future capacity building efforts
• e) Contribute to the Nigeria Feed Inventory
• f) Contribution to the capacity building manual/tool, incorporating lessons learned and best practices from the workshop
• g) Follow-up support plan for participants to ensure application of learned skills in their respective countries

Duration

This consultancy shall be completed within a maximum duration of six (6) months from November 2024. The facilitating institution should be prepared to allocate resources and expertise throughout this period to ensure the success of the capacity building exercise, the field exercise and the quality of the the capacity building manual.

Confidentiality

All documents and data acquired from the records and during related workshops, field work and meetings are confidential and will be used solely for the project.

The deliverables and all material linked to the training (produced by the facilitator or AU-IBAR itself) is confidential and always the property of the contracting party.

Working Language

Fluency in English and or French with a strong working knowledge of English.

Remuneration and Terms of Payment

The total amount for the consultation will be $49,506.00 to be paid upon the successful completion of the capacity building activities and submission of an approved training Report. The costs of attending the capacity building events and for the field work for the ground truthing exercise will be covered by AU-IBAR including air-tickets and field travel, visa fees and daily subsistence allowance in accordance with the AUC travel policy.

The costs of workshops will also be covered separately by AU-IBAR.

No other remuneration or costs will be covered without explicit prior approval by AU-IBAR.

Medical Cover

The institution will be responsible for their staff’s medical and life insurance covers during the assignment.

Requirements

The selected firm or institution should possess the following:

• (i) Extensive experience in livestock production systems across Africa, with a proven track record of research and development projects in multiple countries.
• (ii) Demonstrated expertise in spatial analysis techniques, particularly in the context of feed resource assessment and livestock systems.
• (iii) A team of experts with post-graduate, preferably PhD-level qualifications in relevant fields such as agricultural sciences, animal nutrition, geospatial analysis, or related disciplines.
• (iv) Strong multinational presence in Africa, with established networks and partnerships across the continent.
• (v) Proven capacity to deliver high-quality training and capacity building programs in complex scientific and technical subjects, with a regular schedule of conducting training programs and workshops for African researchers and policymakers.
• (vi) Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing feed inventory and balance assessment methodologies, including innovative approaches that can be directly applied in this project.
• (vii) Track record of successful collaboration with national and international agricultural research institutions, as well as policy-making bodies. This should include long-standing partnerships with national agricultural research systems, universities, and policy-making bodies across Africa.
• (viii) Experience in developing and applying specialized tools for feed assessment, such as FEAST (Feed Assessment Tool) or similar methodologies would be an added advantage.

Gender Clause

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria Max Score

Approach & Methodology 15

Firm’s Capacity and Experience 40

Team Composition, Qualifications and Experience 25

Team Leader Qualifications & Experience 20