Consultancy for Situation Analysis Report on Domestication of the SADC and COMESA HSRS

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTERST

CONSULTING SERVICES

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION (IC)

BOTSWANA

Assignment Title: Consultancy to Produce a Situation Analysis report on Domestication of SADC and COMESA Harmonised Seed Regulatory Systems among APPSA countries - CCARDESA.

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): BW-CCARDESA-286849-CS-INDV

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) is a subsidiary organisation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It was established in 2011 and started its full operations in 2013. CCARDESA has a mandate of coordinating agricultural research and development and contributing to better food security and livelihoods in the region. Among the Research and Development (R&D) programmes being coordinated by CCARDESA is the World Bank funded Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA).

APPSA started with three countries (Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia) in 2013 (First Phase) and expanded to Angola and Lesotho in 2019 (Second Phase). The main thrust of the programme is to improve agricultural technology generation and dissemination within and among participating countries; building capacity within national Research and Development (R&D) systems, and enhancing regional collaboration in agricultural research and development. The implementation of APPSA is based on partnerships and collaboration among SADC countries. Each country under APPSA establishes a Regional Centre of Leadership (RCoL) in its respective commodity area that distinguishes it as a leader in the region and beyond. So far, Zambia has established an RCoL in food legumes and legume-based farming systems, Malawi in maize and maize-based farming systems and Mozambique in rice and rice-based farming systems. In the current phase, Angola and Lesotho are establishing RCoLs in Cassava and Cassava-based farming systems and Horticulture and Horticulture-based farming systems, respectively.

Investments from or through APPSA are expected to support the national seed authorities in the APPSA countries in building their capacity and aligning national legislation and regulatory systems to the SADC and/or COMESA harmonised seed regulatory systems (HSRS).

The overall objective of the consultancy is to conduct an assessment of the current status of domestication of the SADC and COMESA HSRS among the current APPSA countries (Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia) in order to enhance their capacity to effectively integrate seed policy harmonisation issues into national planning and implementation. Specifically, the consultancy will seeks to meet the following objectives. To:

• Review and document the current status of the national seed policy framework in each of the APPSA countries.

• Determine the extent to which the countries’ capacities, national legislation and regulatory systems are aligned to the SADC and COMESA HSRS. What are the gaps, and what actionable recommendations are proposed for countries to fully domesticate the SADC and COMESA HSRS?

• Identify bottlenecks associated with domestication of seed regulatory systems in the APPSA Countries and suggest solutions

• Document the role played by APPSA and other agencies in supporting the domestication efforts in the five countries.

• Act as a resource person for subsequent regional dialogues to be organised by CCARDESA where key stakeholders are expected to participate.

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required expertise with required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

• At least a Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, Plant Sciences, Breeding, Seed Science and technology or other Agricultural related fields;

• Have good understanding of the SADC and COMESA Seed regulatory frameworks;

• At least 15 years working experience, including at least 10 years in the seed regulatory space;

• Demonstrable ability to write concise technical papers and synthesis reports on subjects related to the assignment; and

• Experience in policy development and analysis

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information (terms of reference) can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1630 hours.

Interested Individual Consultants should submit their expressions of interest with comprehensive CVs showing their experience and similar assignments conducted, to the address below on or before 27th April 2022.

The Procurement Officer

Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research in Southern Africa (CCARDESA)

Ground Floor, Red Brick Building

Plot 4701 Station Exit Road

Private Bag 00357

Gaborone, Botswana

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +267 3914997