Job Vacancy At International Fertilizer Development Center

January 20th, 2022 at 06:04 am

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is implementing the five-year Feed the Future Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input Systems (EnGRAIS) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development West Africa Regional Mission. The EnGRAIS project aims to contribute sustainably to improving agricultural productivity in West Africa and is structured around three Intermediate Results (IR) areas. IR1 focuses on strengthening the competitiveness of the private fertilizer sector; IR2 works on the development and dissemination of agro-input packages across the region; and IR3 facilitates the harmonization of national regulations governing quality control of fertilizers distributed in the West African region.

As part of its activities, IR3 facilitates the implementation of Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 on the quality control of fertilizers in the ECOWAS region and works constantly with policy makers to ensure the dissemination of regional guidelines on fertilizer subsidy programs.

These subsidy programs, which are in effect in several States in the region, are part of national policies to improve agricultural production and productivity and reduce food insecurity in the countries. Given their importance in the agricultural policy of the States, they involve large financial, material and human investments.

In 2017, through the West African Fertilizer Program (WAFP), which is the predecessor of the EnGRAIS project, IFDC facilitated the development of a practical guide to improve the design, implementation and evaluation of fertilizer subsidy programs in West Africa. This regional guide highlighted the major problems with subsidy programs in the region and proposed thirteen (13) guiding principles, each followed by actions to reform the programs and improve their performance. The institutions responsible for managing fertilizer subsidy programs in the countries of the region were provided with this guide and encouraged to use it to reform current programs.

Thus, to know the level of use of this guide and to identify the guiding principles applied by the countries, the EnGRAIS project is currently carrying out a global study to evaluate the performance of subsidy programs against on the application of these principles.  However, for a better understanding of what is being done specifically in the countries, case studies are planned in two countries in the region that, through field observations, have been able to demonstrate the application of some of the guiding principles.

Reports to:  EnGRAIS Chief of Party& the Fertilizer policy expert.

General Description: The main objective of this study is to highlight the progress made in Ghana in applying the guiding principles in subsidy programs. It will also assess the impact of the application of these principles in improving program implementation and the satisfaction of stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Duties and Responsibilities; Specific objectives of the study

The specific objectives of the study are to:

• Provide subsidy program history since 2016, the year WAFP reviewed subsidy programs;
• Assess the major changes in program design, implementation, and evaluation since 2017, when the Subsidy Program Guide was published.
• Demonstrate the principles of the guide used by the country in the subsidy reform programs;
• Demonstrate the socio-economic impact of the implementation of the guidelines based on the following indicators:
• the selection of legitimate beneficiaries through appropriate targeting;
• the improvement of production and productivity through the use of appropriate agricultural inputs
• the proportion of sown areas, improved varieties and fertilized areas;
• timely application of inputs;
• the introduction of balanced nutrition adapted to crops through new fertilizer formulas.
• the proportions of improved seed varieties used in the programs.
• improved agricultural yields due to the use of appropriate inputs.
• the involvement of the private fertilizer sector in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs (organization, transparency, distribution, procurement costs, etc.).
• the periods of fertilizer importation and actual delivery to distribution centers and producers.
• the market share of fertilizers distributed in subsidy programs in the total market.
• The evolution of the ratio between the FOB price of the main fertilizers (Urea and NPK), the average unsubsidized retail price, and the subsidized price over the study period.
• the total cost of the program and the costs by beneficiary, crop, area, etc.
• Effectiveness of subsidy programs (program cost, beneficiaries targeted and reached, time of distribution of inputs, etc.).…
• Suggest ways to improve those guiding principles that are not yet implemented or that face challenges in their implementation.
• Prior to the assignment, each applicant will be asked to produce a technical paper that will define the methodology used to conduct the study in general. This document will also outline the consultant’s proposed approach including proposed indicators for assessing the impact of the implementation of the Guiding Principles in programs.

Expected results and deliverables

At the end of the assignment, the consultant will provide a report containing information on the subsidy program in the country. This report will include:

• A description of the structure of the subsidy program from design to implementation and evaluation, with a description of all actors involved and their roles.
• The reform plans implemented by the country that include the application of the guiding principles.
• An assessment of the level of implementation of the guiding principles; and
• An overview of the impact of implementing the reforms on the management of the program, the actors involved in the program, and the beneficiaries.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

The selected consultant should have a good knowledge of:

• Management of the fertilizer subsidy program in the country, and knowledge of actors involved in the program (Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural input suppliers, agro-dealers, producers, etc.)
• the agro-economic environment of his country

Previous completion of similar work could be an advantage in the selection process.

Click here to read more and apply

Closing Date : 31st Jan. 2022