Terms of Reference for Pass BDS Consultants to Seed Companies
Organization Overview
The Alliance for a Green
Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a partnership of The Rockefeller
Foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID and the United
Kingdom’s Department for International Development working with African
governments, other donors, NGOs, the private sector and African farmers
to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of
poor, smallscale farmers in Africa.
AGRA is headquartered in
Nairobi, Kenya, and maintains offices in Accra, Ghana, Maputo,
Mozambique, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Bamako, Mali and Juba, South Sudan.
AGRA also undertakes policy advocacy and resource mobilization.
The Program for Africa’s
Seeds Systems (PASS) is an AGRA initiative to improve food security and
reduce poverty in Africa by promoting the development of seed delivery
systems that allow small-scale farmers to gain access to improved,
adapted crop varieties in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Main Objective:
Assist in developing the ability of young, private, African seed
companies to provide improved seeds to small-scale farmers in sixteen
African countries on a sustainable basis
The consultant will be expected to provide the following services:
1. Provide business
development consulting services to selected PASS grantees, and
prospective AGRA-funded Investment Fund investees and assist startup and
SME seed companies with the development of overall strategies for
growth.
2. Work with seed companies to increase production, seed quality, marketing efficiency, accountability and profitability.
3. Train PASS Grantee
seed company staff in specific areas of need including marketing,
financial management, and strategy development.
4. Give seminars to seed
company management teams on selected, specific subject matters of
importance to the survival and growth of the firms.
5. Assist in delivering
business development modules at the Seed Enterprise Management
Institute, which will include a series of networking and educational
opportunities for African private seed companies and seed producers,
facilitating their ability to learn from each other and from outside
experts.
6. Travel to seed company
operations in up to 16 African countries to make on-site assessments
and give recommendations on the effectiveness of seed company processes,
including financial management, management of parental materials,
certified seed production, management of out-grower
contracts, seed processing, packaging, warehousing, and marketing.
contracts, seed processing, packaging, warehousing, and marketing.
7. As requested by PASS:
i. Review and comment on proposals that have impact on seed systems and/or agribusiness capacity-building
ii. Assist SME seed companies with strategies for raising investment capital, including the development of business plans.
iii. Advise SME seed companies in forging beneficial partnerships.
iv. Advise SME seed companies in sourcing and possible purchase of various seed equipment, software, etc.
v. Represent PASS in some Forums
8. Report back to program
managers regarding the effectiveness of individual seed companies as
well as the overall seed program strategy.
Qualifications
- Strong background in seed business, agribusiness, Agriculture or related qualification.
- Practical experience in managing a seed business is strongly preferred.
- Previous or current work on seed related activities in Africa is an added advantage.
Interested applicants should send their motivation letter and CV to mmuthama@agra.org by June 15, 2013.