The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks
to recruit an Agribusiness expert in Uganda to carry out scoping studies for
designing a pig business hub model and develop a business plan for centralized
slaughtering.
ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that
livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa
and Asia. The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing
countries keep their farm animals alive and productive, increase and sustain
their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal
products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases.
ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about
700 and, in 2014, an operating budget of about USD83 million. A member of the
CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in
Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in
other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and
East Asia.
CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a
food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are
members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner
organizations.
Background
In Uganda, the smallholder pig value chain has been
identified by the Livestock and Fish CGIAR program as one of the livestock
options where research investments are most likely to make a major difference
to the livelihoods and diets of poor people. Since 2012, ILRI with the support
of IFAD/EU, has been conducting research on the pig value chain, the challenges
and opportunities for enhancing the pig/pork sector and identified promising
best-bets for action research and capacity development interventions which will
both generate evidence for wider applicability in the value chain. Some of the
interventions identified for piloting include innovative pig business models to
improve effectiveness of pig value chain linkages and need for proper
slaughtering facilities to assure hygienic process and facilitate veterinary
inspection and disease control. A group of partners in Masaka district have
lobbied the local government and got 2 acres of land to establish a slaughter
house. In the framework of the Livestock and Fish Program and 2 Uganda pig
value chain Research for Development projects (IFAD-EC funded and Irish Aid
funded) ILRI now seeks an Agribusiness expert on a consultancy basis to carry
out scoping and feasibility studies for potential pig business models.
The Position
The consultancy assignment is for three months and max.
60 working days and involves working closely with the local partners
on the ground, the value chain actors and ILRI’s pig value chain staff in
Uganda. The specific tasks for the 2 components of the consultancy include:
Component 1. Designing of a hub model around
Kyanamukaaka-Kabonera Pig Farmers Cooperative
The consultant will work with ILRI’s team to undertake
scoping and feasibility studies on the willingness and incentives of the value
chain service providers to be part of the hub and the capacity of the pig
farmers cooperative to participate. Key tasks will include:
- Facilitating
meetings between the cooperative and the pig buyers to agree on the
contractual arrangements and mode of operation of the hub.
- Identifying
relevant business development services and their providers in the area to
meet the pig cooperative members demands/needs.
- Assessing
service providers’ incentives to provide services and be part of the hub,
including willingness to provide services to cooperative members on
credit.
- Facilitate
discussions with willing service providers and the cooperative leaders to
develop MOUs for service provision to member farmers on credit.
- Assess
business and financial related capacity strengthening needs of the
cooperative and service providers.
Component 2. Developing a business plan for centralized
slaughtering in Masaka Municipality
The consultant will work with ILRI’s team and Masaka Local
government, specifically the DVOs office to develop a business plan for a
slaughter slab and an abattoir. Key tasks will include:
- Developing
of feasibility assessment tools and implementing them to assess
acceptability of the idea of a centralised pig slaughter system among the
value chain actors.
- Developing
a business plan for the centralised slaughter slab with a clear marketing,
financial and operational plan. The consultant will work closely with
another consultant who will provide the slaughter slab and abattoir
designs that the consultant will use to obtain the bill of quantities
which will form the basis for the financial estimates.
Essential qualifications and competencies
The consultant should have:
- An
MSc or M.A. in Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics or related
discipline;
- Previous
experience in linking farmers with agri-business development services for
improved access to inputs, services and output markets;
- Proven
experience in facilitation of agri-business groups/entrepreneurs to
develop bankable business plans
- Extensive
and proven knowledge of agricultural and/or livestock value chains in
sub-Saharan Africa and their inherent constraints;
- Excellent
communication skills in Luganda and a good community facilitator with
ability to live and work in rural settings;
- Good
writing skills in English and proven capacity to write well-structured
documents;
- Ability
to work with multi-disciplinary teams and to respect given time-lines;
Duration: The work should be carried out over a
period of 3 months for 60 effective days starting from the 15thof
October 2014. Latest date for completion is 31st of December
2014.
Location: Consultant will be based in Kampala
with very frequent travels to the project site in Masaka.
Consultancy fee: USD 300 per day
How to apply:
Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing
their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names
and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are
knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work
experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development through our
recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ before 30
September 2014. The position title and reference number REF: AE/
LGI /09/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online
application.
ILRI is an equal opportunity employer
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