Burkina Faso Consultant

Consultant Position Description

PROJECT:  Empowering Entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso

REPORTS TO:  Business Development Manager, West Africa

POSITION LOCATION: Burkina Faso

START DATE:  ASAP

DURATION: 6-8 weeks

GENERAL COMPANY INFORMATION

Technoserve, Inc. is an international nonprofit development organization founded in 1968.  Its mission is to help entrepreneurial men and women in poor rural areas of the developing world to build businesses that create jobs, income and economic opportunity for their families, their communities and their countries

I.          BACKGROUND

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. Nearly half of its population lives below the poverty line and over 80% are eking out a living with subsistence agriculture, placing tremendous strain on the arable land.  In spite of these trends, Burkina Faso farmers are still producing a wide range of agricultural commodities for export such as cotton, cashew, groundnuts and sesame. These products and others produced for local consumption contribute to nearly 30% of GDP. Despite the role that the agricultural sector plays in Burkina Faso, the agribusiness sector, particularly agro-processing, is currently underdeveloped which has resulted in lost opportunities for value addition and job creation.

According to the World Bank’s Burkina Faso Country Assistance Strategy, the agribusiness sector presents a strong opportunity to spur GDP growth, contribute to local income opportunities and job creation.  To date, however, this sector is not operating at its fullest potential due to lack of finance, low intra-professional coordination, and poor compliance with international standards as the main obstacles.

In Burkina Faso, TechnoServe is currently implementing a market-based approach to support cashew processors to overcome some of these same industry challenges.  Specifically, TechnoServe is working with three cashew processing businesses in and around Bobo-Dioulasso to sustainably improve processing through facilitating access to finance, providing technical training in processing and quality standards, facilitating access to export markets and developing an international recognized export brand. 

TechnoServe has received support from a private foundation to invest in a robust knowledge base and build relationships with key agribusiness and other industry stakeholders including donors. TechnoServe believes there is an opportunity to catalyze growth and employment in the agribusiness sector in the near term, and in the medium term, unlock substantial donor funding to improve the livelihoods of tens of thousands of families. 

As a first step to developing a deep understanding of the sectors with the most promising agribusiness opportunities, TechnoServe has already engaged a consultant to scan the agricultural economy and identify the most promising sectors.  We now need a consultant to develop industry strategic plans for the identified high potential sectors.

II.        OBJECTIVE

For each identified sector, the consultant will reach out to local stakeholders (including farmers, associations, large corporates, government ministries, parastatals, regulatory bodies etc.) and other relevant stakeholders to collect sufficient data to:

-          Size the sector opportunity and establish why it is important for Burkina Faso’s agribusiness industry

-          Identify, through initial discussions with stakeholders, what analyses and recommendations have already been made

-          Assess the current position of Burkina Faso’s production in this sector (particularly assessing the situation of smallholder farmers) and assess key constraints to becoming competitive vis-à-vis other West African producers

-          Identify value-added opportunities in the sector for entrepreneurs in which Burkina Faso might have a comparative or competitive advantage. 

The consultant will also liaise with TechnoServe staff in West and East Africa and Central America to learn from our comprehensive work in the sectors and apply any lessons learned to Burkina Faso.

III.       TASKS/ACTIVITIES

For each identified sector;

Structure the project.

-    Develop the workplan

-    Create a “ghost deck” to guide the analyses

Develop the context.

-    Review previous studies / analyses

-    Determine gaps in knowledge

-    Understand current production and cost structures (large-scale and small holder)

Develop initial hypotheses

-    Identify key analyses

-    Develop hypotheses

-    Test with steering committee

Explore economics of the sector and any high potential value added products

- Analyze the economics of each option – with a focus on opportunities for smallholder producers

- Assess Burkina Faso’s competitive or comparative advantage (vs. global benchmarks)

- Identify key constraints to development, including regulatory issues

- Recommend actions to realize the biggest opportunities / quick wins

- Quantify potential impact of each opportunity

Develop TechnoServe strategy in the sector

- Spell out quantitative objectives over time for:

• Industry production/sales/etc.
• Rural poor sales/incomes/etc.
• Market share/exports/forex/etc.
• Etc.

-    Develop implementation roles for TNS and key local partners

• Entrepreneurs/Firms    
• Industry associations
• Public sector agencies
• Financial intermediaries
• International and local NGOs

Get buy-in

-    Present findings to key stakeholders in the sector

-    Get agreement on quick wins / next steps

IV.       DELIVERABLES 

For each identified sector;

-    Detailed Industry Strategic Plan (ISP) for Burkina Faso in a 20-25 page summary PowerPoint document with significant appendices (additional 20-30 pages)

See attachment for what each ISP will include

V.        SKILLS REQUIRED

-          Fluency in French

-          Demonstrated problem-solving skills (through experience with a top-tier management consulting firm)

-          Proven ability to develop an industry or client strategy (including familiarity with developing issue trees, prioritization matrices, etc. to guide one’s approach)

-          Ability to structure and manage complex tasks

-          Ability to work independently

-          Creative problem solving

-          Team management skills

-          Excellent analytical skills

VI.       IMPACT

The ISPs will inform TechnoServe’s interventions in the agribusiness industry in Burkina Faso and will advise on how TechnoServe can either create new jobs and rural income through smallholder production.

VII.     FEES & EXPENSES

Daily rate to be negotiated on an individual basis.

Technoserve, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.