Consultant

Job Description

ASPIRE Project, SNV Netherlands Development
Organization, Ethiopia

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR National/INTERNATIONAL
CONSULTANT

PROGRAMME: ASPIRE[1]
PROGRAMME (Ethiopia)

ACTIVITY: assessment of laboratory
capacity IN ETHIOPIA FOR agri-FOOD
TESTING & RESIDUE TESTING IN LINE WITH EUROPEAN
& OTHER INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

1.0 Rationale of the Study

Laboratories are an integrated and
essential part of food supervision, animal and plant health. Their tasks include verification of official
and private certification, mass analysis of samples for screening for
microbiological criteria, veterinary and plant health diagnostics and/ or
analytical chemistry to assess the level of chemical contaminations such as e.g. pesticide and veterinary medicinal products.

In pursuit to support export promotion in the agricultural and agro-processing sector – with a focus on honey and other hive products - through Trade Capacity Building, the ASPIRE Programme is looking for a regional/international consultant to undertake an assessment of
(a) pre-selected laboratories located in and around Addis Ababa with the objective of preparing them for accreditation according to ISO 17025:2005 (gap analysis) and (b) an assessment of pre-selected regional laboratories in order to prepare them for implementing a
full scale honey analysis and the accreditation of these laboratories according to ISO 17025:2005. One of major outputs for this activity is to have skilled Laboratory analysts who are performing analysis on major equipment under the chemistry testing laboratories.

2.0 Objectives
of the consultancy:

The purpose of this study is to carry
out a detailed survey of the existing laboratory capacity available and the needs for laboratory services in Ethiopia both private and public, concentrating in particular on the main laboratories providing residue analysis for Competent Authorities (CAs) and Food Business Organizations (FBOs) in line.

2.1 Assessment of laboratory capacity (gap analysis) for agri-food testing & residue testing -both with a focus on honey and other hive products - in line with European and other International standards. The assessment shall provide information on the selected laboratories in terms of their technical competence. In the process, the consultant shall find out whether the laboratories are accredited for any of the tests it conducts, the accreditation status of the various tests undertaken and the accreditors of these laboratories. The assessment shall also find out what technical capabilities exist in the selected laboratories involved in the food safety and SPS issues in terms of human (training and experience), equipment (calibration status and appropriateness for use in testing agri-food products) and environment (set up, ability to minimize cross contamination). To establish if the laboratory is participating in a national, regional or international proficiency testing scheme. The assessment will also identify if formal or informal linkages exist between the selected national laboratories and international
laboratories. Collection, analysis and reporting of data will also be assessed to establish how the test results are handled (i.e. including storage and security). This will include use of data for advocacy and information, education and communication activities as well as allocation of resources for food safety and agri-food control and

2.2 Prepare the roadmap for the laboratory to
be accredited against the ISO 17025:2005 with respect to:

1. Organizational set up, their facilities,
2. Laboratory Staffing, training needs and training placement
   opportunities for the staff
3. Compilation of the necessary laboratory equipment required to undertake the required residue
   analysis maintenance and assist in the process of procurement

Three laboratories have been identified in Ethiopia (Ethiopian conformity Assessment Enterprise, BLESS, and JIJE LABOGLASS) in the food industries and public institutions. One of the outcomes of this consultancy is to carry out a survey (Gap Analysis) with the aim to
identify the analytical capacities and the corresponding need for these
capacities. The consultancy will prepare road map for the selected laboratories for accreditation acc. to ISO 17025: 2005 and will establish accredited national capacity for residue analyses in honey and other food products.

2.3 Prepare selected regional laboratories for implementation of
full honey analyses

There will be five laboratories namely: Holetta Bee Research Centre (HBRC), Holetta, Oromia; Bureau of Agriculture, Mekelle, Tigray; Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Amhara; Hawassa University, Hawassa, SNNPR and EMDID; Bishoftu which have to be accredited for undertaking routine honey analyses according to the requirement of ISO
17025:2005. A gap analysis will be performed on the above five regional laboratories which shall, in future, do the routine according to Ethiopian Standard for honey (ES 1202 - 2005).

The quality properties verification/profiling of the honey for Proline, Invertase, Diastase, HMF, Sucrose content, Reducing sugar, Electrical conductivity, Moisture, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) , Free acidity ,
absence of undesirable fermentation, Diastase activity, Color parameter, Sugars, should detect adulteration and authenticity of honey.

The consultant will assess the labs in terms of necessary laboratory set up of facilities laboratory equipment required to undertake the honey analysis, laboratory staffing, training needs and training placement, technical procedures, documentation as structured below

Generally, during all assessments, the consultant has to assess the system for charging fees, handling the funds, being able to guarantee the continuous supply of reagents, standards, replacement of broken equipment, importation or local purchase of spares etc

SCOPE OF WORKS

The consultant will carry out the following:

Assessment of the background on laboratory capacity and current skills of laboratories in Ethiopia

• The consultant will use the data collected by himself, to create an inventory of the existing analytical and diagnostic capacity, as well as needs for such services in Ethiopia within the field of food safety, public and private (e.g. analytical chemistry of residues).
• Assessment of availability of laboratory equipment and lab consumables, including the required standards, chemicals
• Outline of advice given on procurement of Laboratory analytical equipment
• Suggest training programme on the fundamentals in selected residue parameters of analysis
• The consultant will require familiarizing himself with existing testing infrastructure in Ethiopia by visiting relevant institutions in this field of residue analysis.
• The consultants will draft a proposal for the structure of the existing laboratory services (regional, national) taking into account the national control strategies for food safety, the
  sectors emphasized by ASPIRE (honey and other hive products) and indicating in particular cases where there is overcapacity and overlapping and point out where additional analytical resources are required to serve the selected sectors. The
  conclusions and recommendations shall be submitted to SNV and the Ethiopian Apiculture Board (ASPIRE)

Laboratory Experts

Qualifications and skills: An expert with extensive knowledge of laboratories for food, veterinary and plant health with regional
experience. Experience of working in Ethiopia / with Ethiopian institutions will be advantageous.

General professional experience: University degree in Food
Science, Biochemistry, Veterinary Medicine, Plant Health, Medical Biology or Equivalent.

5 years experience in laboratory consultancy
3 years working experience in the work related to testing and laboratory
management in an accredited laboratory or have perfect knowledge in food testing, food analysis and instrumentation that are acceptable at international level

• Can demonstrate the capability to undertake the study
• Have practical knowledge in modern food analysis
• Have interpersonal and communication skills
• Fluent in understanding, speaking and writing English.
• Computer literate

Specific professional experience: Knowledge of local
conditions and procedures used in project work and management experience in the
relevant field.

Reports and other anticipated documents

On returning from the mission, the consultant will prepare a gap analysis report for the laboratories selected. This report will be sent to the ASPIRE Programme within 20 working days from the end of the mission.

The mission report shall include:

The context of the consultancy (see ToR of the consultancy),
The purpose and objective of the mission (see ToR of the mission),

• The expert’s main activities in order to reach objectives,
• A detailed description of the progress of the intervention,
• The results of the intervention,
  • A brief survey of existing laboratory capabilities in Ethiopia including national policy and strategy.
  • A survey of the analytical and managerial etc….capacities of the selected
    laboratories necessary to fulfil the needs of the industry and official supervision in Ethiopia.
  • A list of activities, training needs and laboratory equipment/ chemical and reagents needs which require support by ASPIRE Project.

Submission of technical and financial proposal

Interested candidates should send their curriculum vitae with brief technical proposal and financial proposal separately not later than 29th
July, 2014. All submissions should be sent in person or through carrier such as DHL in a sealed and marked envelops to the following address:

Attention : Human Resource Office

SNV Netherlands Development
Organization

Tracon Tower , 6th floor-Churchil Avenue

P.O.Box 40675; Addis Ababa-Ethiopia; Tel +251(0) 111 262 100

[1] ASPIRE: Apiculture
Scaling-up program for Income and Rural Employment.

Do not send your proposals through email

NB: SNV Ethiopia reserves the right to cancel this bid if it finds a better option.