Background
AGRA is a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with African governments, other donors, NGOs, the private sector, and farmers to enhance the productivity and incomes of resource-poor smallholder farmers in Africa. AGRA aims to catalyze an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa by increasing incomes and improving food security for millions of smallholder farmers across the continent. For more information about AGRA, please visit www.agra.org.
AGRA’s strategic plan (2023-2028) focuses on catalyzing sustainable food systems in Africa by influencing and leveraging partnerships to build a robust enabling environment where the private sector thrives, and smallholder farmers are empowered to produce sufficient, healthy food. This strategy will be implemented through targeted interventions in agricultural input supply, extension services, and output marketing systems.
The Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) program seeks to reach 10 million youths across the continent and create over 3 million jobs, of which 50% are dignified and fulfilling. In Burkina Faso, the program is being implemented in Hauts Bassins, Cascades, Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre-Ouest, and Sud-Ouest regions. This program aims to train a new generation of young agricultural leaders by encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable agricultural best practices.
In Burkina Faso, the Government has undertaken several reforms aimed at facilitating trade. These reforms concern the introduction of licenses and certifications, the establishment of legal frameworks for contract enforcement, the centralized management of export authorizations, and the removal of certain nontariff barriers. Despite these efforts, those involved in the marketing of agricultural and agri-food products, particularly young people and women, continue to face numerous constraints that often increase the cost of their activities. A gendersensitive approach is essential to ensure that interventions adequately address these constraints and promote inclusive participation in the agricultural sector in a secure environment.
It is within this framework that these terms of reference are drawn up for the recruitment of an individual consultant responsible for conducting a study aimed at identifying the requirements in terms of licenses, certifications, non-tariff barriers, and other administrative formalities that weigh on the costs of trade borne by young entrepreneurs, particularly in the marketing of agricultural and agri-food products. Particular attention will be paid to taking gender into account in order to ensure that the proposed solutions are inclusive and take into account the specific needs of all stakeholders, particularly the most vulnerable.
Objectives
This consultancy aims to:
Duration of the Assignment
The consultancy will be conducted over 3 months. The consultant shall provide a detailed work plan outlining the level of effort for each task. Specify any specific milestones or deadlines.
Required Skills, Competencies and Experience
