Individual Consultant: Mapping of Agri-Food Products

Job Description

Background

AGRA is a not-for-profit organization working with African governments, donors, NGOs, the private sector, and farmers to improve the productivity and incomes of resource-poor smallholder farmers in Africa. AGRA aims to catalyze an inclusive agricultural transformation by increasing incomes and improving food security for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa.

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. The program aims to reach out 500 000 youths and create 142 000 decent jobs.

In Burkina Faso, where VALUE4HER is being implemented, women agripreneurs develop a variety of agri-food products—enriched flours, juices, sauces, dried fruits, dairy products, poultry, fresh vegetables, cereals, etc. Despite their innovation and economic potential, these products struggle to establish themselves in formal national or regional markets. Key reasons include non-compliance with regulatory standards (health, tax, customs, trade, etc.), low business formalization rates, and a lack of awareness of required legal procedures (registration, labeling, etc.).

Existing BDS providers (Business Development Services), where available, do not always incorporate a regulatory-awareness approach or tailored legal support for rural women, thereby limiting the competitiveness of these businesses.

General Objective

To identify and characterize agri-food products developed by women agripreneurs in Burkina Faso and assess their compliance with national regulatory frameworks, with the aim of strengthening their support through BDS services

Specific objectives

• Inventory of products developed by women agripreneurs
• Identify, describe, and classify products from agricultural production, livestock, and artisanal or semi-industrial processing. This mapping will highlight product diversity, processing levels, commercial potential, and geographic distribution (by region and value chain).
• Identification of applicable legal and regulatory frameworks
• Compile an inventory of regulatory requirements (quality standards, hygiene, labeling, taxation, legal status, certification, etc.) affecting the marketing of agri-food products in Burkina Faso. This analysis will include relevant laws, procedures, and institutions.
• Assessment of agripreneurs’ awareness and compliance levels
• Evaluate the extent to which women agripreneurs are informed about and adhere to regulatory requirements. This will measure gaps between current practices and official standards, as well as obstacles (costs, administrative burdens, lack of awareness, language barriers, etc.).
• Evaluation of regulatory integration in existing BDS services
• Identify service providers (incubators, NGOs, business centers, consultants) and assess their capacity to support women on regulatory issues. The goal is to determine whether current BDS offerings meet the legal needs of agripreneurs.
• Proposal of recommendations and practical tools
• Develop strategic and technical recommendations for integrating regulatory support into BDS and produce practical tools (simplified guides, training modules, product sheets) to help women understand and comply with standards.

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent in food law, agricultural economics, rural development, or related field.

Experience

Minimum 5 years of experience supporting MSMEs or in agricultural legal matters. Similar experience working with women or in rural contexts highly valued.

Skills

In-depth knowledge of agri-food sector regulations, ability to develop awareness materials, gender sensitivity, excellent analytical and writing skills.

About the Organization

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