Individual Consultant: Soil Health Policy Advisor

Job Description

The consultant would work closely with AUDA, RECs and Member States to integrate soil health into AU flagship programs, including CAADP, AFSHI, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

• Provide strategic advice to the Commissioner on soil health policy, governance, and investment priorities.
• Lead the development of a continental soil health policy framework and support its adoption by Member States.
• Coordinate with AU organs, RECs, and development partners to align soil health initiatives with continental strategies.
• Support the Commissioner in high-level advocacy and representation in continental and global health platforms.
• Prepare policy briefs, speeches, and technical notes for the Commissioner on soil-related matters.
• Facilitate the integration of soil health into AU flagship programs, including CAADP, AFSHI, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
• Monitor and report on the progress of soil health initiatives and provide recommendations for scaling up best practices.
• Support the organization of high-level meetings, technical consultations, and stakeholder dialogues on soil health.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Commissioner.

The consultant would work closely with AUDA, RECs and Member States to integrate soil health into AU flagship programs, including CAADP, AFSHI, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

• The Policy Advisor will be part of the Commissioner Bureau and will advise the Commissioner on matters of Soil Health in contributing to the implementation of the Soil Health Initiative for Africa in an effective and efficient manner and completing the activities during the duration of the assignment.
• The consultant will provide monthly progress updates to AGRA’s Director, Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture & Resilience (CASAR), including written reports, presentations, and meetings as agreed upon.
• He/she will be expected to have regular progress review meetings with supervisors.
• AGRA responsible officers shall approve all deliverables submitted by the consultant before any payment is made.

Deliverables

• The Advisor is expected to deliver the following outputs:
• Continental Soil Map developed and submitted for endorsement by AU policy organs.
• At least two high-level policy briefs or technical reports prepared and disseminated to guide Member States on soil health governance and investment.
• Strategic engagement plan for soil health partnerships and advocacy developed and implemented.
• Regular updates and talking points prepared for the Commissioner’s participation in key events and forums.
• Progress report on soil health initiatives across Member States compiled and submitted biannually.
• Stakeholder consultation meetings on soil health policy convened and documented.
• Capacity-building roadmap for Member States on soil health policy and implementation developed.

• The assignment is Continental.

• The consultancy is expected to be completed within 12 months.

The individual consultant should possess the following qualifications, expertise, and experience to successfully deliver the assignment:

• Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental Policy, or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in soil health policy, sustainable land management, or agricultural development, with a strong track record in Africa.
• Proven experience advising senior leadership or policymakers.
• Strong understanding of AU institutions, CAADP processes, and regional agricultural frameworks.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Excellent planning, organizing and writing skills.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to work in multicultural environments, and ease in interpersonal relationships.
• Reliable and responsible personality and capacity to work under demanding professional circumstances and in an international environment.
• Excellent coordination and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organizational and recordkeeping skills.
• Experience in dealing with senior business executives and government officials.
• Good team player while being independent and able to work autonomously.

Evaluation Criteria

Mandatory Requirements:

• Cover letter for expression of interest and understanding of the assignment.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae including at least 3 referees.
• Copy of academic certificate(s).

Interested individuals shall be evaluated against the following technical evaluation criteria:

General Qualifications – 20%

• General educational background of the consultant, including relevant degrees or certifications.
• Specialized training that enhances the consultant’s ability to perform the assignment.
• General experience and overall professional experience of the consultant, including years in the field and broad expertise.

Recent Experience in Similar Assignments – 40%

• The consultant’s past experience matches the solicitation requirements, including similar projects in scope, complexity, and objectives.
• Depth and relevance of references, emphasizing that strong ones should detail the scope and scale of past assignments similar to the current project.

Consultant’s Understanding of the Assignment – 20%

• The cover letter should indicate how you understand this assignment.

Relevant Experience in the Region – 20%

• The consultant’s ability to communicate effectively in local language(s) for interacting with stakeholders.
• The consultant’s familiarity with local culture, governance, and administrative structures.

NB: Only the candidate with the best technical proposal equal to or above 75% shall be considered for financial negotiations.

• Cover letter
• CVs of the consultant
• Academic certificates

• Financial submission letter
• Detailed cost breakdown (including fees, taxes, etc.)
• Payment schedule based on deliverables or milestones

• Proposals shall be submitted electronically through our Oracle system by the deadline indicated in the system.
• Bidders shall use the bid submission forms that have been provided under Annex 1 & 2.
• The proposals SHALL be submitted via Oracle system by the deadline indicated on the Oracle system.
• The Proposals shall be prepared in English.
• Late submissions will not be accepted, as the system is configured to automatically reject proposals after the deadline. To avoid any issues, especially for new users, bidders are strongly encouraged to submit proposals at least one day before the deadline.
• AGRA assures bidders that we can’t access proposals before the deadline provided by the system.
• VALIDITY of the proposal shall be for a period of 90 days from the date of bid closure.
• The detailed financial proposal shall be uploaded under the lines section in Oracle.
• The financial proposal shall include all taxes. If the financial proposal is silent on taxes, AGRA shall assume that these are inclusive.
• Prices must be quoted in USD ($). Contracting will be in USD and bidders are encouraged to have a USD bank account.
• Please note that the Oracle system will seal the financial proposals until the technical evaluation is completed.
• All communications regarding the RFP should be directed to: procurement@agra.org

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