Background
AGRA is a not-for-profit organization working with African governments, other 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 needed to accelerate the achievement of the Malabo Declaration commitments and related indicators from the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP),the Sustainable Development Goals, and Africa’s Agenda 2063.For more information about AGRA, please visit www.agra.org.
Since 2006, we have worked with our partners – governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector businesses, and more – to deliver a set of proven solutions to smallholder farmers and indigenous African agricultural enterprises. We put smallholder farmers first on the agenda, recognizing that no country has moved from low income to middle income without agricultural transformation.
Soil Values program is a ten-year initiative funded by Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) and is designed to significantly enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity in the Sahel region, specifically across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and northern Nigeria, with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as corridor countries. Soil Values is implemented by IFDC, in collaboration with lead partners SNV and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as well as knowledge partners, such as AGRA, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
The Soil Values’ Intervention Area four (4) led by AGRA relates to Convenings. This has been identified as critical to achieving the programme’s objectives. AGRA is leading on this activity given its convening power to catalyze substantive collaboration between governments, the private sector, civil society, and the communities at all levels (national, regional, continental and international). The convening power is to address market failures, correct policy or regulatory gaps, and accelerate mainstreaming of ISFM and Soil Health strategies into national and regional initiatives. By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors and perspectives, these convenings can enhance breakthrough solutions, address key barriers to sustainable soil management, and accelerate progress toward longterm soil health goals. The influence of these meeting frameworks, policies, strategies and programs at watershed, national, regional and international levels are to ensure that the Soil Values approach is considered. This involves forming alliances and conducting advocacy campaigns. Soil Values will provide scientific evidence and proven practices to global, regional, and national convenings to contribute to building consensus for the continent. The other organizations involved in and contributing to the successful implementation are IFDC, SNV, WUR, ICRAF and IITA.
The study on Economic Opportunities to Enhance Food Trade and Marketing of Agricultural Inputs between the Sahelian Landlocked and Coastal Countries in Collaboration with ECOWAS, Sahel, and Regional Financing Instruments seeks to identify and explore key economic opportunities that can improve agricultural trade and marketing systems across the Sahel region. This initiative is particularly focused on strengthening food systems in landlocked Sahelian countries by creating linkages with coastal nations. Soil Values has identified Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana as strategic countries to support input and output markets in Sahelian Countries. Along this line, the study is particularly focused on strengthening food systems in landlocked Sahelian countries by creating linkages with coastal nations. By identifying strategies to optimize trade routes, improve market access, and enhance the flow of agricultural inputs, the study aims to contribute to regional economic integration and sustainable agricultural development.
Collaborating with regional bodies like ECOWAS, UEMOA and CLISS and regional financing institutions ensures that the study is rooted in local realities, policies, and financial mechanisms that can support the development of the agricultural sector. It will focus on key areas such as cross-border trade policies, infrastructure development, value chain strengthening, and the role of financing in overcoming barriers to agricultural input trade. The results from this study will be key in promoting greater food security, reducing regional poverty, and enhancing the economic resilience of the Sahelian countries through improved access to agricultural markets and resources. The focus will be on agricultural inputs even though the food trade is also critical for soil health. This is because AGRA, leading this study, has done a lot of work in this area and there is an ongoing study to highlight the impact of the current status of the three Sahelian countries. This study will build on the findings of the previous work on food trade.
Rationale
Agricultural productivity in West Africa remains heavily constrained by limited access to and usage of critical inputs such as fertilizers, improved seeds, and irrigation infrastructure. In Sahelian landlocked countries where Soil Values is implemented (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and northern Nigeria fertilizer) consumption averages below 15 kg per hectare, far beneath the global average. Seed systems remain underdeveloped, with adoption of certified varieties limited to early adopters and project-supported farmers. Irrigation is sparse in the Sahel, with only a lot of fragmented smallholder-led efforts. Regional disparities in input access and affordability continue to undermine the potential for integrated trade and shared market development.
Fertilizer Imports and Production: The cost build-up of the four main ports of West Africa (Abidjan, Dakar, Lomé, and Tema) shows that Abidjan is the main port, with 32% of fertilizers imports, servicing Mali and southern Burkina Faso. It is followed by Tema, with significant comparative advantage to supply Burkina Faso with fertilizer. Secondary ports in San Pedro and Takoradi serve as relays, as the period of supply of fertilizer being the same for the whole region (March-August), may cause port congestion and hamper timely availability of fertilizers to farmers. The 15 fertilizer blending units in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, could facilitate the provision of fertilizer blends to soil conditions and crop needs.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plays a key role in facilitating regional economic integration and trade facilitation. Regional trade also presents an opportunity: with the right policies, it can support the movement of right fertilizers already existing in the corridor countries, innovations such as agroecological practices, climate-smart inputs, and knowledge sharing.
Strengthening trade while prioritizing soil health is essential for long-term food security, resilience to climate change, and regional stability. However, despite efforts to enhance intra-regional trade, challenges persist in the agricultural sector, particularly in linking Sahelian landlocked countries with coastal nations. Key constraints include inadequate infrastructure, limited access to financing, and policy barriers. Strengthening food trade and the marketing of agricultural inputs can improve food security, boost economic resilience, and enhance the livelihoods of millions within the West African region. This study aims to identify economic opportunities and financial instruments to address these challenges effectively, while contributing to highlighting clearly this nexus between input trade and soil health. With the findings to be generated, this study will be a strategic instrument to guide AGRA’s convening and advocacy with ECOWAS, national governments, and regional actors.
Qualifications and Experience
Requirements for the qualifications, expertise, and experience of the consultant.
i. Academic qualifications
ii. Experience of the consultant in similar assignments
