Position Description
Analyst/Researcher (Local Consultant): Food Traceability Systems in Ghana
Location Ghana
Department Programs
Employment Type Consultant
TRACEABILITY SYSTEM USE-CASE ANALYSIS
NATIONAL CONSULTANT: ANALYST/RESEARCHER FOOD TRACEABILITY SYSTEMS IN GHANA
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: April 2022 – July 2022
LEVEL OF EFFORT: 30 days
BACKGROUND
Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment Activity (GTI) is a 5-year project aimed at growing and diversifying exports to boost national GDP and household income for Ghanaian citizens through the adoption and enforcement of internationally recognized standards along agricultural value chains, the reduction in time and cost to move goods across borders, and increased investment, especially among small and medium enterprises.
A significant component of GTI is to improve the quality of high-value agricultural goods and products by strengthening traceability systems, incentivizing SME awareness and use of these systems, and ensuring that the enforcement of SPS standards aligns at the national and international levels. To do this, the project is seeking to support export-oriented enterprises to adopt and achieve compliance with internationally recognized market driven standards.
ACTIVITY CONTEXT
GTI requires the assistance of a Ghanaian national consultant to conduct a use-case analysis of existing traceability systems being utilized by agricultural sector actors in Ghana. The assessment should consider traceability system functionality to meet the requirements of relevant international standards required by international buyers for export from Ghana. The consultant is expected to assess traceability systems being used by SMEs in Ghana including Golden Exotics, Blue Skies, HPW, Bomart, Olam, Nano Foods, Pinora and other agricultural product exporters to identify necessary and successful characteristics of traceability systems.
The consultant should also assess the successes, and challenges of the traceability system developed by the USAID/Ghana Improving Food Safety Systems Project (IFSSP) to identify lessons learned and recommendations for improved functionality, and sustained adoption along target value chains to expand Ghanaian firm and farm access to export market channels. It is anticipated that, the traceability system developed will integrate with GOG requirements and systems, including that of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Plant Projection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD).
The consultant will be expected to build on the findings and recommendations from the Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Food Security (EEFS) Activity report “The Enabling Environment for Food Traceability System Success: Assessing Factors that Support Food Safety, Quality, and Integrity” (February 2021) by identifying the contextual factors specific to target value chains in Ghana. Accordingly, the assessment is expected to examine, at minimum, the following factors affecting the success of traceability systems in target value chains in Ghana:
- Operator incentives to adopt traceability (including requirements within international standards and/or mandator regulations both within Ghana and destination countries)
- Operator capacity to adopt traceability (knowledge, skills, and access to finance)
- Operator access to technology (ICT infrastructure which dictates digital traceability potential)
- Supply chain coordination (willingness of value chain actors to share information up and down the chain as required by standards/regulations, and to adopt interoperable systems)
TASKS
The Scope of Assignment for the consultant shall include, but not limited to:
- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of traceability systems used by agricultural exporters in Ghana.
- Examine lessons learned from previous efforts (including IFSSP), recent advances, and determine scalability or the need for a new system based on industry demands and public sector needs.
- Assess the key success factors for a fully operationalized, integrated traceability system that shares data with GOG control points and end-market buyers and importers is essential for the sustained SME growth.
- Identify the characteristics/dynamics within target value chains that will create opportunities or challenges for the introduction, integration, and sustained adoption of traceability systems along the chain (including operator incentives, operator capacity, operator access to technology, and supply chain coordination)
- Provide recommendations on best practices for the implementation of a sustainable traceability system, which meets industry standards and would be adopted by exporters, packhouses, and other value chain actors in target value chains (TBD) in Ghana.
DELIVERABLES
- A comprehensive traceability system use-case analysis report
- A comprehensive list of factors needed for successful implementation of traceability system in Ghana.
- Make a presentation on key findings of report to stakeholders in the horticultural sector a validation workshop and incorporate feedback into report.
- Submit final report, including a summary of activities undertaken, to GTI team.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Must have a minimum of 7 practical and/or research experience related to traceability systems for agricultural exports
- Familiarity with international standards for agricultural product exports, including the relevant traceability requirements.
- Experience supporting agricultural SMEs to implement traceability systems for export to the EU and/or US markets.
- Demonstrated research and writing skills required
- Experience in stakeholder engagement and presentation skills.
- Experience working in USAID funded program is preferred.
