Afghanistan Seed Specialist

Afghanistan Improving Agricultural Inputs Delivery System (IAIDS) project

International Position

Seed Specialist

Country: Afghanistan Project Id: P120397 Project Name: AF: Improving Agric. Inputs Delivery System (IAIDS) Loan Info.: TF 99595 Country: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Name of the project: Improving Agriculture Input Delivery System (IAIDS) Consulting Services: Consultant for Seed sector development Project ID: P120397 Grant No. TF099595 REOI No: MAIL/IAIDS/SN/12 Advertizing Date: 03-October-2011 Closing Date: 18-October-2011

Expression of Interest

The Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) intends to finance the assignment described below under ARTF Grant No: TF099595, administered by The World Bank.

Project Background

Building on the Agriculture Master Plan, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoA) in collaboration with its development partners has defined a number of appropriate priorities for agricultural investments and policies under the National Agricultural Development Framework (NADF). In order to increase farmers’ incomes and improve the food security situation, the GoA is giving foremost attention to strengthening of the agricultural production base. In this respect the government has asked the World Bank for assistance in strengthening agricultural input supply systems. Specifically, the GoA has requested the World Bank for assistance in the preparation of the Improving Agricultural Inputs Delivery System (IAIDS) project that will consist of the following four components: i) Improve seed production and certification; ii) Establish infrastructure and policies regarding quality control and safe use of fertilizers and agrochemicals; iii) Improve input delivery systems; iv) Establish efficient project management, implementation and coordination mechanisms.

The development objective of IAIDS project is to increase adoption of improved crop production technologies through expanding development of certified seeds and improving access to agricultural inputs of reliable quality. Details of the project components and activities included in each component summarized below:

Component A: Improved Seed Production and Certification. This component will assist the GoA in building a sustainable seed production system that produces the required quantities of seed of the varieties that are needed and that is economically and commercially viable. Given that wheat is Afghanistan’s main staple crop, the emphasis in this component will be on wheat seeds, but the needs and possibilities to diversify towards other crops (vegetables, commercial and other food crops) will be explored and given attention as well. The program will strengthen all elements of the seed production system from variety research to the production of certified seed, including seed quality and certification and distribution and promotion of the rational use by farmers of the improved seed, as well as assist in the affirmation and establishment of a legal and regulatory framework. It will build on the existing institutional system, while developing local capacity for transitioning to national systems with minimal external support.

Component B: Quarantine Networks and Quality Control of Agro-chemicals. This component will support the completion and operationalization of the institutional and regulatory framework for quality and safety standards of fertilizers and other agro- chemicals, including an input certification system. A quality verification system supported by mobile phone applications will be explored to support checks by farmers and traders. The first phase of the project will also equip a quality control laboratory for agrochemicals; and provide capacity building in the areas of laboratory testing of agrochemicals and safe handling and application of agrochemicals for traders, MAIL extension workers, and farmers. The second phase of the project will support expansion of quality control laboratories for fertilizers and agro-chemicals to entry points for imports.

Component C: Improved and Expanded Delivery Systems. This component will start with a series of survey-based studies to get a better handle on the functioning of the certified seed production chain, farm-level input use and input distribution systems. The results of the studies will be used to develop an action plan for investments required to improve input delivery to farmers and better tailor supply to demand. The surveys will be followed by the operationalization of the action plan. This may include strengthening and expanding Ag Depot and Farm Service Center programs; piloting creation of alternative forms of input delivery systems with farmer groups, CDCs etc; and education and extension programs to demonstrate selected input technology packages as well as farm machinery and equipment.

Component D: Project Implementation and Management. The project will be implemented by MAIL. The following main technical Directorates from the MAIL side will be involved in the preparation and implementation of the proposed project: (i) for Component A (Improved Seed Production and Certification): Improved Seeds Enterprise (ISE); (ii) for Component B (Quarantine Networks and Quality Control for Agro-chemicals); Plant Protection Directorate (PPD) and Quality Control Directorate (QCD); (iii) for Component C (Improve and Expand Input Delivery System): QCD and Private Sector Directorate (PSD); and (iv) for Component D: (Project Management, Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation): General Directorate for Programs (GDP).

The IAIDS project will start with a 9-month preparation phase for which it is seeking an international Seed Specialist consultant to conduct an assessment of the capacities of each of the main actors in the seed production chain and establish their needs for skills development, infrastructure development and provision of support to make them effective and efficient implementers of their roles and functions. A second task for the Seed Specialist is to guide and technically support the design, implementation and analysis of the implementers of the farmers survey conducted under Component C.

Objectives and scope of the Consultancy

With a special focus on wheat, the main objectives/outputs of the consultancy are:

1. To obtain updated information on farmers awareness, attitudes and behavior with regard to the purchase and use of improved seed;
2. To obtain information on preferred and potential distribution mechanisms for seed;
3. To assess potential, needs and development requirements for the production, certification and distribution of major crops other than wheat;
4. To provide elaborated information on the present capacities, potential and needs to improve this capacity and the assistance needed to avail the required capacity for all stakeholders to optimally perform their functions.

The above objectives are envisaged to be pursued through the following two main activities:

1. Assistance to design and execution of surveys A number of assessments and surveys have been done in the past, mostly under the FAO seed project, to assess farmers’ awareness, preferences and behavior with regard to seed, including their willingness to purchase improved or certified seed, the frequency with which they would do so and the price they would be willing to pay for it. With the help of a professional survey firm, the project during the preparation phase will carry out three surveys, i.e. (i) survey on the certified wheat chain which will build on the achievements and information of the earlier FAO-led survey while aiming at presenting an updated, complete impression of the certified wheat seed chain; (ii) farmer survey to collect information regarding farmers’ input use including types and quantities used, prices paid, sources of inputs, bottlenecks etc; (iii) input distribution survey which (among other things) will look at the distribution mechanisms for seed, including the role of the PSEs in seed marketing, potential role of other retail outlets etc.

The Seed Specialist will provide technical guidance for the preparation of the seed part of the questionnaires of all surveys, and provide supervision and guidance during implementation and interpretation of the surveys. This will be done in close collaboration with the international Seed Policy consultant. The Seed Specialist consultant will be allocated 2 months for this specific purpose.

1. Needs assessment of the seed multiplication chain including quality control and seed certification The different elements and actors in the seed production chain have been supported by different partners with different views and priorities. The FAO seed project, supported by the EC, has been working on the establishment of a complete and coherent seed chain, but has lacked capacity and financial means to address all the needs of each of the four main actors in the chain. In order to enable each of them to fulfil their role and responsibility, they need to be equipped with appropriate infrastructure, equipment and human resources. An implementation plan for further support to establish such capacity will be based on a needs assessment to be carried out during the Preparation phase of the IAIDS project. This implementation plan will then be developed in close coordination with the other supporting donors and taking into account the policies and strategies that will be developed by the International Seed Policy consultant. The international Seed Specialist will bear main responsibility for the needs assessment, in close collaboration with the international Seed Policy consultant and two national counterpart specialists. The Seed Specialist consultant will be allocated 3 months for this specific purpose.

Qualifications

The following qualifications are required for the Consultant Seed Specialist:

• Advanced degree in plant breeding or related discipline from a reputable university; • Proven minimum 5-8 years experience in plant breeding, design and execution of surveys, and regulatory issues including quality control and certification; • Proven recent experience with similar consultancies and/or managing seed production projects, preferably in post-conflict contexts - essential; • Experience in designing, implementation and analysis of farmer surveys, with specific focus on the use of seed and other inputs; • Background in designing, implementation and analysis of needs assessments and preparation of investment plans for variety research, seed production and seed certification; • Experience of working for World Bank funded agricultural programs would be an advantage; • Fluency in English language (written and spoken) - essential; • Proven communications and reporting skills.

Outputs The main output of the consultancy will be a final report which would consist of the following four parts: 1. A detailed analysis of farmer’s awareness, preferences and behavior with regard to seed use and seed replacement, including preferred varieties, willingness to purchase improved or certified seed, the frequency with which they would do so and the price they would be willing to pay for it, resulting in an estimation of the potential demand for seed and output targets for the production and distribution of certified seed; 2. Program design for awareness creation among farmers for the rational use of high quality seed of improved varieties, including optimising the potential for production and for re-multiplication of seed for own use; 3. A detailed analysis of the production capacities required of each of the actors in the seed production chain, an assessment of their existing capacity and a plan for improvement of their capacity, keeping in mind the results of the above analyses, government policies with regard to production and distribution of seed, and the actual and intended support provided by other donors; 4. All above outputs will focus on wheat and provide the necessary details. They will also cover the potential demand and production and distribution development of seed for other crops in less detail.

Reporting

The Consultant is expected to provide the following outputs, as per the schedule given below:

Product Due date (1) Inception Report incl. outline of the approach, methodology and work plan 15 days after arrival (2) Draft concepts and design, including production needs assessment and technical inputs into survey questionnaires covering seeds 30 days after the arrival (3) Presentation of draft report to the client and stakeholders 120 days after arrival (4) Submission of final comprehensive report incorporating all feedback received 150 days after arrival

Duration: (International consultant – 5 months)

Submission Guideline: Send your CV to: General Directorate of Programs, and HR Department Contracted Staff Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Address: Kabul University Road, Kabul, Afghanistan Email: assad.zamir@mail.gov.af, vacancies@mail.gov.af