Seed Sector Review

The Afghan agricultural sector and more specifically the informal seed sub-sector is known to be highly resilient. During the last half-century, numerous but often  discontinuous efforts to develop a formal seed sub-sector have had some positive impact on the informal seed sector at the farmers’ level and on the national food security and economy as well as on the socio-economic dynamic within the rural population. Farmers or any group of farmers who produce seed for their own use or for use by their neighbours or others in their immediate area. The purpose of this project is the devlopemnt of the formal and informal seed sub-sectors in Afghanistan and the impact of past and ongoing development programmes, providing guidance for the future strategic framework for the seed industry and related development programme/projects including the required regulatory framework. The main tasks for this expert will be as follows: Establish a global overview of the economical background of the formal and informal seed sub-sectors and their interaction; Assessment of farmer's socio-economical needs and responses on availability of all class of seeds; Determine the efficiency and adequacy of the FAO seed sub-sector/industry model developed in relation to the informal traditional seed sub-sector mechanisms and Afghan farmers needs; Determine effectiveness of seed industry commercialisation efforts including enactments/legislations etc.; Review the seed law and the regulatory framework as a policy instrument for the promotion of demand-driven seed sub-sectors; Determine the level of the capability and commitment of the Government, actors of the seed industry, other implementing partners and the private sector to structural reform and commercialising of seed operations; Determine the level of the capability and commitment of the Government to take over fully the supervision and certification tasks of the seed sub-sector; Prepare draft reports as mission leader with contributions/comments from other team member.  

Qualifications: 

The Team Leader will be an Economist/Agricultural Economist with at least a M.Sc. and will have at least 15 years experience in policy development and institutional reforms in the agricultural sector Specific professional experience The consultant should have at least 10 years significant experience in seed industry development agro-businesses and privatisation projects in developing countries. The consultant should have at least 2 experiences in the field of seed sector evaluation with a strong statistical background. Proven leadership and people management skills, including a minimum of 2 years experience as project / programme Team Leader; He/she should demonstrate excellent communication and facilitation skills, with training skills highly desirable (above working experience with extensive training / capacity building components), as well as interpersonal skills including diplomacy, tact, and the ability to negotiate and influence; Proven ability to work in harsh environments and experience in working in post war reconstruction context would be an asset; Familiarity with rural Afghanistan, or a similar environment, would be an asset. Fluency in English is definitely required. Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is an asset.

Start / Duration: 

The intended commencement date is 01/03/2012 and the period of implementation of the contract will be 4 months from this date.

If you are interested in this tender please send your most recent CV to: Barbara.Braun [at] afci.de Thank you !