Exploitation of global market opportunities for agricultural and food products is subject to compliance with international standards, such as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that aim to provide the required protection against risks that may threaten human, animal and plant health and life.

Inadequate capacity for compliance with SPS measures of livestock importing countries by some IGAD member states has been a setback to international trade whenever there has been an outbreak of trans-boundary animal diseases. For example, the 1997/98 and 2000/2002 outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in the IGAD region led to a trade ban of livestock export to Middle East countries; mainly, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Another ban by the two countries was imposed in September, 2019 on Sudan and Djibouti for suspected cases of RVF. The previous two bans affected the export market with substantial losses for the livestock industry in the region. A number of temporary bans /halts have since been imposed on live animals and chilled meat export to Middle East countries from the Horn of Africa countries. Moreover, many food safety issues are reported within the region that need attention to improve livelihoods and protect citizens.

Cognizance of the above, IGAD /ICPALD in collaboration with regional pastoral livelihood and resilience project (RPLRP) financed by the World Bank, developed and validated a regional SPS strategy and plan of action with participation of Member States and partners. Since then ICPALD in collaboration with USAID and RPLRP supported the development and validation of national SPS strategies in five countries and are being rolled out. However, South Sudan and Sudan need support to develop and validate national SPS strategies as Sudan has been an exporter of live animals and meat to Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries and South Sudan has also large livestock resources with substantial demand for livestock products and need SPS capacity to benefit from its resources and protect citizens.

The proposed action will support the Republics of South Sudan and The Sudan to develop five year national sanitary and phytosanitary strategies and action plans aligned to the IGAD Regional SPS strategy and Annex VII of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. The alignment will ensure that the national strategy has commonality with the regional and continental strategy but largely focused on the national context and priorities. The two countries currently do not have national SPS strategies and the efforts of food safety, animal health and plant heath activities within each country are less coordinated. The development and validation of the strategy by relevant stakeholders will contribute to enhanced compliance with SPS measures by enabling the countries to respond quickly in the event of risks like disease and pest outbreaks observed and meet market requirements. Moreover, through the various elements of the strategy, national capacity and awareness will be enhanced to improve protection of the citizens from food safety threats.

Main Objective and Tasks

Develop and validate national SPS strategies for South Sudan and Sudan aligned with IGAD regional SPS strategy and Annex VII of the AfCFTA.

Under the overall technical supervision of ICPALD and in close consultation with AU-IBAR food Safety Officer, the Consultant will be responsible for drafting the national SPS strategy and action plan for the two countries and undertaking validation by stakeholders.

Specific tasks are:

1. Undertake a desk review of the World Trade Organization (WTO) SPS agreement and measures, Annex VII of the AfCFTA Agreement, other relevant global, continental documents on SPS including the IGAD SPS strategy and strategies of countries that have successfully developed and implemented SPS programmes, including good practices, lessons learned and challenges;
2. Conduct field assessment in South Sudan and Sudan to review the current status of SPS management capacity and consult with stakeholders on key SPS issues, inter-sectoral collaboration, existing gaps and solutions;
3. Develop a draft national SPS strategy for five years and plan of action for each country aligned to regional SPS strategy and Annex VII of the AfCFTA with inputs including from the national SPS committees, relevant private and public institutions working on SPS issues and circulate draft to stakeholders for input;
4. Facilitate stakeholders’ validation workshop to enrich and validate the national strategies and plans of action at each country level;
5. Incorporate comments of stakeholders and submit a final national SPS strategy and plan of action for each country;
6. Develop a policy brief for each country with key recommendations to disseminate and get buy-in from policy makers.

Expected Deliverables

1. an inception report reflecting clear comprehension of the tasks, the method of execution and a work plan to ensure that the strategies and action plans to be developed reflect actual country needs and priorities whilst addressing regional, continental and global developments in the field of SPS;
2. A draft national SPS strategy and action plan for each country to be presented at the national validation workshop organized by IGAD/ ICPALD and AU-IBAR;
3. The final national SPS strategy and action plan for each country and workshop report
4. A policy brief for each country highlighting key SPS issues and policy recommendations.

Competencies

1. Experience in working in the cross disciplinary boundaries of food safety, animal health, plant health and trade;
2. Knowledge on the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures;
3. Conversant with international standard setting organizations’ (CAC, OIE, IPPC) and WTO SPS procedures and cycles;
4. Comprehensive understanding of economic, political, institutional and technical issues related to SPS measures;
5. Experience in dealing with senior government officials, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations working on different SPS issues;
6. Knowledge and understanding of the IGAD region;
7. Knowledge of approaches, concepts and innovative wisdom relevant to the SPS requirements and challenges therein;
8. Ability in conducting independent analyses, identifying issues, formulating options and making conclusions and recommendations;
9. Excellent skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and accurate manner including the ability to develop strategies and prepare reports.

Language and Working Relations

1. Command in oral and written English is essential.
2. Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations.

Education

Post-graduate Degree (Masters or PhD) from a recognized institution in public health, animal health or animal production, agri-business or food safety, or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Work Experience

1. At least 10 years’ experience and knowledge on SPS measures and implementation of SPS strategies and action plans;
2. A proven successful record of accomplishment in writing national and regional strategies and policies;
3. Proven experience at programming and policy level;
4. Experience in conducting and facilitating dialogue with national, regional and international organizations;
5. Knowledge of African continent and the Horn of Africa region, its trade context and challenges will be an added advantage.

Consultancy Duration and Fees

The consultancy is fixed, at lump sum amount of USD9000, for period of three months from the date of signature.
The consultancy work shall start within 10 days or earlier after signing of work contract with AU-IBAR.

Payments schedule will be agreed based on deliverables.

Output/ activity completed | Payment in percent of the contract amount | Estimated date of completion
Signing of contract and inception report | 20% | Inception report within 10 days of signing the contract
Initial draft of the national strategies and action plans | 40% | Within two months of signing the contract
Final national strategies, final action plans, workshop report and policy briefs | 40% | Within one month after receiving comment on draft report

Equipment

The consultant will use his/her own laptop and other data capturing equipment deemed necessary during execution of the assignment.

Insurance Cover

The consultant will be responsible for his/her own medical and life insurance cover for the duration of the assignment.