JOB DETAILS:
The Organization
The Alliance of Bioversity International delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. Alliance solutions address the global crisis of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is implementing the project Accelerated Variety Turnover for Open-pollinated Crops (ACCELERATE). This is a four-year project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and jointly implemented by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT/Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) as the lead institution in collaboration with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI) and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The overall aim of the project is to develop a scalable model to accelerate new variety adoption of open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) in Tanzania by linking existing capacities of the formal and quality-declared seed (QDS) sectors with sources of demand. ACCELERATE is expected to generate lessons about accelerating varietal turnover in Tanzania by tapping into the power of large/small-scale or marketplace traders, and institutional seed buyers. It emphasizes sources of demand-pull as the impetus for seed systems growth.

ACCELERATE is focused on testing different modalities for enhancing communication and coordination between smallholder grain producers, retail grain traders, large-scale traders, and researchers to improve the flow of information, market access, and agricultural practices. To support this effort, a series of efforts will be tested through a network of WhatsApp groups/channels between different actors. The consultant will play a key role in coordinating these digital design activities, ensuring the establishment of WhatsApp groups/channels, implementing and evaluating modalities for timely information sharing, and fostering collaborative relationships among participants.

About the Consultancy
The Consultant, Digital Transformation to Increase Variety Turnover , will be responsible for managing communication within and between the designated digital platforms such as WhatsApp channel, linking grain retail traders, large-scale traders, and researchers. The consultant will facilitate the smooth exchange of information, including varietal information updates, market updates, research findings on market demanded varieties, and advisory on seed and grain access, while also ensuring that the platform remains professional and aligned with the goals of the project.

Background and Task Description
Advancements in ICT and social media are creating new opportunities to connect stakeholders and facilitate information exchange. For instance, a platform such as WhatsApp, in particular, enables communication among individuals and groups with shared interests, fostering collaboration and interaction between actors aligned by common goals. A digital platform is expected to bring together retail, large traders and researchers who will be exchanging information on new varieties and market trends. The consultant will test different modalities to ensure the efficient exchange of crucial information, including updates on grain varieties, market trends, research findings related to market-demanded varieties, and advisory services regarding seed and grain access.

Goals
The goal of digital platforms helps to facilitate efficient, real-time communication and collaboration between grain traders and researchers, enabling the timely exchange of market information, agricultural best practices, research insights, and advisory services. This platform aims to strengthen linkages, enhance decision-making, reduce risks, and ultimately improve productivity and market access for all stakeholders involved in the grain value chain.

Deliverables
Planning
• Deliverables:
• Plan describing (1) digital platform setup and management, and (2) monitoring engagement metrics.
• Digital platform setup

Description: Plan the establishment and configuration of digital multistakeholder platforms (e.g., WhatsApp groups and/or channels) for grain retail traders, large-scale traders, and researchers. One important specific goal of the platform is to foster information exchange about new crop varieties produced by the Tanzanian crop breeding programs. Determine appropriate group settings, engagement means (such as polls), relevant stakeholders, and appropriate roles for moderation and content sharing. Provide a detailed report on the proposed platform setup, including the number of groups, members, and group configurations. Propose a way to monitor the use of digital media and appropriate metrics to track uptake and use, including communicating information about new crop varieties. Set of the platform and help to digitize the registry of the value chain actors.
• Deadline: 2 months from the start of the consultancy, 30% of the consultancy fee

Linkages and Stakeholder Engagement:

Deliverable: Weekly report

Description: Facilitate the connection between retail grain traders, large traders, researchers, input providers and other value chain actors through the multistakeholder platforms. Document and track engagement metrics, including member participation, messages exchanged, the frequency of information shared between different stakeholders. Analyze in detail the exchanges related to seeds of new crop varieties. Submit a summary report on key discussions and engagements between stakeholders, outlining areas of collaboration and key insights.
Oversee the development and implementation of platform use cases and promotion campaigns for higher variety turn over. Work with other team members to develop strategies for efficient feedback loop mechanisms in the multistakeholder platforms (MSP) for sorghum, groundnuts and common bean value chains.

Deadline: 3rd month from the start of the consultancy, 30% of the consultancy.

Link traders with private digital service providers for digital support and testing digital solutions that accelerate varietal turnover of beans, sorghum and common beans:

Deliverable: Intermediate report
• Oversee the uptake of digital apps by the service providers to enhance business operations including sharing information about varieties with the farmers
• Provide technical support to traders on the importance of digitizing their operations and profiling last mile farmers for efficient aggregation work

• If needed in collaboration with the private digital service provider, coordinate the development or adaptation of the existing Web and Mobile based applications, and others) to meet the needs of traders, aggregators, processors as a way of digitalizing value chains.
• Coordinate testing of the above-described digital solutions with value chain actors and digital service providers

Deadline: 2nd month from the start of the consultancy, 20% of the consultancy

Final Report and Handover:

Deliverable: Final report and complete documentation

Description: Summarize all project activities, findings, and outcomes in a final report. Provide complete documentation of developed solutions and SOPs. Conduct a training session with TARI to continue managing the platform

Deadline: End of the consultancy terms, 20% of the consultancy fee

Requirements
• Masters in information technology, computer science or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of social media and digital communication tools and applications.
• Understanding of digital agriculture, grain trade, and market systems, scaling of agricultural technologies is an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili (Tanzania).
• Ability to translate technical and complex information into clear and concise messages.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic graphic design skills.

Timeline
• The consultancy will span six months, starting from the date of contract signing. This consultancy services will be provided on site in Arusha, Tanzania.

Budget
• The budget for this consultancy will be negotiated based on the consultant’s experience, the complexity of the tool, and the estimated time frame.

Applications
Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Applications closing date: 20th November 2024
Please note that email applications will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
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