Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The Activities Comprise

• Identifying who the potential off-takers for the three cash crops in question (cashew nuts, shea nuts and néré seeds) could be and discuss with potential off-takers, and detailing minimum requirements to extend purchase agreements to the project cooperatives.
• Mapping the location, size of cooperatives, gender composition and production amount of the cooperatives for the three cash crops in question (cashew nuts, shea nuts and néré seeds) in the seven identified municipalities, as well as the production potential.
• Assessing barriers to establishing purchase agreements with the project cooperatives considering minimum requirements established in discussions with potential off-takers (point 1 above). The consultant should identify and consult with key stakeholders (financial institutions including micro finance institutions, processing plants, aggregators, government ministries, end buyers including associations that can connect to end buyers such as the Global Shea Association) for each product value chain. The consultant should screen business strategies used by existing cooperatives, the gaps and opportunities for each.
• Assess whether there is a rationale to create new cooperatives based on (point 2 above) and (point 3 above) to strengthen the interest of off-takers in the project areas.
• Broadly evaluate the economic value of potential trade agreements for each of the three products.
• Identify policies, sector plans and business strategies that could increase scale and productivity across the value chain and promote sustainable land-use approaches, e.g. affordable insurance products to mitigate climate risk, government based subsidies and extension services. This should inform the development of the workplan for Output 3 on the mainstreaming approach.
• Develop the strategic approach and workplan
• Based on the outcomes of (A), develop the Output 2.2 strategic approach and workplan inclusive of timeline, outputs, milestones, key results, and budget. The strategic approach should also include a recommendation for management of this workstream within the PMU. The workplan should include recommendations for developing targeted policy analytical pieces, economic analysis and/or developing blending finance concepts.
• Develop a monitoring framework to track capacity strengthening of cooperatives with the aim of signing of new trade agreements by 2024.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environment, economics and/or related field is required.
• Experience: At least fifteen (15) years of work experience in agriculture value chains and smallholder farmers, particularly to put in place climate resilient agricultural practices is required
• Understanding of financing models and underlying business cases for smallholder famers to access finance, particularly linking value chains to offtake agreements is required.
• Experience in scoping of partnerships and drafting of offtake agreements market buyers (and potentially interested investors) in the agriculture sector is required.
• Understanding of risk mitigation instruments including guarantee and insurance products for the agriculture sector, particularly the role for promoting offtake agreements is desirable.
• Knowledge of the fiscal policy framework for the agriculture sector in Benin, including potential public funds for the sector is desirable.

Closing 5 September 2022