Background: Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening local agriculture, helping agribusinesses create jobs and linking farmers to markets. Since 1981, it has implemented over 315 integrated dairy, livestock and crops development programs in nearly 80 countries — creating lasting impact by linking farmers, businesses, and the public and private sector in local and global contexts. Land O’Lakes Venture37’s long-standing affiliation with Land O’Lakes, Inc. sets it apart. Land O’Lakes, Inc. is one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives. It supports Land O’Lakes Venture37 project implementation with nearly 100 years of expertise in dairy, animal nutrition, crop inputs and agricultural insights and technologies. This gives Land O’Lakes Venture37 development projects a unique global view of agriculture, food and the power of well-functioning market systems. Land O’Lakes, Inc. supports these efforts as part of its enterprise purpose of Feeding Human Progress at home and around the world.

Project Summary: The Piloting the Use of Third-Party Assurance Programme in East Africa to Improve Food Safety Outcomes for Public Health and Trade is a three-year activity that commenced on November 2022, ending October 2025. The project is funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). It is piloting the use of data from voluntary Third-Party Assurance (vTPA) Programme in Rwanda for the horticulture sector and Uganda for fisheries to improve food safety, based on the Codex Principles and Guidelines for the Assessment and Use of Voluntary Third-Party Assurance Programmes (CXG-93-2021). The pilot is implemented in close cooperation with the governments of Rwanda and Uganda, and is complementing two other pilot projects, generating additional data and evidence on the use of the vTPA approach in developing countries, and promoting dialogue and learning across West Africa and Central America. The project is supporting the ongoing food safety reform processes in Rwanda and Uganda, including the move towards a more risk-based inspection system that will further strengthen dialogue and cooperation with small-scale producers and food business operators, as part of efforts to modernize and strengthen food safety management.

The pilot project aims to achieve the following outcomes:

Purpose and Objective of the Consultancy:

During the inception phase of the “Piloting the Use of Third-Party Assurance (TPA) Programme in East Africa” project, a gender analysis study was done on the target value chains in Rwanda and Uganda. The report of that gender analysis highlighted some recommendations on gender training for the key stakeholders within the horticulture and aquaculture value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively. In addition, the roadmaps developed for countries to follow in the stride towards use of vTPA data in the National Food Control Systems, also proposed the need for trainings on gender mainstreaming in policy development and implementation, gender responsiveness in management of food businesses and implementation of vTPA programs as part of the FBOs’ food safety management systems. The project has therefore planned to undertake training sessions on gender mainstreaming in agriculture and food businesses for government regulators and private sector stakeholders in the horticulture and aquaculture (fishery) value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.

These trainings will:

The project is seeking a Consultant to design and conduct a training on gender aspects, for the government regulators and the private sector in the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively. The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

Consultant Tasks:

Under this scope of work, the Consultant will complete specific tasks with reference for each of the specific objectives above.

For specific objective i) regarding the training of government regulators, the consultant will complete the following tasks:

1. Review of Documents: Undertake a review of relevant literature on gender and vTPA programs particularly the project report on gender analysis, the country roadmaps for use of vTPA data in National Food Control Systems, and the mapping the existence and use of vTPA programs in Rwanda and Uganda. These should provide the consultancy with an insight on the baseline awareness of the regulators about gender awareness and responsiveness.
2. Preparation of Training materials: Undertake to prepare all the required training materials including presentations and assessments on the basics of gender mainstreaming, and development of gender sensitive policies, where available, the expert should take into consideration the STDF gender training material.
3. Training of Regulators: Undertake physical training sessions in Rwanda and Uganda. The training sessions should be planned for a minimum of 3 contact days in each country, targeting a maximum of 40 public officials per country. The trainings should be conducted in a mode that facilitates adult learning since by default all the food safety regulators are presumed adults who have been out of the formal learning systems for several years.
4. Reporting: Prepare a report of the training workshops for submission to the project coordinator with all presentations, attendance registers, evaluation record sheets and certificates attached.

For specific objective ii) regarding the training of the private sector, the consultant will complete the following tasks:

1. Review of Documents: Undertake a review of relevant literature on gender and vTPA programs particularly the project report on gender analysis, the country roadmaps for use of vTPA data in National Food Control Systems, and the report on mapping the existence and use of vTPA programs in Rwanda and Uganda. These should provide the consultancy with an insight on the baseline awareness of the private sector stakeholders about gender awareness and responsiveness.
2. Preparation of Training materials: Undertake to prepare all the required training materials including presentations and assessments on gender responsiveness and inclusiveness in management of agriculture and food businesses, where available, the expert should take into consideration the STDF gender training material.
3. Training of Regulators: Undertake physical training sessions in Rwanda and Uganda. The training sessions should be planned for a minimum of 3 contact days in each country, targeting a maximum of 40 private sector stakeholders per country. The training should be conducted in a mode that facilitates adult learning since by default all the private sector participants are presumed adults who have been out of the formal learning systems for several years.
4. Reporting: Prepare a report of the training workshops for submission to the project coordinator with all presentations, attendance registers, evaluation record sheets and certificates attached.

Consultant Deliverables:

Under this scope of work, the Consultant is expected to complete the following deliverables:

Requested Qualifications:

The consultant for this assignment will meet the following criteria:

Reporting: The Consultant will report to the STDF Project Coordinator.

Period of Performance: The selected individual will be awarded an independent consultancy contract with a level of effort 20 days for the provision of the regulators and private sector trainings and related deliverables. The consultant will propose an appropriate timeline such that the final reports are completed by June 30th, 2025.The final detailed schedule and timeline will be agreed upon with the chosen consultant.

TO APPLY: Applicants should submit their CV and proposed daily rate for this assignment by 17:00 CST on April 7, 2025.