Consultant Opportunity: Establish a Robust Assessment Framework for vTPA Programmes for Competent Authorities in Uganda and Rwanda (Activity 1.2.5)
Land O'Lakes Venture37
Uganda
Posted on Mar 28, 2025
Consultancy Opportunity
Establish a Robust Assessment framework for vTPA programmes for Competent Authorities in Uganda and Rwanda. (Activity 1.2.5)
Piloting the Use of Third-Party Assurance (TPA) Programme in East Africa
Establish a Robust Assessment framework for vTPA programmes for Competent Authorities in Uganda and Rwanda. (Activity 1.2.5)
Piloting the Use of Third-Party Assurance (TPA) Programme in East Africa
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 (November 2022 to October 2025) funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). The project is piloting the use of a 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). This pilot project is implemented in close cooperation with the governments of Rwanda and Uganda, and complements 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 will also assess and make use of data and information from vTPA Programmes to support 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 aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Increased awareness of regulatory authorities on how to assess and use data / information generated by vTPA programme in Rwanda and Uganda.
- Outcome 2: Improved food safety compliance of food business operators (FBOs) in the horticulture and fisheries value chains based on the use of vTPA programme.
- Outcome 3: Increased awareness of food safety regulators on the application of vTPA approaches in other countries.
In order to work towards achieving Outcome 1 and Outcome 2 above, the “Piloting the Use of Third-Party Assurance (TPA) Programme in East Africa” project has so far undertaken a number of activities. The activities aimed at increasing awareness levels among the private and public sector on the existence and use of vTPA programs to manage food safety outcomes within the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively. The activities completed so far include:
- Conducting a gender analysis;
- Mapping to identify prominent vTPA programs in target value chains;
- Reviewing the national food safety environment in horticulture and aquaculture fisheries in Rwanda and Uganda respectively;
- Organizing a study tour to the United Kingdom;
- Updating relevant legislation and inspection standard operating procedures for risk-based inspections;
- Developing country-specific roadmaps; and
- Holding several knowledge transfer sessions for public and private sector players.
Whereas the competent authorities responsible for food safety in the target value chains in Rwanda and Uganda would wish to incorporate the use of data from vTPA programmes in their national food safety control systems, there is always a lingering concern regarding the accuracy and integrity of the data from these vTPA programmes. Codex has provided guidance on the issue through CXG 93-2021, and UNIDO has developed a vTPA assessment tool. However, both remain but guiding documents with general principles that in some instances may not be easily applicable to country specific realities.
The project is seeking a Consultant to establish a robust assessment framework for vTPA programmes including data generated, for the competent authorities in Uganda and Rwanda.
The specific objectives of this consultancy are:
- Derive from the vTPA assessment criteria outlined in the codex guideline CXG 93-2021;
- Adapt from the UNIDO vTPA assessment tool; and
- Establish a country specific vTPA programmes’ and data assessment framework for Rwanda horticulture value chain, and
- Establish a country specific vTPA programmes’ and data assessment framework for Uganda aquaculture/fishery value chain.
Consultant Tasks:
Under this scope of work, the Consultant will complete the following tasks:
1. Review of Documents: Undertake a review of relevant literature on vTPA programs and food safety including any Project Implementation documents available at the time. The document review will include, but not limited to:
- CODEX guideline CXG 93-2021
- The UNIDO vTPA assessment tool
- STDF/vTPA Project report on mapping the existence and use of vTPA programs in Rwanda and Uganda
- STDF/vTPA Project report on gender analysis
- STDF/vTPA Project report on review/scan of the national food safety environment looking at prominent vTPA programs used within horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.
- STDF/vTPA Project reports on review of the legislations and SOPs with reference to risk-based inspection in the horticulture and aquaculture value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.
- Policy documents, laws, regulations, standards and any codes of practices detailing food safety control for horticulture and aquaculture (fishery) value chain in Rwanda and Uganda respectively. Particularly the recently updated legislations and SOPs, or the drafts thereof as proposed by this STDF/vTPA project. The consultant should liaise with the CA to get the relevant documents.
- Country specific roadmaps
- Project report on UK study tour
- Any other available literature with reference to food safety control and use vTPA programs in Rwanda and Uganda
- Hold virtual meetings with key staff (project focal points and heads of the CAs) from the food safety and plant health authorities in Uganda and Rwanda to gain a better understanding of the on-the-ground situation in each country.
- Present draft assessment framework to the CA staff and management in Uganda and Rwanda, and facilitate discussions on most tenable vTPA programmes’ assessment framework
- Present final draft vTPA programme assessment frameworks to national public/private sector stakeholders in Uganda and Rwanda for validation and approval
3. Reporting: Prepare reports of the results in accordance with the report structure guidance. Specifically the consultant will
- Compile and prepare reports of the consultative engagements for submission to the Project Coordinator
- Compile the final draft country specific vTPA assessment frameworks for Uganda and Rwanda for submission to the Project Coordinator
Consultant Deliverables:
Under this scope of work, the Consultant is expected to complete the following deliverables:
- Draft assessment frameworks for presentation to the staff and management of the CAs in Uganda and Rwanda
- Reports of the consultative meetings for Uganda and Rwanda, and the corresponding draft assessment frameworks
- Final draft vTPA programmes assessment frameworks for Uganda and Rwanda.
- Power point presentations to the stakeholders engagements
Requested Qualifications:
The consultant for this assignment will meet the following criteria:
- Advanced degree in Agriculture, Food Science, Veterinary Medicine, Food Safety, Development Studies, Economics or Law or in the related fields.
- At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in food safety.
- Proven experience of at least 5 years in working with international technical cooperation agencies or in SPS related technical assistance projects. Work experience in Africa preferred.
- Proven working experience in Codex activities and good knowledge of the work of GFSI on vTPAs.
- Good understanding of the CODEX “Principles and Guidelines for The Assessment and use of Voluntary Third-Party Assurance Programs”, CXG 93-2021
- Proven knowledge of international, risk-based food safety requirements and of SPS related matters.
- Knowledge of the WTO SPS Committee and the International Standards Setting Bodies, including Codex, WOAH formerly OIE, and the IPPC.
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 10 working days for the establishment of a robust vTPA assessment framework for Uganda and Rwanda, and related deliverables. The consultant will propose an appropriate timeline such that the final report is complete by July 31st, 2025.The final detailed schedule and timeline will be agreed upon with the chosen consultant.
TO APPLY: Applicants should submit their CV along with their proposed daily rate for this assignment by 17:00 CST on April 10, 2025.
