Consultancy Opportunity: Update Standard Operating Procedures to Incorporate vTPA Data into National Food Control Systems in Uganda and Rwanda

Short-Term Consultancy Opportunity

Update the standard operating procedures with Competent Authorities of Uganda and Rwanda to incorporate the use of vTPA data into their official food control systems (Activity 1.2.2)

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 beginning November 2022 and ending October 2025 funded by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) that will pilot 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). The pilot will be implemented in close cooperation with the governments of Rwanda and Uganda and will complement two other ongoing 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 will aim 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.

Purpose and Objective of the Consultancy:

In order to work towards achieving Outcome 1 above, the “Piloting the Use of Third-Party Assurance (TPA) Programme in East Africa” project undertook an assessment and review of the existing government inspection procedures in the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively to determine whether they were risk-based. The assessment highlighted the following: (1) opportunities and/or synergies that can be leveraged to develop a risk based inspection approach that uses data/information from vTPA programs; (2) gaps and requirements in legislation, operating procedures, information and data exchange, with reference to risk profiling and international best practices; (3) requirements for the inspection systems that are necessary to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a risk-based inspection approach (which take into account particular vTPA approach/model selected by the government) in the horticulture and aquaculture value chain in Rwanda and Uganda respectively; and (4) recommendations on how to update the existing government inspection procedures to include use of data/information from vTPA programs within the national food control system to enhance food safety control outcomes within the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chain in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.

As a follow-on activity to the assessment and review of the existing government inspection procedures, the project is now seeking a Consultant to work with the CAs in the fisheries and horticulture value chain/sector in Uganda and Rwanda respectively, to update their standard operating procedures (SOPs) to incorporate the use of vTPA data into their official control system. The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

• Develop a risk-based inspection approach that uses data/information from vTPA programs;
• Draft amendments to legislation, operating procedures, information and data exchange policy, with reference to risk profiling and international best practices;
• Update the existing government inspection procedures to include use of data/information from vTPA programs within the national food control system to enhance food safety outcomes within the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chain in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.

Consultant Tasks:

Under this scope of work, the Consultant will complete the following tasks:

• 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:
• Project report on the assessment and review of the existing government inspection procedures in the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively to determine whether they were risk-based
• 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. The consultant should liaise with the CA to get the relevant documents.
• Any other available literature with reference to risk-based inspection, food safety control and use of vTPA programs in Rwanda and Uganda.
• Fieldwork: Undertake two 3-day missions to each of the Competent Authority for horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively to physically work with the CA technical staffs to discuss proposed amendments, and update the existing policies, legislations and inspection procedures. The field missions will be scheduled to coincide with the start (to agree on the changes to be drafted, and advise the CA technical staff on what documents to provide the consultant) and end (to review, validate and verify any updates before closure of task) of the assignment.
• Remote mentorship and guidance: Remotely guide the technical staff of the CA in each country to incorporate the proposed amendments into the existing inspection procedures as will have been agreed up on during the fieldwork detailed above.
• Reporting: Prepare a report of the results in accordance with the report structure guidance. Specifically the consultant will compile and prepare a final report for submission to the project coordinator.

Consultant Deliverables:

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

• A detailed report on the “work with the CAs to update their standard operating procedures to incorporate the usage of vTPA data into their official control system,” including other key aspects highlighted above as specific objectives.
• Updated inspection and standard operating procedures that incorporate the use of vTPA data into the official control system for food safety control within the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.

Requested Qualifications:

The consultant for this assignment will meet the following criteria:

• Advanced degree in Agriculture Sciences, 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 inspection and control.
• 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 Global Food Safety Initiative (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 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 20 working days. The consultant will propose an appropriate timeline such that the activity is undertaken no earlier than 1st June 2024, and the final report is complete by September 30th, 2024.The final detailed schedule and timeline will be agreed upon with the chosen consultant. Interested applicants should submit their CV as well as their proposed daily rate for this assignment.

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