Consultancy Opportunity: Develop a tool to utilize vTPA program data to profile and prioritize actions according based on food safety risk within the horticulture value chain in Rwanda. (Activity 1.2.6)

Consultancy Opportunity

Develop a tool to utilize vTPA program data to profile and prioritize actions according based on food safety risk within the horticulture value chain in Rwanda. (Activity 1.2.6)

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 Summaries:

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.

Purpose and Objective of the Consultancy:

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;
• Establishing a robust framework for assessment of vTPA programmes; and
• Holding several knowledge transfer sessions for public and private sector players.

Whereas updates have been developed to the relevant legislation and inspection standard operating procedures for the competent authorities responsible for food safety in the target value chains in Rwanda and Uganda to incorporate risk based inspections as part of their national food safety control systems, the risk calculators are still under development and manually paper based. However, in a rapidly changing food supply chain, new biological, chemical, and physical hazards are emerging. To protect consumers and maintain confidence, public health authorities need data-driven, real-time monitoring tools. Modern risk assessment platforms (using predictive analytics and digital collaboration) greatly enhance the ability to identify and mitigate hazards before they escalate.

The project is therefore seeking a Consultant to design and set up an automated FBO risk profiling system for the horticulture value chain in Rwanda. The system should be based on available data/information including data from vTPA programs. The required system aims to enhance food safety oversight by providing a unified digital platform for risk registration, assessment, and programming of monitoring and control. The system will enable agencies, companies, and auditors to:

1. Collect and integrate food safety data across the supply chain (producers, processors, distributors, retailers).
2. Compute and visualize risk scores for each entity using a standardized grading model.
3. Deliver actionable insights by linking risk grades to guidance on frequency of regulatory control by the competent authority.
4. Communicate efficiently through real-time dashboards, alerts, and reports. Overall, the system will strengthen compliance, improve response to food safety threats, and support risk-based inspections and regulatory oversight.

The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

• Design and automate a tool/template for food safety risk data capture and collection;
• Set up an automated risk scoring system/program that converts the data captured in objective (i) above into risk scores for each individual establishment
• Provide a program that, based on the individual establishment risk scores, generates recommendations for inspection/regulatory oversight frequencies
• Incorporate a provision for real-time communication about any changes and trends in the risk scores to the stakeholders who may include the Competent Authority Inspectors, representatives of the FBOS, and any others as may be decided by the Competent Authority.

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:
  • CODEX guideline CXG 93-2021
  • 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 value chain in Rwanda.
  • Policy documents, laws, regulations, standards and any codes of practices detailing food safety control for horticulture value chain in Rwanda. 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.
  • Any other available literature with reference to food safety control and use of risk based inspections.
• Consultative meetings with the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA): Specifically the consultant will liaise with the key staff (project focal point, Acting Head of Department for Registration, Licensing and Enforcement, and any other assigned technical officers) to agree on the risk calculator and to resolve any other technical issues to ensure the developed system is user friendly and practicable to the horticulture value chain in Rwanda. (Where needed, the Competent Authority-RICA, will arrange for the consultant to meet with key representatives of the private sector).
• Present the prototype system and demonstrate its use to the CA staff and management in Rwanda, and facilitate discussions on the most tenable FBO risk-profiling system.
• Present the key modules of the completed system and demonstrate its use to national public/private sector stakeholders in Rwanda.
• 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 and submit a User Acceptance Test (UAT) report to the Project Coordinator
  • Compile the final report for submission to the Project Coordinator

Consultant Deliverables:

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

• Prototype system for presentation to the staff and management of the CA in Rwanda
• Reports of the consultative meetings for Rwanda, and the corresponding draft requirements for the system
• System Technical and user guide documents including the source code
• Final approved system with a duly signed UAT report.

Requested Qualifications:

The consultant for this assignment will meet the following criteria:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or related fields from a recognized university.
• At least 15 years of post-qualification experience in information systems development and management.
• Proven experience of at least 10 years’ experience in reviewing, planning and designing information technology systems and in conducting business analysis and designs, carrying out business process re-engineering, and in undertaking systems reviews. Work experience in Rwanda and other developing countries is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge in the development, supervision or management of modern web-based IT systems. Advantage will be awarded to familiarity with technical skills in web development, database management, system integration based on RESTful API, and infrastructure support with experience in using modern programming languages and frameworks especially ReactJS, NodeJS or AngularJS.
• Good understanding of the regulatory environment in Rwanda with reference to horticulture, food generally, drugs and or any other such high risk products is desirable.
• 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 fixed-price consultancy contract for designing and setting up an automated FBO risk profiling system for the horticulture value chain in Rwanda and related deliverables. The consultant will propose an appropriate timeline such that the final report is complete by September 30, 2025.The final detailed schedule and timeline will be agreed upon with the chosen consultant.

To apply: Interested offerors should submit a CV and proposed rate to complete this scope of work by July 20, 2025.

Read Full Description