Consultant Opportunity: Assess and Review Government Inspection Procedures in Rwanda’s Horticulture and Uganda’s Fisheries Sectors (Activity 1.2.1)

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 a 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 against the existing regulatory framework and the requirements thereof. The review/scan also assessed how the regulatory frameworks in the two countries, fair against international food safety requirements for horticulture (Rwanda) and aquaculture fisheries (Uganda).

Whereas the regulatory framework for food safety in the two countries is elaborate and clearly defined, it is prudent to understand whether the existing regulatory frameworks are risk-based and can provide for better targeting of resources without compromising food safety outcomes. This understanding will provide insights into the existing gaps and opportunities, and subsequently help the competent authorities to update their systems to efficiently and effectively utilize the available resources through use of data from vTPA as part of the national food control systems.

The project is seeking a Consultant to assess and review existing government inspection procedures in the fisheries (Uganda) and horticulture (Rwanda) value chain/sector, to determine if they are risk-based. The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

• Describe existing government inspection procedures (frequency, risk profiling, etc.) in the horticulture (Rwanda) and aquaculture fisheries (Uganda)value chains and determine whether these are risk-based;
• Highlight any opportunities and/or synergies that can be leveraged to develop a risk based inspection approach that uses data/information from vTPA programs;
• Identify the gaps and requirements in legislation, operating procedures, information and data exchange, with reference to risk profiling and international best practices;
• Identify the 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;
• Make 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.

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:

• Project Application
• Project report on mapping the existence and use of vTPA programs in Rwanda and Uganda
• 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

2. Field work: Undertake 3-day missions to each of the Competent Authorities for horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively to hold interviews with the CA leadership and a sample of inspectors on the current modus operandi, including intervention policies and tactics, planning, inspection processes, legal proceedings in compliance assessments, sampling methods, available inspection tools and techniques, risk assessment methods (if any), personnel competences, safety at work, observed risks and opportunities for improvement, exchange of information on non-compliant/dangerous items, internal/external communications, and management of product withdrawals.

3. 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.
• Prepare and present findings, to key stake holders within the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively.

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

• A detailed report on the assessment/review of the existing government inspection procedures in the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively to determine whether they are risk-based, Including other key aspects highlighted as specific objectives.
• A PowerPoint presentation on the assessment/review of the existing government inspection procedures in the horticulture and aquaculture fisheries value chains in Rwanda and Uganda respectively to determine whether they are risk-based.

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 Security 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 10 working days for the assessment and review of existing government inspection procedures and related deliverables. The consultant will propose an appropriate timeline such that the activity is undertaken no earlier than 1st April 2024, and the final report is complete by June 30th, 2024.The final detailed schedule and timeline will be agreed upon with the chosen consultant.

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