Development of national African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation strategies for Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda

Duty Station: Homebased with travel to field (where possible)
Type of Contract: Individual (three-One consultant for each country)
Contract post level: Short term
Duration: Thirty (30) non-continuous days spread over 3 months

Background

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement was established by African leaders during Extraordinary Summit held during 17-21^st March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. The main objectives of the AfCFTA are to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons in order to deepen the economic integration of the African continent and in accordance with the Pan African Vision of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa” enshrined in Agenda 2063. It paves the way for accelerating the establishment of the Customs Union and expand intra-African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade liberalization and facilitation and instruments across the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and across the African continent in general. The AfCFTA is also expected to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploitation of opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources as articulated in annexes. Trading under the AfCFTA Agreement is scheduled to commence on 1^st January 2021. Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda have already ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Strategizing on how to derive maximum benefits from the continental market is now of paramount interest for these three countries.

The new trading block (AfCFTA) is expected to bring together over 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of more than $ 3.4 trillion. According to UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the AfCFTA has the potential to increase intra-African trade by 52 percent by 2022. In the long run, it is expected to strengthen the capacities of African companies to access and supply world markets and strengthen Africa's economic and commercial diplomacy.

In the 2019 national herd estimate of Ethiopia consisting of about 60.4 million cattle, 31.3 million sheep and 32.7 million goats, 4.5 million camels and close to 50 million poultry, produces currently about 1,128 metric tons (MT) of meat, 174 million eggs and 5.2 billion litres of milk per year . This national herd provides part of the livelihoods of more than 11.3 million rural households. The direct contribution of livestock to GDP is estimated by at ETB 150.7 billion per year, which amounts to 17% of GDP and 39% of the agricultural GDP. This rises to about 21% of the national GDP and 49% of the agricultural GDP, if the contribution of processing and marketing (35.6 billion) is taken into account. In general, the sector has potential to support sustainable national development through food production, employment creation and general economic growth. The livestock industry has a high degree of linkages to other sectors and extended value chain. It is one potential area to exploit under the AfCFTA.

The Republic of Sudan; with an estimated 109.3 million heads of livestock (2019) is a rural economy with the livestock sector contributing to around 47% of the agricultural domestic product (AGDP). Cattle, sheep and goats provide an important capital asset and a risk management tool for pastoralists and farmers in times of drought, and they are increasingly important in agricultural irrigated areas as well. Some private poultry firms have been recently established in the Khartoum area.

In 2011, Sudan was the largest exporter of sheep in the world accounting for 17% of the sheep exported from 80 countries, followed by Australia and Somalia. Sheep exports, mainly to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, constitute about 80% of livestock export followed by goats (10.5%), camels (exported mainly to Egypt) (9%) and some cattle. Livestock in Sudan contributes importantly to the national export. After 1997, livestock exports averaged 27% of the value of Sudan’s agricultural export.

Sudan’s livestock export has been increasing over the last decade. The country managed to increase its export volume from a little less than a million to 2.1 million during 2001-2010. It exported 5.8 million live animals and 10,533 tons of meat in 2019. Major Destinations of Sudan’s export are KSA, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Yemen, and Libya , while the effort is tap into the Africa continental market.

Uganda’s export earnings from African countries increased more than the export revenues from non-African countries in the past decade. Earnings increased from US$ 798 million in 2008 to US$ 1.6 Billion by 2018 while earnings from non-African economies increased from US$ 927 million in 2008 to US$ 1.5 Billion by 2018. The livestock sector supports livelihoods of large proportion of rural households and has an important role to play in rural poverty reduction strategies. Agriculture is an important sector of the economy apart from the direct provision of food, employment and accounts for nearly 20 percent of the value of nominal GDP and 48 percent of the value of export commodities. Livestock production is an important sub-sector of agriculture contributing about 7.5 percent to total GDP or 17 percent to agricultural GDP. The major livestock species in the country include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry. It is estimated that mixed farming small-scale holders and pastoralists own over 90 percent of the cattle herd and all of the small ruminants and non-ruminant stock. In addition, they produce the bulk of domestic milk and slaughter animals. Cattle are the most important livestock, followed by goats, sheep, pigs and chicken in a descending manner. It’s worth noting that households who own livestock in their enterprise mix tend to be more resilient .

The incumbent consultants will support the three countries develop national AfCFTA implementation strategies that will help the countries to prepare; coordinate and spur trade within the African continent and beyond.

Main Objective

Develop and validate the national AfCFTA implementation strategies for Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda.

Specific Objectives

1. Conduct a desk review on national development plans, trade, industrialization productive sector (fisheries, livestock, crop agriculture and other priority value chains) and export policies and other relevant national documents supportive of AfCFTA, implementation.
2. Review current production and trade within a national and regional context; identify and prioritize opportunities for value chain development; analysis of key constraints, including status of implementation of TBT, SPS strategies, equivalence, non-tariffs barriers and competitiveness issues faced by businesses and means to address them;
3. Identify and document opportunities brought about by AfCFTA agreement and review each country’s preparedness/ potential to exploit the continental markets, Propose strategic actions to boost identified priority sectors including a monitoring and evaluation framework and financial resources mobilization plans

Expected Output

1. Inception report (with questionnaire) accepted by ICPALD and AU-IBAR
2. Draft national AfCFTA implementation strategies for Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda
3. Final strategies accepted by ICPALD and AU-IBAR after validation

Requirements

Key Expert

The Consultancy will be for a total of Thirty (30) man-days at a lump sum amount of USD 9000 for each consultant spread over three months starting five days after the last signature. The profile of the expert should be as follows:

Qualifications and Skills

• Master degree or equivalent in Agriculture, food and nutrition, International trade and development, food processing, Agricultural economics, and Economics with relevant experience in trade and marketing and regional integration
• Knowledge and experience of using participatory approaches in data collection,
• Strong analytical skills,
• Excellent communication skills and fluent in English.

General Professional Experience

• Knowledge and experience of the region and working areas
• A proven successful record of accomplishment in developing trade related strategies, policies and assessment reports
• Proven experience in programming and community initiatives,
• Proven experience in engaging the private sector
• Proven experience in community mobilization for participation in development of strategies

Specific Professional Experience

• At least 10 years working experience in food production, processing and /or marketing, international trade, general trade and marketing and regional integration
• Working experience on priority national value chains
• Experience in international or regional trade agreements
• Knowledge on the Agreement of the African Continental Free Trade Area and participation in negotiations of the AfCFTA
• Experience in supporting private / community led approaches in service delivery, trade and market exploitation.

Reporting and Payment

The payment will be at a lump sum amount of USD 9000. Payment will be based on execution of tasks and subject to clearance by AU-IBAR and ICPALD.

Travel Outside Duty Station (Home Country)

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, a significant aspect of this assignment will be conducted online but with possibility of travel depending on the situation. When travels are possible, Air tickets, road transport and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) at AU rate will be covered upon approval of travel schedules.

Insurance Cover

The consultant will be responsible for his/her own medical and life insurance cover for the duration of the assignment.

How to apply:

Applications

Interested candidates should submit their applications accompanied by a detailed CV, copies of both academic and professional certificates and testimonials, names and addresses of three reputable referees, contact details (e-mail, telephone), technical and financial proposals should be sent by email to: procurement@au-ibar.org with copy to khalid.seid@au-ibar.org. All applications should clearly indicate the country for which the consultancy work is being applied for. Applications should be submitted not later than 26^th November 2020, 1700hrs East Africa Time; AU-IBAR will only respond to shortlisted applicant.