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Role Summary

Background

The Green Growth Programme (GGP) is a five-year programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI) together with a consortium of technical partners. The programme aims to accelerate sustainable, private sector-led agricultural transformation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through an integrated approach that combines policy and institutional reform, value chain development, and investment mobilisation.

Pillar 1 focuses on strengthening the policy, regulatory and institutional environment required to unlock private investment, improve agricultural competitiveness, and create the enabling conditions for sustainable agricultural growth. During the mobilisation phase, the programme undertook a comprehensive policy reform diagnostic, extensive stakeholder consultations, and reform prioritisation process, resulting in three priority reform areas:

• Land Governance and Territorial Planning;

• Financial Instruments and Agri-Finance Reforms; and

• Professionalisation of Agricultural Value Chains.

Within this context, the fisheries value chain has been identified as an important driver of food-system transformation, with strong potential to create jobs, diversify rural incomes and improve nutrition security. As climate shocks increasingly affect production systems and livelihoods, the development of sustainable aquaculture can strengthen community resilience, safeguard food supplies and reduce pressure on natural fishery resources. Particular emphasis will be placed on aquaculture as a priority pathway for sustainable growth of the value chain, alongside efforts to preserve natural fishery resources.

The analysis undertaken by the programme identifies several interrelated constraints limiting the performance of the value chain, including the absence or weak application of standards appropriate to fish production, processing, distribution and marketing. This increases risks and transaction costs, constrains private investment, undermines product quality and traceability, and limits access to higher-value markets. From a market systems development (MSD) perspective, strengthening the standards framework is a key lever for improving coordination among market actors, reducing information asymmetries, promoting inclusive and climate-resilient practices, and stimulating sustainable investment.

In this context, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is expected to play a central role in the development, validation and institutionalisation of the standards. To advance this process, the programme will organise a two-day participatory workshop to analyse the market system; review, refine and validate an initial draft standards framework covering the full value chain and incorporating climate resilience, inclusion and the perspectives of key value-chain actors; and agree a roadmap for the dissemination and progressive adoption of the standards. The workshop will be facilitated by the GGP team.

These Terms of Reference are for the recruitment of a technical consultant to provide specialist expertise in aquaculture and standards development, prepare the initial draft standards framework and related technical materials, support its participatory review and validation through the workshop and subsequent technical review process, and support the dissemination of the final standards framework to relevant stakeholders.


Objective

The objective of the assignment is to provide technical support for the development, validation and dissemination of a fisheries standards framework for the DRC. The Consultant will provide specialist technical expertise throughout the process, including preparing an initial draft standards framework for consideration at the workshop, supporting its participatory review and refinement, incorporating agreed feedback from the subsequent technical review and validation process, and producing the final standards framework for dissemination.

Desired profile

The assignment requires a consultant with demonstrated technical expertise in aquaculture/fish farming and the development of standards, as well as a good understanding of market systems development (MSD) approaches. The Consultant will provide technical support across the standards development process, from preparation of the initial draft and facilitation of the participatory workshop through to technical review, finalisation and dissemination of the standards framework.

Candidates must be willing to relocate to Kinsasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo and will be responsible for arranging and covering their own relocation costs, including any required visa and work permit expenses.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise on good aquaculture practices, biosecurity and climate resilience;

• Support the development and review of sanitary, phytosanitary and commercial standards, including requirements relating to grading, quality and traceability;

• Co-facilitate thematic discussions across the relevant value-chain segments;

• Lead the technical preparation of the initial draft standards framework and support its review and refinement through the workshop and subsequent technical review process;

• Incorporate agreed technical feedback and support the finalisation of the fisheries standards framework and implementation roadmap;

• Provide technical support for dissemination of the final standards framework, including preparation of technical materials, participation in provincial dissemination missions and support to stakeholder understanding and uptake.

Qualifications and Experience

• Postgraduate degree (minimum Master's level or equivalent) in aquaculture/fisheries, fisheries science, agronomy, food safety or a related field;

• At least seven years of relevant technical experience in the fisheries/aquaculture sector and/or the development of agri-food standards;

• Strong knowledge of standards frameworks relating to production, processing, quality and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements, as well as relevant certification systems;

• Experience working on programmes applying a market systems development (MSD) approach, or a strong understanding of its application to agricultural value chains;

• Knowledge of climate resilience and inclusion considerations in aquaculture value chains;

• Experience working in the DRC or a comparable context, with strong technical writing skills in French.

Expected Competences

• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team;

• Strong communication and facilitation skills, including experience facilitating participatory processes involving multiple stakeholders;

• Strong listening skills, neutrality and ability to manage multi-stakeholder dynamics;

• Strong organisational skills, autonomy and ability to deliver to agreed timelines;

• Working knowledge of English is an advantage.

Closing Date: