Consultant - BASICS Project Demonstration Plots at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and nonchurch partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS has worked in Nigeria for more than 25 years.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Analysis of BASICS Project Demonstration Plots in Benue State

Job Ref Code: PDB51219
Location: Abuja

Background
Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seed System for Nigeria (BASICS) is a 4-year multi-partner project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project commenced on 5th November 2015 and key project activities will end on March 31, 2020. The project has five components, namely: breeder seed, village seed entrepreneur (VSE) model, processor associated model, quality seed component, and project coordination and M&E. CRS implements the VSE component of the project in Benue state.

Demonstration plots were established as one of the awareness and demand creation channels for the certified stems of improved varieties promoted by the project and produced by the seed entrepreneurs. Each demonstration plot is established with 4 improved, 1 national and 1 local variety of cassava. This request for consultancy is for the analysis of the yield (stem and root) and product characteristics of the six varieties of cassava varieties planted in the demonstration plots established by the BASICS Project in Benue state.

Scope of Work:

• 50 demonstration plots were established in 2018/2019 season with 5 improved and 1 local cassava varieties
• The demos were established primarily to demonstrate the varietal performance [root yields, processing yield for gari and akpu and products (akpu and gari) color] of the improved and local cassava varieties
• The demos are now matured, and the Project intends to harvest them and collect the yield data and process the roots to know the product yields: amount of gari/akpu that 100 kgs of each variety can produce and analysis of the whiteness of the gari and akpu from each variety (improved vs local).

Specific Activities:

• To coordinate and undertake the harvest and taking total weights of equal numbers of stands of each variety representative sample of the fifty (50) demonstration plots established by the BASICS Project within 5 major catchment areas (Adikpo, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Makurdi and Otukpo) in Benue State.
• To coordinate and undertake sampling of 60kg root weight of each variety harvested.
• To convey the weighed samples of roots to processing sites and coordinate the processing of such in line with the processing protocol (attached as appendix 1 to this scope of work)
• To package and send samples to and analysis the products at a reputable Food Science and Technology Lab.
• To make payment for the laboratory analysis of the samples.
• To produce a comprehensive report of the activities with coloured pictures, all in soft copies.

Application Closing Date
COB Wedenesday, 11th December, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates (Consultants) should send their expression of interest (EOI) along with a detailed Resume as one document in PDF, indicating the consultancy being applied for and the Job Ref Code as the subject of the application (e.g. Consultancy for the Analysis of BASICS Project Demonstration Plots in Benue State - PDB51219) and attach MS Word documents to: tenders.ngr@crs.org

Note

• The EOI should include but not limited to the following: Expected daily rate, personal/company profile, skills, competencies and suitability for the assignment as well as readiness for immediate short-term consultancy plus a copy of such previous work
• Applications will be processed on a rolling basis
• Only qualified persons will be contacted and invited for screening.

Equal Employer Opportunity:

• “CRS is an equal –opportunitYou’re y employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, religion and we are committed to gender sensitive programming and management’. etc.
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply”

Safeguarding:

• By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking
• Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

Statement of Commitment to Protection:

• 'CRS' recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation’’.