Expert, Farmer Cooperative/ Institutional support & Marketing

Result of ServiceThe Consultant will submit a monthly report on the progress and completion of outputs for the second coffee chain and institutions for validation, as follows: • Output 1. Logistical and Administrative Coordination for Missions and Events: Management of logistical arrangements for field visits, training sessions, and events, including preparation of materials, scheduling, and ensuring active participation from key stakeholders. Delivery of post-event reports capturing key outcomes and agreed next steps. Ongoing throughout the contract period, with event-specific timelines defined at least 2 weeks before each activity. Post-event reports due within 7 working days of each event. Final output delivered by December 2025. • Output 2. Work Plan Development and Performance Monitoring Preparation of a coordinated, comprehensive work plan in collaboration with stakeholders, aligned with the overall project objectives. Ongoing monitoring of work plan execution, with bi-weekly progress updates provided to the National Coordinator and relevant stakeholders. Workplan to be delivered by 30 September 2025. Final monitoring report to be submitted by 20 December 2025. • Output 3. Facilitation of Inclusive Stakeholder Consultations: At least four multi-stakeholder consultation meetings organized and facilitated annually, aimed at strengthening collaboration, resolving challenges, and defining clear, actionable follow-ups. Final consultation by 20 December 2025. • Output 4. Stakeholder Engagement Planning and Coordination: A structured schedule of recurring stakeholder meetings and events is developed and executed, ensuring consistent communication and alignment across coffee value chain actors and institutional stakeholders. Stakeholder engagement plan to be finalized by 15 September 2025. Ongoing coordination until 20 December 2025. • Output 5. Institutional Roles and Responsibilities Mapping: Design and regular updating of a coordination matrix outlining institutional partners’ roles, responsibilities, and contributions within the coffee value chain, reflecting progress and any role adjustments. Initial version to be submitted by 15 October 2025. Updates to be provided periodically with a final submission by 20 December 2025. • Output 6. Communication System and Progress Reporting: Implementation and management of an efficient communication system to support the exchange of information between stakeholders, project partners, and the National Alliances for Action Coordinator. Monthly consolidated reports submitted, capturing activities, key milestones, and updates. Communication system operational by 15 September 2025. Monthly reports submitted by the 5th of each month until 5 December 2025. Work LocationHome-based (Ghana) Expected durationASAP - 31.12.25 Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for trade-related technical cooperation in developing countries. The Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (OLAC), as a geographical section of the Division of Country Programmes (DCP), is responsible for defining the ITC strategy in the region, either for individual countries or at the sub-regional and regional levels. OLAC is also responsible for coordinating all ITC interventions, including the work of ITC technical sections in the region. The Inclusive Agribusiness Systems Unit, which is under the Division of Enterprises and Institutions (DEI) is overseeing the technical coordination of the project using the Alliances for Action approach. The European Union funded project “Support to Business Friendly and Inclusive National and Regional Policies, and Strengthening Productive Capabilities and Value Chains” Programme aims to complement the European Union support for private sector development in ACP countries, under the context of the joint ACP-EU Programme for ACP Private Sector Development Support, adopted by ACP-EU Council of Ministers in Nairobi in 2014, and is financed from the 11th European Development Fund. The focus of the project is designed to achieve two key outcomes: (1) adopting and implementing business-friendly, inclusive and responsible national policies and legal frameworks, and (2) strengthening productive, processing, promoting and marketing capabilities and value chains. ITC is collaborating with UNIDO and the World Bank in the implementation of the program. ITC is leading the implementation of the micro pillar level of the Programme, which focuses on two core themes: 1) Promoting inclusive productive and commercial Alliances and investment to strengthen VC governance and MSME competitiveness; and 2) Increase small farmers and processors value addition, productivity and competitiveness. Interventions at the micro-level aim to enhance value chain operators’ individual and collective competitiveness with specific attention to family farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and rural and urban MSMEs and processors. Notably, the action employs the Alliances for Action methodology, which is a market led approach that supports associations, improved productivity, and ecological intensification– cost efficient technologies, connections to markets, financial inclusion, diversification and value addition. Description of Duties/Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the National Alliances for Action Coordinator in Ghana and the EU-ACP Business Friendly Programme Manager and under the overall supervision of the Chief of Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Division of Country Programmes and the Head of Inclusive Agribusiness Systems, Green and Inclusive Value Chains (GIVC) Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) the EU-ACP Business Friendly programme National Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties: • Support Institutional Strategy Development and Implementation o Collaborate on designing and executing institutional support strategies for stakeholders in Ghana’s coffee value chain, including the Ghana Cocoa Board (and its divisions such as CRIG), the Coffee Federation of Ghana (CFG), the Coffee Roasters Association of Ghana (CRAG), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA). o Ensure all activities align with a jointly agreed work plan validated by project partners and the National Coordinator. • Strengthen Institutional Networks o Build and enhance partnerships with institutional actors. o Provide capacity-building and technical support to key value chain actors such as farmer cooperatives, processors, aggregators, exporters, and service providers. • Maintain Stakeholder Engagement o Maintain a regularly updated register of institutional and value chain stakeholders. o Ensure consistent engagement to promote collaboration and coordination. • Foster Strategic Partnerships o Support the formation of strategic alliances between coffee value chain actors and institutional partners with relevant project stakeholders. • Monitor and Report on Implementation Progress o Prepare regular progress reports on the implementation of agreed work plans. o Highlight achievements, challenges, and propose corrective actions aligned with sector development objectives. • Liaise with Stakeholders o Establish and manage effective relationships with institutional actors across Ghana’s coffee value chain. o Work closely with the National Alliances for Action Coordinator to ensure coherent stakeholder engagement. • Analyze and Share Results o Assess the impact of institutional support interventions, especially for farmer cooperatives. o Share findings and lessons learned with ITC, stakeholders, and project partners. • Plan and Facilitate Stakeholder Meetings o Organize inclusive, multi-stakeholder meetings to co-develop actionable plans that support both institutional and value chain actors. • Prepare Documentation and Knowledge Products o Draft background documents, analytical reports, and written contributions for publications related to institutional support and value chain development. • Support Stakeholder Platforms and Events o Contribute to the organization of stakeholder platforms by setting agendas, identifying relevant participants, and preparing materials and presentations. • Conduct Outreach and Capacity-Building Activities o Organize and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and seminars. o Represent project activities, including ACP and national initiatives, in relevant public and professional forums. • Lead and Support Field Missions o Participate in and lead field missions to support cooperatives and institutions in enhancing their operational capacity and practices. • Facilitate Stakeholder Participation in Key Events o Assist Ghanaian coffee stakeholders in participating in national, regional, and international trade fairs and sectoral events. Copyright The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. Qualifications/special skills• Undergraduate degree (BA/BSC or other) • Undergraduate university degree in agronomy, agricultural engineering, business administration or related field. • Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree. • A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in project management, business development, business planning, group dynamics, agricultural and rural development, agro-processing and exports, including knowledge of agri-business and participatory approaches. • Experience of working with international/donor organizations or in national development agencies. • Experience in data collection, survey administration and agribusiness. Skills • Ability to produce documents for official circulation among institutions and international stakeholders (memos, reports, business proposals); • Ability to design, develop, monitor and coordinate work plans and business plans; • Good understanding and direct knowledge of the country Public Sector functioning and dynamics; • Good understanding and direct knowledge of the coffee sector in Ghana; • Good understanding of the agri-business sector; • Good understanding of international development project functioning and dynamics; • Good understanding and experience of multi-stakeholder platform facilitation • Good knowledge of Microsoft Office. LanguagesAdvanced knowledge of English Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.