Background:The Government of Ghana led by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), in collaboration with the World Bank and USAID is currently preparing the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP). The project is being approached in two phases, the Project Preparation phase for which advance funding has already been received and contracts for preparatory activities of the project either ongoing or in the procurement process; and the main project phase which has recently been negotiated and likely to be effective in the course of the year. This consultancy service covers activities in both phases.

The proposed project will improve the investment climate for agri-business and establish inclusive PPPs aimed at increasing on-farm productivity and value addition in selected value chains. The project will have four components: (i) strengthening investment promotion infrastructure and facilitating secure access to land; (ii) securing PPPs and small-holder linkages in the area under the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA); and (iv) Project Management and Monitoring & Evaluation.

The broad activities under each Component are confirmed as the following:

Component 1: Strengthening investment promotion infrastructure, facilitating secure access to land. This component will promote a secure investment climate that clarifies and strengthens the rights and obligations of investors, government and affected communities, and support an improved mechanism for facilitating access to land by reducing the search costs to potential investors through an expansion of a database of land suitable and available for investors and by building on nascent mechanisms for actively matching potential investors with suitable land owners.

Component 2: Securing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and smallholder linkages in the Accra Plains. This component will involve the identification and realization of private investments in the agricultural value chain through irrigation-based PPPs in the Accra Plains. This component will support the first transaction of Ghana's PPP agenda (which extends beyond agriculture) and will draw on support to the MoFEP's PPP Unit. It will support all necessary tasks of 'taking the PPP to market' including the provision of any viability gap financing. It will also strengthen community benefit sharing farming arrangements as well as other improved arrangements to benefit sharing through corporate social responsibility and revenue management at the local level.

Component 3: Securing PPPs and smallholder linkages in the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) region. This component will involve the identification and realization of private investments in the agricultural value chain through PPPs. Investors could be local or international and strengthen community benefit sharing mechanisms by directly supporting smallholder linkages through out-grower schemes and contract farming arrangements as well as other improved arrangements for benefit sharing through corporate social responsibility and revenue management at the local level.

Component 4: Project Management and Monitoring & Evaluation. This component would finance the operational costs of project management including monitoring and evaluation activities. It would also include necessary training and capacity building for the staff.

Objectives of the Assignment:

The GCAP is financed by the World Bank and USAID. This project is currently being restructured to provide a greater focus on irrigation and drainage investments, both public and private. Under the restructured project, rehabilitation/modernization of large scale irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Kpong Irrigation Scheme, Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes in the Upper Eastern Region as well as the completion of Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme will be undertaken in addition to possible rehabilitation/modernization of smaller schemes. The operation and management responsibilities will be turned over to Scheme Management Entities and Water User Associations. The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) and the Irrigation Company of Upper Eastern Region (ICOUR) are being restructured substantially reflecting the above. The original concept of providing matching grants to private developers to cover the costs of design, procurement and installation of irrigation and drainage equipment and construction of relevant infrastructure would be continued in the restructured GCAP.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Overall:

Provides substantial technical and managerial inputs to the GCAP Director in managing all aspects of project components related to irrigation and drainage development in designated project locations approved and financed by the World Bank/USAID.

Specific:

•   Participate and lead in the evaluation of technical proposals received from short-listed international consultants for the rehabilitation/modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Kpong Irrigation Scheme.
•   Participate and lead in the evaluation of technical proposals received from short-listed international consultants for the rehabilitation/modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes.
•   Participate and lead in the evaluation of technical proposals received from short-listed international consultants for the completion/modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the selected international consultant in the field investigations, surveys and designs required for the rehabilitation/modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Kpong Irrigation Scheme.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the selected international consultant in the field investigations, surveys and designs required for the rehabilitation/modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the selected international consultant in the field investigations, surveys and designs required ferthe completion/modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure in the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme.
•   Participate and lead in the contractor selection process for the construction of the rehabilitation/modernization works in the Kpong Irrigation Scheme.
•   Participate and lead in the contractor selection process for the construction of the rehabilitation/modernization works in Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes
•   Participate and lead  in the contractor selection  process for the construction of the completion/modernization works in the Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Scheme.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the international consultant in supervising the construction activities related to the completion/modernization of the Kpong Left Bank  Irrigation Scheme.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the international consultant in the formation of Water User Associations and selection of Scheme Management Entities for the Kpong, Tono, Vea and Kpong Left Bank Schemes.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the international consultant in formulating operations manuals for the Kpong, Tono, Vea and Kpong Left Bank Schemes.
•   Act as the lead counterpart for the international consultant in formulating the maintenance manuals for the Kpong, Tono, Vea and Kpong Left Bank Schemes.
•   Liaise closely with GIDA Deputy Chief Executive (Engineering) in all aspects of the above duties.
•   Assist GCAP in GIDA restructuring operations.
•   Carry out technical assessment and appraisal of irrigation systems and equipment options proposed by Grant Awardees/Nucleus Farmers to ensure that they are appropriate and provide value for money taking into account all relevant site-specific technical considerations, including the type of crops proposed to be cultivated by the farmers.
•   Perform other tasks related to the Candidate's qualifications and experience that may be assigned by the GCAP Director.

Duration of Assignment:
Three years- The selected candidate will be on probation for the first year; if confirmed based on satisfactory performance, the term will be extended by two years.

Qualification Required & Experience

Essential:

•   The candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master's degree in either Irrigation Engineering or Hydraulic Engineering or Water Resources Engineering or equivalent field.
•   He/She should have at least 15 years' proven and successful experience in the design and construction supervision of irrigation and drainage infrastructure.
•   Strong oral and written communication skills in English language with a capacity to communicate effectively to a wide variety of audiences, including conducting periodic presentations.

Desirable:

•   Experience in operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage infrastructure assets.
•   Experience in construction of civil works in clay soils.
•   Demonstrated ability to work with government/public sector decision-makers and donor organizations
•   Experience with working in developing countries

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Qualified and Interested applicants should send application letters with copies of curriculum vitae, certificates and other relevant documentation to:

The Chief Director
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
P O Box M 37
Accra, Ghana

For further information please contact:

THE TEAM LEADER
GHANA COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURAL PROJECT (GCAP)
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (MOFA)
P O BOX MB.37
ACCRA

alabibortey@gmail.com       Tel: +233-20-0198921

Applicants are to include direct contacts (reliable telephone, fax numbers and email address) in their applications in order to facilitate early and easy contact. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Closing Date: 05 March, 2015