Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is a faith-based international development organization. CRS Ghana was established in 1958, a year after Ghana gained independence. In Ghana, CRS works with the nation’s people to tackle poverty on several fronts including improving health, nutrition, and care and support for people living with HIV; increasing access to water and sanitation; promoting agriculture to enhance food security; and increasing financial assets through Savings and Internal Lending Communities.

Name/Title: Agriculture Program Quality/Strategic Planning Consultant
Dates of Consultancy: Mid-August-mid-September 2014
DSPN:     1550 6400058
Purpose: Program Quality and Strategic Positioning for Ag Portfolio
Supervisor: Melissa Kreek, Head of Programs
Date of Final Report: 1 week after end of Consultancy

Background

CRS’ 2014-2018 Global Agency Strategy prioritizes agricultural livelihoods as one of three global signature program areas (SPAs), with health and emergency response and recovery.  CRS is committing resources into SPAs to reach more vulnerable people with evidence-based, participatory, equitable, efficient and holistic interventions.

CRS Ghana currently manages a small portfolio of agricultural programs working with small holder farmers in yam, sweet potato and soybean. These projects place a focus on learning and research and are all a part of a larger consortium of implementing partners.

CRS Ghana is assessing the country program’s strategic positioning within the agricultural sector and set new standards for program quality in our current portfolio of programs.

This scope of work outlines the objectives and deliverables for a short-term consultant to provide technical inputs into these areas to help develop a stronger, more strategically focused program that builds on CRS competencies.

Objectives

Program Quality

•   Review CRS’ agricultural livelihoods strategy documents and CRS Ghana project proposals, detailed implementation plans and recent project reports for 3 agricultural projects in current portfolio as provided by project teams
•   Complete field visits of projects and interview beneficiaries, project staff and partners to understand realities of program implementation and results on the ground
•   Summarize key discrepancies between project plans and actual progress/results in the field; note challenges to implementation; and make recommendations to improve program quality in reference to project objectives

Strategic Planning

•   From field visits and interviews as noted above, identify CRS’ strengths and create brief capacity statements including photos, testimonials and results, for work in agricultural livelihoods
•   Complete assessment of CRS’ competitive advantages and provide recommendations for positioning (through what crops, region, methodologies, partners, etc.) relative to other development organizations working in the sector in Ghana (what does CRS Ghana do better or have potential to do better than any other development organization)
•   Review existing recommendations for new business opportunities (to be provided to consultant), with focus on university and private sector partnerships. Prioritize these opportunities, and in coordination with HoP, schedule introductory meetings with at least 5 potential partners.

Human Resource Development

•   Aid CRS Ghana in the recruitment of an Agriculture PM to manage and grow Agricultural Livelihoods portfolio
•   Collaborate with new CRS Ghana Agriculture PM to review findings of program quality review and co-develop an action plan to implement recommendations.
•   Coordinate with new CRS Ghana Agriculture PM to finalize strategic growth plan
•   Coordinate with new CRS Ghana Agriculture PM to visit potential partners and agree on next steps.

Deliverables

•   Summary program quality report noting specific discrepancies between project plans and actual progress/results; challenges to implementation; and recommendations to improve program quality.  Preference for information to be presented in chart format, organized by project indicators (relevant activities would fall under indicators).
•   Photo documentation of examples of excellent work, and work that seems to be below acceptable quality standards.
•   Maximum 1 page capacity statement including testimonials and results for CRS’ work in agricultural livelihoods.
•   Maximum 1 1/2 page positioning statement, with chart summarizing CRS’ competitive competencies in relation to competitors.
•   In coordination with HoP, define agenda and set up meetings with 5 potential partners for funding opportunities.
•   Report on any other large agricultural funding opportunities in the pipeline for Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and recommendations for CRS positioning.
•   Assist in pre-selection of CVs and sit on interview panel for new Ag PM.
•   In coordination with Ag PM and HoP, finalize and document next steps for program quality and business development (as per consultant recommendations).
•   Provide weekly status report on activities to HoP.
•   Submit final report summarizing deliverables and recommendations.
•   Complete a timesheet showing hours worked.

Supervisor
Melissa Kreek (HOP)- CRS Ghana

Internal Contacts
Lisa Washington Sow (CR), Melissa Kreek (HOP), Mohammed Ali (Health PM), Kwasi Attuahene (HOO), Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur (MEAL), Phillip Atim, Agric SPO, Alice Obeng-Sintim (Admin Officer/Accra), Ramatu Baba-Issaka (Admin Officer/Tamale)

External Contacts
Prioritized potential private sector partners

Planning & Logistics
Period of Performance
The period of performance of tasks will be approximately 30 hours a week

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Application is open to interested and qualified individuals. Applicants for this service should submit 1 copy of their application to the following address not later than 7/8/14.
Further enquiries about this TOR may be addressed to:

telephone number: 0507-040285

email: alice.obengsintim@crs.org

Address:

The Administrative Officer
Catholic Relief Service
P. O. Box AN 6333
Accra – Ghana

Closing Date: 07 August, 2014