Description

International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, on behalf of International Potato Cener (CIP) is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for a short-term assignment under project titled "Generating Revenues & Opportunities for Women to Improve Nutrition in Ghana (GROWING)".

Project Background

The International Potato Center (CIP) through its host institution in Ghana, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), is seeking to recruit an experienced Environment and Sustainable Production Consultant (ESPC) who is available in July-August 2022 to develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that requires carrying out an environmental analysis and including key activities and indicators for monitoring based on that analysis for the 4.5 year Generating Revenues & Opportunities for Women to Improve Nutrition in Ghana (GROWING) project in six districts in Northern Ghana.

Objective of the Assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that requires carrying out an environmental analysis and including key activities and indicators for monitoring based on that analysis as part of the project’s four-year implementation plan. The assignment has three

major purposes:

1. Build on the analysis conducted at the proposal stage and fully analyze how any project components and activities might present a risk for negative environmental impacts, or a risk for being negatively impacted by the environment, such as by, climate change, natural disasters, water shortages. As well, to further identify any opportunities for the project to have positive environmental benefits. A project area specific climate vulnerability analysis will provide the foundation for this assessment. The project will be working in six districts:

• Saboba and Gushiegu districts in the Northern region
• North Gonja and West Gonja districts in the Savannah region
• Chereponi and East Mamprusi districts in the North East region

2. Design mitigation, monitoring, and institutional measures and actions to:

• avoid or minimize potential environmental risks from the project while maximizing environmental benefits; and
• avoid or minimize any potential negative impacts that the environment/climate change could have on the sustainability of the project.

3. Develop an implementation plan harmonized with other proposed activities to ensure that the proposed environmental mitigation and enhancement measures are implemented effectively, that all project activities are performed in compliance with any applicable environmental legislation, and that any environment and climate change risks associated with the project are properly managed.

In the proposal, the GROWING project assumed that it would have low to moderate environmental risks and moderate environmental opportunities. The major target groups of capacity building, training and extension services provided are the participants, especially women, in small to medium scale food production systems and government and community-selected extension personnel. Through promotion of a sustainable production system perspective, including encouraging rotation, intercropping, mulching, use of organic fertilizers, green manuring, conserving moisture loss, and promotion of more climate-resilient crops and small livestock species. The indirect effects of improved income and productivity could be reduced deforestation and land clearing for getting more cultivated lands. At the market level, environmental awareness efforts will be made to inform consumers and traders about the linkages between a clean environment and food safety, handling of waste, and proper disposal of plastic packaging and/or its replacement with more eco-friendly yet affordable packaging. These assumptions need to be validated through consultation with the literature and interaction with beneficiary communities. Additional entry points for mitigating potential negative environmental effects or generating additional benefits need to be explored.

Scope of Work

The areas that need to be explored include:

• A review of the current policies, legislation, and regulations relating to environmental protection and management, use of inorganic and organic fertilizers, agro-chemical use, and food safety regulations in Ghana
• A description of the physical, biological, and social economic conditions in project target areas (six districts noted above), focused in particular on factors that would hinder or enhance sustainable agricultural production and the maintenance of human health. Consideration should be given to defining which crops are most at risk of malnutrition and poverty under current conditions. Specific attention should be paid to where major irrigation schemes are located and their potential role in production, and impact on the surrounding environment. In addition, at least five specific examples of how communities, particularly women, are currently coping with challenges arising from climate change should be included.
• An examination of current land law and management practice, in regard to resultant consequences for the environment and for women’s engagement in agriculture.
• A comparative assessment of the ecological footprint based on current production systems (including input use) or equivalent smallholder systems of the following crops on the landscape:

o Rice, maize, sorghum, millet, and sweetpotato
o Amaranth, sweetpotato, cowpea, moringa, and baobab leaves
o Papaya, mango, and shea trees

• A concise review of traditional and underutilized gathered and cultivated foods of nutritional value that should be considered for promotion as part of the nutrition education component and inclusion in any sustainable production planning.
• The potential environmental effects of the project and mitigation and/or enhancement measures and the potential effects of the environment on the project, based on the review of relevant literature and focus groups discussions in at least four selected communities with a focus on the selected target crops and the potential differential gender impact of any proposed activities.

Areas to explore include:

• the community’s perception of their vulnerability to climate change and the steps taken to date to address it.
• Enhancing soil fertility and structure, including crop rotation and integrated soil fertility management practices, potential use of cover crops/tree crops, applying organic compounds. The use of rotation and intercropping will break the pest/disease cycles thus reducing the use pf pesticides.
• Improved water management by smallholders
• Pest and disease management using non-toxic compounds and biocontrol options
• Potential testing of Bt cowpea (a GMO)
• Solar disinfection of drinking water and other options such use of moringa seeds for cleaning water for increasing access to healthier drinking water
• Management of manure from small livestock resident in the compound
• Energy management and pollution exposure in the preparation of processed products
• Food safety procedures in product/food preparation in the informal sector
• Waste management, both crop residues and market waste from unsold produce
• Local options for packaging for processed products, and management of waste
• Hygiene practices among food product sellers in informal markets
• Options for lowering the carbon footprint of value chain activities, with a focus on the potential use of digital tools to optimize planning and fuel savings in transport use
• Recommendations of the top eight interventions to be undertaken to mitigate any negative impacts of the project on the environment and the environment on the project, or enhance any positive benefits for the environment, noting cost and gender implications and potential for increasing the resilience of rural households.
• Measurable, affordable indicators for each of the recommended interventions to be integrated into the Project’s PMF, noting the desired frequency of collection and potential for joint collection with community participants.
• An annex briefly describing all projects or government programs encountered during the course of data collection that are engaged in promoting activities to rehabilitate the environment and contact information or are engaged in policy or regulation development.
• The work is expected to be well referenced, with references listed at the end of the report.
• Assist project personnel by developing a draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP), incorporating findings from the assessment report, and noting how people of all genders were consulted during the preparation. This will include:
• Environmental Management Roles and Responsibilities among the project partners
• Policies, procedures, staffing that the implementing organization has in place to support environmental sustainability and ensure implementation of the EMP
• Training and/or Capacity Building Programs
• Schedule of Implementation of Environmental Management Plan
• Budget
• Monitoring and Follow-Up Plan and activities including indicators to be tracked. Plan for reporting on Implementation of the EMP, adjusting as necessary.

Qualification Required & Experience

Your application should include:

• A detailed cover letter describing qualifications for the consultancy and confirming availability in the specified time frame
• Curriculum Vitae of the consultant applying
• Two examples of previous environmental assessment or climate vulnerability work, preferably conducted during the past five years
• Three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience.

Duration: 27 days between 01 July and 08 August 2022

This is a nationally recruited position and only citizens of Ghana are eligible to apply.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Requirements

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• Master’s degree or equivalent university qualification in Agronomy/ Environment, or relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in agri-food sector experience in Ghana (agricultural value chain and climate change analysis, knowledge of agribusiness or food crop production would be an advantage).
• Previous experiences in identifying appropriate environment indicators and employing appropriate environmental assessments of agriculture and marketing projects.
• Experience in dealing with women smallholder farmers and traders, women entrepreneurs, government officials, NGOs, and agribusinesses.
• Strong technical understanding of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations, especially impact evaluations.
• Experience in conducting focus group discussions and other qualitative methods
• Demonstrated knowledge on developmental issues and major actors in the climate change space
• Knowledge of the agri-food production landscape in northern Ghana
• Good understanding of environmental and climate change challenges and constraints for women farmers, entrepreneurs, and agribusiness owners in northern Ghana.
• Knowledge of sweetpotato production systems preferred.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Advanced knowledge of all MS Office 2010 or 2013 applications, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Location: Accra

How to Apply For the Job

To submit your application, click on the link below and complete all relevant fields on the online application form.

Click Here To Apply Online

Closing Date: 29 June, 2022