Recruitment of Staff for CCARDESA

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO HIRE THE SERVICES OF A FIRM FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF OF THE CENTRE FOR COORDINATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA (CCARDESA)

Reference: 2012/CCARDESA/6/

CCARDESA REPRESENTED BY THE FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa on behalf of the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) has applied a grant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this grant to payments under the contract for Hiring the services of a firm for the recruitment of staff of the CCARDESA

BACKGROUND

The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) is a not-for-profit sub-regional research and development organization (SRO) headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana which will coordinate the implementation of agricultural research and development (R&D) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. CCARDESA’s goal is to contribute to sustainable reduction in food insecurity and poverty in the SADC region as pronounced in SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the Dar es Salaam Declaration on food security, and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) developed by the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU-NEPAD). CCARDESA operates within the framework of CAADP Pillar IV which has the objective of enhancing the livelihoods of African farmers and pastoralists and is spearheaded by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Hence FARA is supporting the institutional development of CCARDESA as well as strengthening its linkages with other umbrella bodies contributing to CAADP Pillar. The strategic objective of CCARDESA is to increase smallholder productivity and competitiveness through the implementation of Pillar IV of CAADP for the SADC region based on the Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP).

CCARDESA enjoys substantial support from SADC Member States, stakeholders in the region and development partners. CCARDESA is in the process of establishing its Secretariat and FARA as its fiduciary agent is now recruiting the Executive Director and Senior CCARDESA staff.
On behalf of CCARDESA, FARA seeks to recruit from nationals of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) a cadre of senior staff with experience in agricultural research and development (R&D) for the benefit of farmers, and in particular, smallholder farmers in the SADC region.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The purpose is to provide procurement services, through FARA, to the CCARDESA Board of Directors in the recruitment of CCARDESA Secretariat personnel as follows:


* Executive Director of CCARDESA

* Programmes and Grants Manager

* Administration Manager

* Finance Manager

* Procurement Officer

* Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator

* Research and Advisory Services Thematic Coordinator

SCOPE OF WORK

The requested services are for a total of 30 days spread over a period of about five months from February 1, 2012.


* CCARDESA’s paramount objective in the appointment of staff members is to secure, through open competition, the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity available. These principles form the basis of selection decisions about the “best” candidate for a position.

* The basic elements of which are:

1. adequate publicity - vacancies are publicized to provide potential candidates with reasonable opportunity to apply;

2. absence of discrimination - selections are made impartially under processes that will neither discriminate nor unduly favour candidates on the basis of race, gender or nationality in the SADC region.

In recruiting the Executive Director and staff stipulated in these TORs, FARA under the authority of CCARDESA Board of Directors wishes to procure consulting services of a reputable recruitment firm through an open and competitive process. The selected firm will facilitate the recruitment process, The firm will submit three to five finalists to the Client for final interview and selection by CCARDESA Board. Further details of the terms of reference can be sourced on the FARA website, www.fara-africa.org

FARA representing CCARDESA now invites eligible Consulting Firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Firms must have demonstrated experience in recruitment. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011. Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below from 9.00am to 4.00 pm.

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by close of business on
9th December 2011. Prof. Monty P. Jones

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
PMB CT 173, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 302 772823/779421
Email: ed@fara-africa.org
For clarification, you may contact the address above.