Consultancy to Conduct Training on Leadership and Corporate Governance for Members of the FARA Forum

FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA

                                       EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR FIRMS)
Consulting Services: Consultancy to Conduct Training on Leadership and Corporate Governance for Members of the FARA Forum

Name of Project: FARA Multi-Donor Trust Fund (FARA-MDTF)

Grant No : FARA-MDTF TF095129 

Project ID No.: P112684 

Assignment Ref. No: CGRS 4.4/2012-2013 Date: April 29, 2013

This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in dg Market, issue no. 4577029 of November 10, 2009

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has received a grant from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) towards the cost of implementation of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program

(CAADP) Pillar IV strategy of the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU-NEPAD).

FARA intends to use part of the proceeds to the following consultant services:

TO ENGAGE A FIRM TO CONDUCT TRAINING ON LEADERSHIP AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE FARA FORUM

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the apex organization for agricultural research for development in Africa; working closely with the AUC/NEPAD, FARA has been instrumental in the implementation of Pillar IV of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) focusing on generation, dissemination and adoption of agricultural innovations. The mission of FARA is to create broad-based improvements in agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets by supporting Africa’s sub-regional organizations in strengthening the capacity of regional stakeholders for agricultural innovation.

Conceptually, FARA is a forum of African stakeholders and constituents involved in agricultural development including:
• the four sub-regional organizations coordinating agricultural research (ASARECA, CCARDESA, CORAF/WECARD and NASRO);
• regional networks dealing with tertiary agricultural education and training (e.g. RUFORUM, ANAFE and REESAO);
• extension agencies (e.g. AFAAS);
• farmer interest groups   and non-governmental organizations (e.g. PAFFO and PANGOC);
• agribusinesses (e.g. PanAAC); and
• members of the national agricultural innovation systems (e.g. policy making organs, national agricultural research entities, tertiary agricultural education institutes and universities, civil society, and farmer-based organizations).

The FARA Secretariat based in Accra, Ghana, with the oversight of the Board of Directors, executes the functions and responsibilities ratified by members of the Forum. According to the current Medium Term Operational Plan (MTOP), 2008 – 2012, the Secretariat operates through four mutually reinforcing Networking Support Functions (NSFs), namely: Advocacy and Policy (NSF 1/3); Access to Knowledge & Technologies (NSF 2); Capacity Strengthening (NSF 4); and Partnerships and Strategic Alliances (NSF 5).

Achievement of the African vision for agriculture relies on the collective capacity and collaborative efforts of members of the FARA Forum and other enabling regional agencies. An assessment of capacity needs of the national agricultural research agencies in sub-Saharan Africa commissioned by FARA in 2005 revealed four key areas for action: 1) improving governance and management; 2) strengthening scientific capacity and management; 3) improving financial status and management; and 4) strengthening collaboration (Mukiibi and Youdeowei, 20061).

Towards the end of 2006, FARA organized a five-day training seminar on corporate governance for key members of the Forum including Executive Committee members of the FARA Board, leaders of sub-regional organizations (SROs), and directors of national agricultural research institutes of selected countries. However, there was no specific provision for post-training follow-up and monitoring of participants to determine the ‘capacity built’ and how this helped improve their performance back in their respective organizations.

In the meantime, the membership of the FARA Board and leadership of stakeholder organizations have significantly changed since the corporate governance training of 2006. Thus, the current FARA Board members have expressed the need for a second training of a similar nature.

Objectives of the assignment

FARA is seeking to promote the practice of good governance in the exercise of its mandate by embedding systems, processes and principles that will ensure fairness, transparency and accountability to stakeholders. An initial transaction in this endeavor is equipping the leaders of stakeholder organizations, members of the FARA Board of Directors, and management of the Secretariat with key skills to enhance their performance.

Scope of work

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

a) Design a training module on corporate governance and strategic leadership
b) Undertake training of members of the FARA Forum and FARA Secretariat staff on the module
c) Develop a system for tracking or monitoring the capacity built in the participants and impacts on their job performance

FARA now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms 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 should have a proven record of conducting similar trainings for international agricultural organizations for not less than 10 years

Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

A firm will be selected in accordance with the Selection Based on the Consultants’ Qualifications (CQS)method set out in the World Bank’s Selection and Employment of Consultants by the World Bank Borrowers,
January 2011.

 [1] Mukiibi, J. and Youdeowei, A. (2006). Agricultural Research Delivery in Africa: An Assessment of the Requirements for Efficient, Effective and Productive African NARS. Final report submitted to FARA. Unpublished. 

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1500 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by 14th May, 2013.

Prof. Monty P. Jones
Executive Director
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
PMB CT 13, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
Telephone: +233 21 772823/779421
Email:  ed@fara-africa.org

For any further clarification, you may contact:

Dr. Irene Annor-Frempong,
Director, Capacity Strengthening
Email:  ifrempong@fara-africa.org

Consultants are advised to quote the Assignment Reference Number in the application.