AFRICA AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT 2017 EDITOR

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is an African-led alliance focused on putting farmers at the center of our continent’s growing economy. AGRA advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace. Together with its partners—including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector, and civil society—AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa feeds itself.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa is a not-for-profit organization working with African governments, other donors, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), the private sector and African farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of resource poor smallholder farmers in Africa. AGRA’s overall goal is to catalyze and sustain an Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa to increase incomes and improve food security of at least 30 million smallholder farming households with a set of targeted catalytic downstream and systemic investments coupled with government engagement made through its alliance of partners.

AGRA has been publishing the Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR) since 2013. The annual publication has become a reference point for emerging topics on agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), such as Staple Crops (2013), Climate Change (2014), Youth in Agriculture (2015), and Progress towards Agriculture Transformation (2016). We are currently working on the 5th edition of the AASR 2017.

AGRA is currently working the 5th edition its annual AASR, which will focus on The Business of the Smallholder Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. The publication will provide an overview of the state of smallholder agriculture in Africa, changing contexts, challenges and opportunities. It will outline strategies for promoting farming as a business via interventions which aim to improve the business environment. It will explore the roles of private sector, agribusiness and public sector in smallholder agriculture. This report will include a detailed collection of data and information from SSA countries.

In this regard, AGRA is seeking the support of an editor in the preparation of the 2017 Africa Agriculture Status report focusing on The Business of the Smallholder Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the editor will work in cooperation and collaboration with AGRA and lead coordinator.

Scope of

Work:

· Working with chapter authors to provide substantive editorial support (i.e., ‘heavy’ editing and rewriting where needed, content reorganization and, in limited cases, producing original draft text if needed);

· Participate in the write-shop scheduled for April 10th – 11th, 2017 in Nairobi.

· Looking for and eliminating any unnecessary repetition, and enhancing the flow of content and ideas across the document;

· Ensuring clarity and consistency of chapter abstracts, key messages and of all body text;

· Editing the presentation style of the document and its suitability for intended audiences;

· Advising on the continuity of style and content across/between different chapters, and the overall presentation of the report;

· Copy editing of the entire volume;

· Proofreading of text and all tables and graphic elements;

· Ensuring that style, text citations and chapter references conform to the APA style;

· Editor to proofread the final designed publication;

· Assist in drafting the Foreword.

Deliverables

· Edited chapters to be delivered on time for the designer 1 month (by July 1st, 2017) before the launch which is scheduled for September 4-8 2017, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

· List of acronyms

Payment Schedule:

The payment for this work will be done in two parts. 40% payment upon signing the contract and 60% after completion and launch of the report.

HOW TO APPLY:

Proposal Submission:

Interested and qualified consultants are invited to submit their proposal(s) comprising of the following:

· An understanding of the consultancy requirements

· Methodology and work-plan for performing the assignment

· Project delivery plan

· Detailed reference list indicating the scope and magnitude of similar assignments

· Relevant services undertaken in the past three (3) years

· Registration and other relevant statutory documents

Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial proposals will not be opened until the conclusion of the technical evaluation and then only for those proposals that are deemed qualified and responsive.

Disclaimer

AGRA reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party.

Submission

All interested consultants or consultancy companies are asked to submit their proposals by close of business on Friday March 3rd, 2017 at 1700 Hours East Africa Time (GMT +3) to the following email address: procurement@agra.org. All bidders must quote the above Title of the Proposal in the subject line of their email submission.