Job Description

Contract Type: Consultancy

Contract Dates: From 22 July to 15 November, 2026

Deadline for Applications 18 July 2026 before 11:59 PM CET

The Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Science Program is one of thirteen in the CGIAR 2025-2030 Research Portfolio By uniting livestock and aquatic systems in a single program, SAAF addresses shared pressures—rising demand, climate vulnerability, degraded ecosystems, and food safety risks—through coordinated, context-specific innovations. Unlike siloed approaches, SAAF links cutting-edge productivity enhancing, One Health, climate-smart, and digital innovations with inclusive market systems and gender-responsive strategies. SAAF science directly serves smallholder producers, other value chain actors and consumers, especially women and youth, and informs policymakers and investors seeking to scale equitable, nutrient-dense, low-emission food systems adapted to local realities.

The Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Science Program invites applications from qualified consultants to design, coordinate, and facilitate an Africa–Asia exchange visit focused on livestock and aquaculture systems.

This initiative aims to strengthen South–South learning and collaboration by bringing together farmers, government officials, researchers, and development partners from Africa and Asia to exchange knowledge, innovations, and best practices.

The exchange will involve approximately 12 participants from:

• Africa: Kenya and Ethiopia
• Asia: Bangladesh and Vietnam

The program will include reciprocal visits:

• Africa-to-Asia (Bangladesh or Vietnam)
• Asia-to-Africa (Kenya or Ethiopia)

Objective:

The selected consultant will lead the overall coordination of the exchange program to:

• Design a comprehensive exchange program and implementation plan
• Coordinate participant selection and engagement
• Manage logistics for both exchange visits
• Facilitate interactions with host institutions and stakeholders
• Document lessons learned and support knowledge-sharing outputs
• Ensure effective communication and visibility

Requirements

Key responsibilities:

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

Program Design

• Develop a detailed concept and implementation plan
• Define learning objectives and expected outcomes for the visits
• Design detailed itineraries for both exchange visits
• Identify and coordinate host institutions and field sites
• Propose criteria for participant selection

Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with national and regional partners
• Coordinate with government agencies, research institutions, and private sector actors
• Organize preparatory meetings and briefings

Participant Selection

• Develop selection criteria and nomination processes
• Support identification of participants, including:
• Farmers (aquaculture and livestock)
• Government officials
• SAAF representatives

Logistics Coordination

• Arrange travel, accommodation, and local transport
• Facilitate visa processes
• Organize field visits and meetings
• Ensure safety and duty-of-care compliance

Knowledge Management & Communications

• Develop a communication and visibility plan
• Support documentation (photos, videos, testimonials)
• Produce learning briefs and final report

Facilitation & Reporting

• Facilitate exchange sessions and daily debriefs
• Document lessons learned and recommendations
• Develop post-exchange action and dissemination plans

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver:

• Inception report and workplan - Within 5 days of contract start
• Exchange concept and implementation plan - Within 10 days
• Participant selection framework - Within 15 days
• Detailed itinerary and logistics plan - Within 15 days
• Communication and visibility plan - Within 20 days
• Daily briefs during visits – In October
• Draft and final exchange visit reports– In October
• Post-exchange scaling and dissemination plan– In November

Key competencies:

Advanced degree in agriculture, aquaculture, livestock production, rural development, international development, or related fields.

Benefits

All applications must be submitted online by clicking the 'Apply' button below before 11:59 PM CET on 18 July 2026

If you require assistance or face challenges in submitting your application, please email smo-bidding@cgiar.org with the position title in the subject line. Applications submitted through smo-bidding@cgiar.org will NOT be accepted.

Please ensure your resume and cover letter are in English and does not contain your marital status, age, or photograph. Documents provided in a language other than English will not be considered.

CGIAR is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary, collegial working environment. We consciously create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

We look forward to hearing from you!