Job Description

Technical Assistance for the Development of the TACH Project

Development Plan

Tamale Air Cargo and Export Hub (TACH)

Background

The Tamale Air Cargo and Export Hub is a flagship initiative under Ghana's 24-Hour Economy Programme aimed at establishing Northern Ghana's origin-side export enablement platform for horticulture, aquaculture and livestock. The Hub is a 150-acre aviation and logistics enclave at Tamale International Airport, demarcated jointly by the 24H+ Authority and Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). It is designed to resolve the cold-chain, cut-off and reliability constraints that destroy export value before cargo reaches Accra, and to leverage Ghana's longest runway and closest international gateway to Europe and North Africa.

The Air Cargo Hub is proposed as Phase 1 of a phased development programme and will incorporate multimodal linkages with the Volta Lake Transport System (VLTS) to reduce logistics costs along the corridor. Two further aviation enclaves, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and an aircraft fabrication and training centre, are planned for future development, with anchors yet to be confirmed.

While a range of work has already been undertaken, there is a need to consolidate this work into a clear and coordinated pathway for project development. This includes identifying what has already been completed, clarifying the project’s delivery model, identifying outstanding activities, and defining the sequencing, institutional responsibilities, and key decisions required to progress the project toward implementation. To support this process, the UK’s flagship economic growth initiative, the Ghana Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) Programme, seeks a Consultant to support the 24H+ Authority in developing a practical Project Development Plan through a structured consultative process. The process will strengthen coordination across Government of Ghana stakeholders, build institutional ownership, and support the 24H+ Authority to guide project development beyond the life of the assignment..

Scope

Working under the direction of the 24H+ Authority and in close collaboration with the Ghana JET Programme

team, the Consultant shall undertake the following tasks:

1. Review existing documentation, including the site demarcation and concession instruments agreed with GACL, existing business plans and investor briefs, feasibility studies, the 24H+ Authority's Project Development Process, and any other relevant information identified to prepare an initial draft Project Development Plan and identify the key project development dimensions, assumptions, activities, dependencies, and decision points requiring further refinement.
2. Design and facilitate a structured stakeholder engagement and consultation process to co-develop the Project Development Plan with the 24H+ Authority and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including but not limited to GACL, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, potentially relevant MDAs responsible for horticulture, aquaculture and livestock exports, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and other stakeholders identified by the 24H+ Authority. The process shall build shared ownership and commitment across Government stakeholders, ensuring the final Plan reflects an agreed pathway for development and implementation.
3. Facilitate the iterative development of an end-to-end Project Development Plan for the Tamale Air Cargo and Export Hub, sequencing the phases required to move the project from concept to commissioning, including the feasibility study and supporting technical studies, land and site preparation, aviation and statutory approvals and permits, transaction structuring, financing, procurement and construction, and the phasing of the Air Cargo Hub as Phase 1 ahead of the MRO and aircraft fabrication and training enclaves.
4. Define, for each activity or project development dimension included in the Plan, the deliverables, responsible owner, key inputs and dependencies, indicative duration, decision gates, coordination requirements, and approval requirements, including the interfaces with GACL and with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.
5. Develop practical implementation tools for use by project owners, including an activity and milestone tracker, stakeholder roles and responsibilities matrix, anchor partner onboarding pathway, and a risk register template.
6. Identify and document the institutional, regulatory and resourcing requirements necessary to advance each stage of project development, including cold-chain and perishables handling requirements, and flag critical risks, dependencies, decision gates, and proposed mitigation measures.
7. Progressively refine the Project Development Plan and implementation tools based on stakeholder consultations.
8. Facilitate a validation session with the 24H+ Authority and key stakeholders to review and confirm the

Plan and tools.

Objectives

The objective of the assignment is to support the 24H+ Authority in the development of a practical Project Development Plan that establishes a clear and coordinated pathway for progressing the TACH from deal preparation through investment closure to commissioning. The Plan will define the key activities, institutional responsibilities, resources, timelines, and decision gates required across the project’s development.

The Project Development Plan shall be developed through a structured consultative process, working closely with the 24H+ Authority, GACL, the Ghana JET Programme, existing concessionaires, and other anchor partners and experts who have been involved with the project to date. Through this process, the Consultant shall consolidate existing information, validate and refine the proposed development pathway, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and build consensus around the sequencing and coordination mechanisms required for successful project delivery. The consultative process is envisioned as a core component of the assignment. Beyond strengthening the Project Development Plan itself, the process will build institutional ownership, strengthen coordination across Government stakeholders, and equip the 24H+ Authority to lead and coordinate the development of the project beyond the life of this assignment.

Deliverables

The Consultant shall submit the following deliverables in English, in both editable Word and PDF formats. All deliverables shall be developed in close collaboration with the 24H+ Authority and the Ghana JET Programme Team and shall reflect the outcomes of the structured stakeholder engagement process described in this Terms of Reference.

Prior to final acceptance, the Consultant shall present the draft final Project Development Plan and implementation tools to the 24H+ Authority and other stakeholders as directed. The Consultant shall incorporate agreed comments and feedback arising from this review process into the final deliverables.

Duration and Level Effort

The assignment is expected to be completed over approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks from the date of contract signature. The Consultant shall submit a detailed workplan in the Inception Report setting out the sequencing of activities and stakeholder engagement process.

The indicative level of effort is expected to be approximately 30-35 person-days. However, the Consultant shall propose an appropriate staffing approach and level of effort commensurate with their proposed methodology and workplan.

Any extension to the assignment period beyond the agreed duration shall require prior written agreement of Ghana JET.

Required Qualifications:

Essential criteria

The Consultant shall demonstrate the following:

1. An advanced degree in engineering, project management, logistics & transport, supply chain, economics, finance, business administration, planning or a related field.
2. At least seven (7) years' experience in project development, aviation, logistics or industrial park development, transaction advisory or capital project delivery.
3. Demonstrated experience preparing project development roadmaps, implementation plans or feasibility work for large capital projects, preferably including airports, cargo terminals, logistics hubs or special economic zones.
4. Familiarity with air cargo operations, cold-chain and perishables logistics, and with public–private partnership and concession structuring is an advantage.
5. Demonstrated experience working with Government institutions, aviation authorities, development partners, and private concessionaires to facilitate complex, multi-stakeholder planning and coordination processes.
6. Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines.
7. Excellent analytical, facilitation and report writing skills in English. Given the consultative nature of the assignment, demonstrated experience engaging senior Government stakeholders in Ghana, building consensus across multiple institutions, facilitating complex multi-stakeholder processes, and leveraging established professional networks to support timely stakeholder engagement will be considered a strong advantage.

Reporting and Coordination

The Consultant shall report to the 24H+ Authority through the designated Project Lead for TACH and shall coordinate closely with GACL and the UK Ghana Jobs and Economic Transformation Programme (JET) team. Regular progress meetings shall be held throughout the assignment at inception, following preparation of the draft Project Development Plan, following completion of stakeholder consultations, and following the validation session.

Additional meetings may be convened as required. The Consultant shall be responsible for coordinating stakeholder engagements, maintaining records of consultations undertaken, documenting key decisions and agreed actions arising from those engagements, and ensuring that feedback is appropriately reflected in subsequent iterations of the Plan. The Consultant shall proactively identify risks to delivery, including delays to stakeholder engagement or decision-making, and promptly communicate these with proposed mitigation measures.

All data, documents and outputs produced under this assignment shall remain the property of the 24H+ Authority and shall be treated as confidential.

Submission Requirements

Interested Consultants (including individuals, consulting firms, and consortia) shall submit a technical proposal setting out their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, stakeholder engagement approach, and delivery schedule, together with curriculum vitae (or, where applicable, details of the proposed team) evidencing the qualifications above, two references for comparable assignments, and a financial proposal quoting an all-inclusive fee for the assignment.

Application Instructions

If this assignment is of interest, please submit the following via the application portal or to benjamin.nimoh@thepalladiumgroup.com and ghanajet@thepalladiumgroup.com by September 30, 2026:

1. Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages) evidencing relevant experience and total years of experience.
2. Track-Record Statement (maximum 2 pages) and practical experiences and sample work of similar nature to designing Air Cargo Hubs.
3. Approach note (maximum 2 pages) detailing the applicant’s proposed approach completing the assignment within the timeframe provided
4. Proposed daily fee rate and Level of effort required.
5. Applications meeting the essential criteria are scored against the weighted criteria in Section

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria-descriptionWeight Evidence assessed Depth and relevance of existing or previous work experience 25%Track-Record Statement; CV Track record, experience and Sample works of similar projects or assignments 30%Track-Record Statement; CV, referees Depth and seniority of relevant experience in infrastructure design and development either with National or International Experiences15% CV (years; confirms rate-card band) Quality and relevance of proposed approach, including understanding of the assignment and feasibility of the approach to completing the assignment within timeframe 15%Approach and Methodology Innovativeness and availability to complete the assignment 15% Approach Note Total 100%

Please note that Proposal reviews will be done on rolling basis. If you do not hear from our evaluations team in two weeks after submission of your applications, kindly deem your application as unsuccessful.

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