Short-Term Consultant- Mapping of Organo-Mineral Fertilizers - Soil Values - Office of Programs - Africa at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of the entire fertilizer ecosystem from production and import to distribution and end-use to identify bottlenecks, opportunities, and strategic entry points for program interventions and policy advocacy;
• Map agricultural inputs to determine availability, distribution, and actors across the supply chain strengthening collaboration, improving resource allocation, and targeting underserved areas, particularly those affecting smallholders, women, and youth;
• Support long-term policy development and monitoring providing a foundation to improve regulatory frameworks, harmonize standards, and ensure access to affordable, quality fertilizers, including organic inputs;
• Conduct a comprehensive sector analysis identifying and assessing all key actors from producers to end-users evaluating their dynamism, organization, and role in the supply chain;
• Lead a physical mapping initiative, geo-locating and visualizing major supply sources, including production units and sales points to produce detailed maps illustrating distribution networks and density;
• Assess the spatial distribution and economic factors affecting fertilizer availability and accessibility, including prices, market margins, and practical barriers faced by farmers;
• Conduct a thorough review of relevant policies, regulations, and standards governing the fertilizer sector;
• Synthesize findings to identify principal constraints to adopting integrated fertilization practices and develop actionable, evidence-based recommendations tailored for program designers, policymakers, and private sector actors.
• Objectives of the Assignment

To produce an updated mapping and analyze the supply distribution of the organic and mineral fertilizer to inform program interventions and stakeholder actions.

Specific Objectives

• Identify and characterize key sector actors (producers, importers, distributors, institutions, users) and assess their dynamism and level of organization by area;
• Locate and map supply sources: production units, warehouses, sales points, importers;
• Analyze the spatial and economic availability and accessibility of different types of organic amendments and mineral fertilizers;
• Examine policies, regulations, and standards governing the production, importation, distribution, and use of organic and mineral fertilizers;
• Identify key constraints to the adoption of integrated fertilization and propose operational recommendations.

Requirements
The consultant must have:

• Advanced degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Supply Chain Management, or a related field;
• Experience working on fertilizer-related topics is highly desirable;
• At least 10 years’ experience in sustainable agriculture, agroecology, or rural development;
• Proven expertise in farm-to-landscape interventions, financial mechanism design, and multi-stakeholder facilitation;
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa preferred;
• Excellent communication and writing skills.