CONSULTANT NEEDED
ASSESSMENT OF FOOD SAFETY RISKS ALONG THE MAIN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES CHAINS SUPPLYING ARUSHA CITY
Rikolto in Tanzania (formerly known as VECO) is part of the Rikolto
in East Africa and the Rikolto Network, an international NGO with more
than 40 years of experience in partnering with farmer organizations and
food chain actors across Tanzania, Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin
America. Rikolto aims to contribute to the development of a dynamic,
sustainable and inclusive agricultural sector with farmers providing
quality produce for own consumption and for diverse markets (national,
regional and international markets). Rikolto works to foster collective
action, innovations and enabling environments which allow actors in the
food system to unlock the potential to feeding the world while taking
care of the environment. We support our partners in private, public,
financial sectors farmer organizations and cities to complementarily
address the challenges of delivering healthy, nutritious food for all in
a sustainable way
Globally Rikolto is also working with cities to address the challenge of
feeding the cities with healthy, nutritious and affordable food. With
more than half of the world’s population currently living in urban
areas, a proportion that is projected to increase to even 70% by 2050,
cities all over the world are reflecting and exchanging on how they can
address the challenges feeding their populations with new urban policies
being developed. These policies also offer opportunities for farmers
in peri urban and rural areas to feed the cities sustainably. In
Tanzania we are supporting the City of Arusha in developing sustainable
urban food systems.
Safe and Healthy Food
Rikolto in Tanzania is working with the City of Arusha in improving food safety in fresh fruits and vegetables produced, supplied and consumed in and around the City in a multi-stakeholders’ process bringing together various actors and stakeholders including TAHA, TPRI, TCCIA, TBS, TFDA Farmer Organization, Market Traders among others.
Safe and Healthy Food
Rikolto in Tanzania is working with the City of Arusha in improving food safety in fresh fruits and vegetables produced, supplied and consumed in and around the City in a multi-stakeholders’ process bringing together various actors and stakeholders including TAHA, TPRI, TCCIA, TBS, TFDA Farmer Organization, Market Traders among others.
Read Also:
NEW TANZANIAN JOBS OPPORUNITIES (700+ POSTS)
Food safety risks not only pose significant threats to the health of the population, but also the competitiveness of agriculture, undermining potential and actual gains to be made in improving public health, food security and nutrition, as well as frustrating efforts to boost trade in agricultural commodities. Such gains are the foundations of inclusive growth and sustainable development in the continent. Over the past decade, there has been increasing recognition that the quantity of food alone guarantees neither food security nor adequate nutrition as shown by hunger, malnutrition, and stunting facts. Contaminated foods impede food security efforts and maintain unacceptable status quo in terms of food insecurity, poverty and a range of health-related problems, making sustainable development more challenging (PACA, 2017). Yet in Africa at large, there is little widescale, credible, comprehensive, quantified evidence on the overall impact of food safety of chemical, biological and physical hazards in food which renders to evidence-based decision making and planning on food safety ineffective.
Food Safety Risk Assessment
Initial risk profiling and multi-stakeholder dialogue indicate that there could be unacceptable levels of food safety risk in some of the freshly consumed food in and around Arusha. For example, a recent food safety survey by Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, found that credible evidence of widespread misuse of chemicals and pesticides, unsafe handling practices of fresh fruit and vegetables from farm to consumption all suggest a high potential for human exposure, food contamination, health injuries and illness (TPRI, 2017). There is need to gather further and quantifiable evidences on food safety risks from production, trading and consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and the impact these risks on human health and economy. This is part food safety risk analysis pilot around Arusha City. Rikolto is looking to engage a consultant to carry out an assessment of chemical, physical and biological hazards in the main fruit and vegetables chains supplying Arusha City and their impact.
NEW TANZANIAN JOBS OPPORUNITIES (700+ POSTS)
Food safety risks not only pose significant threats to the health of the population, but also the competitiveness of agriculture, undermining potential and actual gains to be made in improving public health, food security and nutrition, as well as frustrating efforts to boost trade in agricultural commodities. Such gains are the foundations of inclusive growth and sustainable development in the continent. Over the past decade, there has been increasing recognition that the quantity of food alone guarantees neither food security nor adequate nutrition as shown by hunger, malnutrition, and stunting facts. Contaminated foods impede food security efforts and maintain unacceptable status quo in terms of food insecurity, poverty and a range of health-related problems, making sustainable development more challenging (PACA, 2017). Yet in Africa at large, there is little widescale, credible, comprehensive, quantified evidence on the overall impact of food safety of chemical, biological and physical hazards in food which renders to evidence-based decision making and planning on food safety ineffective.
Food Safety Risk Assessment
Initial risk profiling and multi-stakeholder dialogue indicate that there could be unacceptable levels of food safety risk in some of the freshly consumed food in and around Arusha. For example, a recent food safety survey by Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, found that credible evidence of widespread misuse of chemicals and pesticides, unsafe handling practices of fresh fruit and vegetables from farm to consumption all suggest a high potential for human exposure, food contamination, health injuries and illness (TPRI, 2017). There is need to gather further and quantifiable evidences on food safety risks from production, trading and consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and the impact these risks on human health and economy. This is part food safety risk analysis pilot around Arusha City. Rikolto is looking to engage a consultant to carry out an assessment of chemical, physical and biological hazards in the main fruit and vegetables chains supplying Arusha City and their impact.
The scope of work
Carry out a Food Safety Risk Assessment in key fruit and vegetables
value chains supplying Arusha City. The consultant will carry out
assessment of Food Safety Risks along the following chains Tomatoes,
Red Onion, Water Melon, Leafy Vegetables (most widely consumed ones
include Chinese cabbage, amaranths, Kale night shade), plus two of the following fruit chains, avocado, oranges, pineapple, mangoes, which bear the highest risk profiles.
Using a value chain approach the consultant will identify the nature, cause and effect of the risks along the whole chains using scientific methods. The sampling will be done at all the critical points of the urban, peri-urban and rural-urban chains. It will also entail assessment of the exposure level with quantitative and qualitative expression of evidences to support a statement about risk. The consultant will also make various recommendations as specified in the terms of reference below.
Using a value chain approach the consultant will identify the nature, cause and effect of the risks along the whole chains using scientific methods. The sampling will be done at all the critical points of the urban, peri-urban and rural-urban chains. It will also entail assessment of the exposure level with quantitative and qualitative expression of evidences to support a statement about risk. The consultant will also make various recommendations as specified in the terms of reference below.
Terms of reference
- Identify and analyze (levels of contaminated foods, type of hazards potential health effects associated with the risks), important food safety risks in fruit and vegetables specified above from the following major food contaminants
- Biological: Bacterial contaminants – E. coli; Fungal contaminants; Mycotoxins.
- Chemicals: pesticide residues, heavy metals.
- Physical contaminants.
- Environmental contaminants – coming from pesticides residues, Water, Soil, Industrial pollutants.
- Provide qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the nature of the adverse effects associated with biological, chemical, and physical hazards and the level of exposure likely in the population of Arusha
- Review the broader impacts and adverse effects of unsafe food on the economy and trade, livelihoods and social well-being on the population.
- Assess the current food safety inspection and surveillance mechanisms for locally consumed fruit and vegetables for in terms of programming, capacities, resources, facilities, legal basis to enforce compliance while identifying gaps and proposing action plan responding to the gaps and challenges identified in the study.
- Make recommendations on the most effective, communication and awareness measures about the major risks identified management and or control measures for the major risks
- Propose recommendations for incorporation into the Arusha City Food Safety Strategy to strengthen/ improve the environment for food safety in Arusha.
Requirements
We are looking for a Food Safety Risk Analysis Expert, organization
or individual, with a rich and in-depth experience and track record in
carrying out and similar assignments in Tanzania and/or the East Africa
region.
Preference will be given to bids that demonstrate the use of locally existing but competent laboratory facilities and resources as applicable.
- At least a postgraduate degree in a field of Food Safety, Agriculture, Public Health
- At least 8 years’ experience in implementation of food safety systems at international/regional and national levels
- Knowledge of different country experiences in food safety risks analysis
- Understanding and knowledge of the policy and institutional frameworks in Tanzania around food safety.
- Demonstrated high level of analytical and writing skills.
Preference will be given to bids that demonstrate the use of locally existing but competent laboratory facilities and resources as applicable.
Proposals
Qualified consultants are requested to submit detailed proposal as follows.
Technical proposal
i. Detailed profile of the consultant
ii. Experience of the consultant in carrying out similar and relevant assignments
iii. Consultants comments on the terms of reference
iv. Detailed proposal explaining how each of the areas of the assignment will be addressed
v. Composition of team, their roles and expected level of effort in the assignment
vi. CV of the consultant and teams
vii. Assumptions made in the proposal
viii. Workplan with clear timeline.
Financial proposal
i. Fees per day per consultant team member
ii. Technical costs related to the assignment
iii. Cost of transport for the consultant during the assignment clearly analyzed
iv. Total cost of food and accommodation, analyzed as daily costs
Application mode
All applications should be submitted to by October 5, 2018 to eastafrica@rikolto.org
Technical proposal
i. Detailed profile of the consultant
ii. Experience of the consultant in carrying out similar and relevant assignments
iii. Consultants comments on the terms of reference
iv. Detailed proposal explaining how each of the areas of the assignment will be addressed
v. Composition of team, their roles and expected level of effort in the assignment
vi. CV of the consultant and teams
vii. Assumptions made in the proposal
viii. Workplan with clear timeline.
Financial proposal
i. Fees per day per consultant team member
ii. Technical costs related to the assignment
iii. Cost of transport for the consultant during the assignment clearly analyzed
iv. Total cost of food and accommodation, analyzed as daily costs
Application mode
All applications should be submitted to by October 5, 2018 to eastafrica@rikolto.org
The consultancy is to be completed in two months in 2018.
Rikolto reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
No comments:
Post a Comment