Burundi: Development of the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP) Implementation Strategy

Official Title Development of the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP) Implementation Strategy.

Opportunity Background

EAC is the regional intergovernmental organization of the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community was signed on 30 November 1999 and entered into force on 7 July 2000 following its ratification by the original three Partner States – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18 June 2007 and became full Members of the Community with effect from 1 July 2007.

The Vision of EAC is a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa; and the Mission is to widen and deepen Economic, Political, Social and Culture integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investments. EAC Partner States have made remarkable progress in realizing the goals of regional integration. The Customs Union was established in 2005 and a Common Market in 2010. Following the signing of the EAC Monetary Union Protocol in November 2013, the next phase of the integration will see the bloc operationalize a Monetary Union and ultimately become a Political Federation of the East African States.

Agriculture is a core pillar of the EAC integration process and the main stay of EAC economies. The sector contributes as much as 42%, 28%, 25%, 28% and 32% to the GDP in Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda respectively. The Legal and policy frameworks that relate to agricultural development in the region have also been established and they include: The EAC Protocol on Environment and Natural Resource Management, EAC Agriculture and Rural Development Policy (EAC-ARDP), and EAC Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (EAC-ARDS). Chapter 18 Articles 105-110 of the Treaty provide policy objectives for Partner States to increase their agricultural productivity and output to reduce hunger, poverty, and achieve food and nutrition security in the region. The EAC-Agriculture and Rural Development Policy (EAC-ARDP) emanates from the broader vision and provision of the Treaty and is designed to attain food security through increased agricultural production, processing, storage and marketing. It further acts as a stimulus for rational agricultural development to meet the goals of the EAC Treaty. The EAC– Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (EAC-ARDS) sets out the strategy for implementing the Agriculture and Rural Development Policy. It is a reflection of the commitment of the Partner States to strengthen economic cooperation between them.

In 2011, the EAC Food Security Action Plan (2011-2015) was adopted by the 9th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State. One of the key identified priority areas of the Action Plan was the development of the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP).

EAC Food and Nutrition Security policy (FNSP)

The process of developing the EAC Food and Nutrition Security policy (FNSP) was steered by the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy Working Group with support from the East Africa Trade Hub (EATH), a regional USAID/East Africa Program. The development and validation of the FNSP was concluded in 2014. The FNSP was presented to and adopted by the 7th Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security in September 2014 The overall goal of the policy is to ensure food security and adequate nutrition for the people in the East African region.

The FNSP helps the region to implement the provisions of the EAC Treaty (1999) Chapter 18 Article 110 which states: “Harmonize food supply, nutrition and food security policies and strategies” relating to stimulating agricultural development, eliminating hunger, eradicating poverty, and ensuring food security. This firms up cross-sector linkages necessary for implementation of chapters 11, 12, 14, 18, 21, 22, 25, and 26, inter alia of the 1990 EAC Treaty.

The FNSP responds to the current regional development and integration challenge in the EAC. It is aimed at achieving food and nutrition security in the region through pursuit of appropriate policy measures that target causal factors to food and nutrition insecurity in the EAC. The magnitude of the challenge is manifested in the following revelations:

Households in the EAC region consuming inadequate foods in terms of quality and quantity needed for the dietary requirements that are commensurate with their nutritional needs. Low intra-regional trade, occasionally fueled by repressive food security policies that restrict or ban exports and imports. Majority of the population in the EAC region live on per capita food consumption of less than 2,100 Kcal. This is below the accepted global standards of 2,160 kcal per day. Rampant poverty, with the majority of the population in the EAC living below the poverty line of 1.25 dollars a day. This is an indication that these segments of the population are challenged in accessing sufficient food to meet their energy needs and inadequate varieties that will meet their nutritional requirements. Stunting (chronic deprivation) is worrisome in all the EAC Partner States as none of the countries exhibits below 20% (<20%) prevalence rate which is considered by World Health Organization (WHO) as low. Iron deficiency continues to be precarious while vitamin A and iodine deficiencies have been under control through supplementation and food fortification in the EAC countries. In addition, diet related illnesses (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses and cancers) are on increase in the EAC region while HIV, TB and Malaria continue to pose social, medical and economic challenges. The overall goal of the EAC Regional FSNP is therefore to achieve food security and adequate nutrition for the people in the East African region throughout their life cycle, for their health as well as their social and economic well-being. This goal is pursued through the broad policy objectives which seek to: -

Increase the quantity and quality of food, including those of animal origin, and to ensure that all East Africans have adequate, diverse and healthy diets in a sustainable manner. Reduce post-harvest losses and promote value addition through the food production value chain. Increase food availability at all times, for all the populations, using measures that ensure availability of food reserves to curb food-related emergencies. Increase trade between member states and other regions inside and outside Africa and ensure realistic import duties on food items. Increase food availability by addressing distributional as well as logistical challenges food surplus and food deficit regions within and between countries; Increase employment opportunities, on and off farm. Increase access to nutritious foods among the highly vulnerable rural, urban and peri-urban population groups. Ensure consumption of safe, nutritious and high quality foods that conform to acceptable global and regional standards. Increase protein and micronutrient intakes by increasing production and consumption of fish and fishery products; livestock and livestock products as well as non-wood forest products. Improve maternal nutritional and micronutrient status through consumption of nutritious foods, micronutrient supplementation and provision of appropriate health services. Reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years old through a combination of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions. Reduce the prevalence of anemia, vitamin A and iodine deficiency among under-fives, pregnant and lactating women through both food based approaches, fortification, bio fortification and micronutrient supplementation. Improve health and nutritional status of the populations in public institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons and armed forces. Control prevalence of non-communicable diseases e.g. obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers through food-based approaches. Provide timely information and research findings for evidence-based action on food and nutrition security. Reduce vulnerability to emergency situations through timely risk reduction measures. Reduce food and nutrition insecurity through gender-based approaches. Ensure greater achievements on food and nutrition security for PLHIV. Mitigate the effect of climate change on food and nutrition security. Cushion the vulnerable populations in the region from the negative effects of volatile food prices. Reduce food contamination in the entire food chain and food safety measures in the region. Ensure social protection measures for food and nutrition insecure population groups. Incorporate multi-sectoral approaches to food and nutrition security through nutrition sensitive interventions. Opportunity Structure

OBJECTIVES:

The Hub is a five-year USAID project intended to spur inclusive economic growth by promoting an enabling environment for trade and investment in the East African region. The project builds upon prior investments to increase regional trade competitiveness and reduce poverty through:

Integrated East Africa Community (EAC) market with full implementation of the EAC Common Market and Customs Union; Increased regional competitiveness driving growth in trade, investment and agriculture; and Increased two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and East and sub-Saharan African.

Under component 2 of the project, Agriculture and Agribusiness, the project aims to increase intra-regional trade in staple foods to enhance food security and safety as part of promoting regional integration. The purpose of this assignment is to develop a strategy to guide the implementation of EAC Food and Nutrition Security policy.

TASKS AND DELIVERABLES:

The Hub requires the services of a firm/consultancy that will be tasked with the following:

Analyze the current situation of Food and Nutrition security in the EAC with specific focus on the recent developments, challenges and opportunities; Analyze political economy challenges in the implementation of EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy at regional and national levels; Review EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy and identify highlights and strategic direction/issues; Based on the strategic issues/objectives in the policy document, identify specific interventions needed to address EAC Food and Nutrition Security situation in the EAC (based on stakeholders consultations), prioritize activities to be undertaken and critical targets to be achieved in the next 5 years; Develop implementation plan which should include strategic objectives, interventions, activities, time frame, target to be achieved , implementing agency (Lead and supporting), indicative resources required; Ensure that issues of gender, youth, environment, climate change, value addition, market access, post-harvest technologies, among others are adequately addressed in the plan; and, Develop monitoring and evaluation plan for implementation of the strategy including log frame. The study will be undertaken through overall coordination of the Hub’s policy and agricultural teams and EAC Agriculture and Health focal persons. It will involve in-depth review of the approved FNSP, recently approved sectoral policies implementation strategic plans, EAC policy organs organizational structure, EAC projects/program budgeting guide, among other documents. Consultations will be undertaken with key stakeholder institutions including the EAC Secretariat (Agriculture Department and Health Departments), EAC Partner States and relevant private sector actors, USAID/EA Food and Nutrition Security team, East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community and UNICEF as well as any other as EAC may guide at the onset of this exercise. Minimal travel is envisaged to the EAC Secretariat at inception stage and during the validation workshops. A detailed description of methods and approaches will be provided by the consultant

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This assignment is to be implemented between September 2016 and November 2016. The consultant shall provide a clear indication when the specified deliverables under Section 7 should be submitted to the Hub. Official Title Development of the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP) Implementation Strategy.

Opportunity Background

EAC is the regional intergovernmental organization of the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community was signed on 30 November 1999 and entered into force on 7 July 2000 following its ratification by the original three Partner States – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18 June 2007 and became full Members of the Community with effect from 1 July 2007.

The Vision of EAC is a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa; and the Mission is to widen and deepen Economic, Political, Social and Culture integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investments. EAC Partner States have made remarkable progress in realizing the goals of regional integration. The Customs Union was established in 2005 and a Common Market in 2010. Following the signing of the EAC Monetary Union Protocol in November 2013, the next phase of the integration will see the bloc operationalize a Monetary Union and ultimately become a Political Federation of the East African States.

Agriculture is a core pillar of the EAC integration process and the main stay of EAC economies. The sector contributes as much as 42%, 28%, 25%, 28% and 32% to the GDP in Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda respectively. The Legal and policy frameworks that relate to agricultural development in the region have also been established and they include: The EAC Protocol on Environment and Natural Resource Management, EAC Agriculture and Rural Development Policy (EAC-ARDP), and EAC Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (EAC-ARDS). Chapter 18 Articles 105-110 of the Treaty provide policy objectives for Partner States to increase their agricultural productivity and output to reduce hunger, poverty, and achieve food and nutrition security in the region. The EAC-Agriculture and Rural Development Policy (EAC-ARDP) emanates from the broader vision and provision of the Treaty and is designed to attain food security through increased agricultural production, processing, storage and marketing. It further acts as a stimulus for rational agricultural development to meet the goals of the EAC Treaty. The EAC– Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (EAC-ARDS) sets out the strategy for implementing the Agriculture and Rural Development Policy. It is a reflection of the commitment of the Partner States to strengthen economic cooperation between them.

In 2011, the EAC Food Security Action Plan (2011-2015) was adopted by the 9th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State. One of the key identified priority areas of the Action Plan was the development of the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy (FNSP).

EAC Food and Nutrition Security policy (FNSP)

The process of developing the EAC Food and Nutrition Security policy (FNSP) was steered by the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy Working Group with support from the East Africa Trade Hub (EATH), a regional USAID/East Africa Program. The development and validation of the FNSP was concluded in 2014. The FNSP was presented to and adopted by the 7th Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security in September 2014 The overall goal of the policy is to ensure food security and adequate nutrition for the people in the East African region.

The FNSP helps the region to implement the provisions of the EAC Treaty (1999) Chapter 18 Article 110 which states: “Harmonize food supply, nutrition and food security policies and strategies” relating to stimulating agricultural development, eliminating hunger, eradicating poverty, and ensuring food security. This firms up cross-sector linkages necessary for implementation of chapters 11, 12, 14, 18, 21, 22, 25, and 26, inter alia of the 1990 EAC Treaty.

The FNSP responds to the current regional development and integration challenge in the EAC. It is aimed at achieving food and nutrition security in the region through pursuit of appropriate policy measures that target causal factors to food and nutrition insecurity in the EAC. The magnitude of the challenge is manifested in the following revelations:

Households in the EAC region consuming inadequate foods in terms of quality and quantity needed for the dietary requirements that are commensurate with their nutritional needs. Low intra-regional trade, occasionally fueled by repressive food security policies that restrict or ban exports and imports. Majority of the population in the EAC region live on per capita food consumption of less than 2,100 Kcal. This is below the accepted global standards of 2,160 kcal per day. Rampant poverty, with the majority of the population in the EAC living below the poverty line of 1.25 dollars a day. This is an indication that these segments of the population are challenged in accessing sufficient food to meet their energy needs and inadequate varieties that will meet their nutritional requirements. Stunting (chronic deprivation) is worrisome in all the EAC Partner States as none of the countries exhibits below 20% (<20%) prevalence rate which is considered by World Health Organization (WHO) as low. Iron deficiency continues to be precarious while vitamin A and iodine deficiencies have been under control through supplementation and food fortification in the EAC countries. In addition, diet related illnesses (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses and cancers) are on increase in the EAC region while HIV, TB and Malaria continue to pose social, medical and economic challenges. The overall goal of the EAC Regional FSNP is therefore to achieve food security and adequate nutrition for the people in the East African region throughout their life cycle, for their health as well as their social and economic well-being. This goal is pursued through the broad policy objectives which seek to: -

Increase the quantity and quality of food, including those of animal origin, and to ensure that all East Africans have adequate, diverse and healthy diets in a sustainable manner. Reduce post-harvest losses and promote value addition through the food production value chain. Increase food availability at all times, for all the populations, using measures that ensure availability of food reserves to curb food-related emergencies. Increase trade between member states and other regions inside and outside Africa and ensure realistic import duties on food items. Increase food availability by addressing distributional as well as logistical challenges food surplus and food deficit regions within and between countries; Increase employment opportunities, on and off farm. Increase access to nutritious foods among the highly vulnerable rural, urban and peri-urban population groups. Ensure consumption of safe, nutritious and high quality foods that conform to acceptable global and regional standards. Increase protein and micronutrient intakes by increasing production and consumption of fish and fishery products; livestock and livestock products as well as non-wood forest products. Improve maternal nutritional and micronutrient status through consumption of nutritious foods, micronutrient supplementation and provision of appropriate health services. Reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under five years old through a combination of nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions. Reduce the prevalence of anemia, vitamin A and iodine deficiency among under-fives, pregnant and lactating women through both food based approaches, fortification, bio fortification and micronutrient supplementation. Improve health and nutritional status of the populations in public institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons and armed forces. Control prevalence of non-communicable diseases e.g. obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers through food-based approaches. Provide timely information and research findings for evidence-based action on food and nutrition security. Reduce vulnerability to emergency situations through timely risk reduction measures. Reduce food and nutrition insecurity through gender-based approaches. Ensure greater achievements on food and nutrition security for PLHIV. Mitigate the effect of climate change on food and nutrition security. Cushion the vulnerable populations in the region from the negative effects of volatile food prices. Reduce food contamination in the entire food chain and food safety measures in the region. Ensure social protection measures for food and nutrition insecure population groups. Incorporate multi-sectoral approaches to food and nutrition security through nutrition sensitive interventions. Opportunity Structure

OBJECTIVES:

The Hub is a five-year USAID project intended to spur inclusive economic growth by promoting an enabling environment for trade and investment in the East African region. The project builds upon prior investments to increase regional trade competitiveness and reduce poverty through:

Integrated East Africa Community (EAC) market with full implementation of the EAC Common Market and Customs Union; Increased regional competitiveness driving growth in trade, investment and agriculture; and Increased two-way trade and investment between the U.S. and East and sub-Saharan African.

Under component 2 of the project, Agriculture and Agribusiness, the project aims to increase intra-regional trade in staple foods to enhance food security and safety as part of promoting regional integration. The purpose of this assignment is to develop a strategy to guide the implementation of EAC Food and Nutrition Security policy.

TASKS AND DELIVERABLES:

The Hub requires the services of a firm/consultancy that will be tasked with the following:

Analyze the current situation of Food and Nutrition security in the EAC with specific focus on the recent developments, challenges and opportunities; Analyze political economy challenges in the implementation of EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy at regional and national levels; Review EAC Food and Nutrition Security Policy and identify highlights and strategic direction/issues; Based on the strategic issues/objectives in the policy document, identify specific interventions needed to address EAC Food and Nutrition Security situation in the EAC (based on stakeholders consultations), prioritize activities to be undertaken and critical targets to be achieved in the next 5 years; Develop implementation plan which should include strategic objectives, interventions, activities, time frame, target to be achieved , implementing agency (Lead and supporting), indicative resources required; Ensure that issues of gender, youth, environment, climate change, value addition, market access, post-harvest technologies, among others are adequately addressed in the plan; and, Develop monitoring and evaluation plan for implementation of the strategy including log frame. The study will be undertaken through overall coordination of the Hub’s policy and agricultural teams and EAC Agriculture and Health focal persons. It will involve in-depth review of the approved FNSP, recently approved sectoral policies implementation strategic plans, EAC policy organs organizational structure, EAC projects/program budgeting guide, among other documents. Consultations will be undertaken with key stakeholder institutions including the EAC Secretariat (Agriculture Department and Health Departments), EAC Partner States and relevant private sector actors, USAID/EA Food and Nutrition Security team, East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community and UNICEF as well as any other as EAC may guide at the onset of this exercise. Minimal travel is envisaged to the EAC Secretariat at inception stage and during the validation workshops. A detailed description of methods and approaches will be provided by the consultant

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

This assignment is to be implemented between September 2016 and November 2016. The consultant shall provide a clear indication when the specified deliverables under Section 7 should be submitted to the Hub.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance under this contract is East Africa Community Partner States; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda ,Tanzania, and Uganda. The place of performance under this contract is East Africa Community Partner States; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda ,Tanzania, and Uganda.

Applicants should submit:

1. Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) for each consultant.
2. A technical proposal which should include;
   a. Your proposed methodology to carry out this assignment.
   b. The implementation plan with clear activities that will be undertaken and the timelines
   c. Past similar work assignments details, contract amount, period and contact of client.

3. A Financial proposal which should include;
   a. Consultant fees
   b. Direct cost related to each activity
   c. Budget notes describing the base unit for each cost and assumptions made

4. The deadline for the submission of curriculum vitae, technical proposal and financial proposal is Sunday August 7, 2016 by 2359 Hours East Africa local time.

Submit applications to ProcurementTIHINBOX@eatradehub.org by August 7, 2016.