Job offer: Consultant : Review and Update of Agribusiness Database in Ghana’s 16 Regions to Promote Investment and Business Linkages

Review and Update of Agribusiness Database in Ghana’s 16 Regions to Promote Investment and Business Linkages
 

Position:

Consultant

Location:

Accra

Project name:

Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK

Status:

Short Term Technical Assistance (Independent Consultant)

Period of Performance

February 2025 to July 2025

Supervisor:

Climate Change Lead, Policy LINK

 Background of Policy LINKPolicy LINK is a global Feed the Future program led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by DAI Global. It aims to strengthen the capacity of local actors and institutions to lead and manage the agricultural transformation process and contribute effectively and collectively to improved, broad-based food security policy outcomes. The program aims to do this by investing in and reinforcing productive human and social capital and developing strategic partnerships that help bring these innovations and capacity investments to scale to achieve a critical mass of local actors with the ability and opportunity to effect positive policy change through collective action. Policy LINK’s general approach is grounded in facilitative leadership and collaborative governance, which emphasize engaging stakeholders from civil society and public and private sectors in consensus-oriented decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, and adaptive learning. Policy LINK in GhanaGhana Policy LINK is a five-year activity with the overall objective of fostering behavior change that strengthens the capacity and ability of Ghanaian stakeholders to participate in a more transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based agriculture and food security policy process that leads to improved food and nutrition outcomes and broad-based economic growth. Specifically, the activity will facilitate the transition towards a policy development paradigm driven by multiple stakeholders. This approach to policymaking will strengthen the capacities of Ghana’s main agricultural policy system actors and institutions and support them to engage stakeholders traditionally excluded from decision-making, including academia, financial institutions, the judiciary, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), and private sector representatives from the national, regional, and local levels. This approach is underpinned by Policy LINK’s overarching theory of change focused on increasing human and social capital, engaging policy system actors in collaborative processes, and developing mechanisms for collaborative governance and dynamic learning systems and platforms to sustain collective action. BackgroundThe Agribusiness Unit within the Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Directorate (PPMED) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) plays a central role in promoting in- vestment in the agriculture sector and supporting Ghanaian agribusinesses to thrive. The Unit, in particular, has an important role in contributing to the effective implementation of the Plant- ing for Food and Jobs (PFJ) 2.0 initiative, which aims to achieve agricultural transformation through enhanced commercial agriculture, food security, and resilience. To do their work effec- tively requires the availability of a comprehensive and reliable database on agribusinesses. This will provide the requisite information to MoFA and other stakeholders to promote and facili- tate investment, forge business linkages, and guide data-driven decision-making essential for sec- tor-wide improvements. The current database on agribusinesses1 was developed and established by the Unit in 2012. It has information on the name of the business, year established, nature of business, location (community/district), capacity, sector of operation, marketing channels, contacts, challenges, number of employments generated, etc., for agribusinesses in all 16 regions of Ghana. Unfortu- nately, this database has not been updated since its development. Consequently, the database is outdated, with records of inactive businesses and inaccuracies that undermine its potential to inform policy, promote and support investment, and guide business decisions. Nevertheless, the database remains a crucial resource for a wide range of stakeholders—including investors, banks, academic institutions, and policymakers. However, considering policy and operational changes in the agriculture and food systems landscape, it is imperative to update the existing da- tabase to facilitate effective decision-making on agribusiness development and agricultural in- vestments. This study, therefore, aims to develop a comprehensive database on agribusinesses by updating the existing database for all 16 regions of Ghana. In addition to removing records of defunct ag- ribusinesses and adding new ones to the database, the update will introduce new information categories that meet the needs of a broader set of stakeholders and are essential for invest- ment decision-making. It will involve the development of a digital system that is user-friendly and lends itself to regular updates to maintain its relevance and accuracy. Such a database solu- tion will enhance the MoFA’s ability to drive the implementation of PFJ 2.0 and other agricul- tural interventions, positioning the database as a foundational asset for achieving sector trans- formation, attracting investments, and building partnerships. ObjectivesTo review and update the existing agribusiness database and enhance MoFA’s capacity and other agricultural sector actors to effectively utilize the database for improved decision-making in the sector. Specific Objectives

Review and update the agribusiness database by identifying and verifying active agribusinesses, removing outdated entries, and incorporating new and relevant information on active businesses.

Develop a user-friendly interface that enhances accessibility and usability for diverse stakeholders, including investors, banks, academia, and policymakers.

Establish a sustainable database management framework that includes policies and guidelines for regular updates and data validation, ensuring the database remains current and reliable.

Strengthen the capacity of the Agribusiness Unit and regional staff to establish and maintain an accurate database at the national and regional levels.

Scope of WorkThe Consultant will carry out the following tasks to ensure a comprehensive, current, and user- friendly agribusiness database: 1. Database Audit and Verification

Conduct a thorough review of the existing agribusiness database to identify and update records for all active entities across each segment of the value chain, encompassing input suppliers, producers, processors, distributors, retailers, etc.

Conduct field visits to confirm the operational status of agribusinesses.

Remove inactive or defunct entries and update information for active businesses, including business type, size, contact details, and other fields that will be relevant to enhance the use of the database.

2. Stakeholder Needs Assessment and Feedback Integration

Engagement with End-Users and Stakeholders: Conduct focus groups, interviews, and surveys with various stakeholders, including investors, banks, agribusinesses, and policymakers, to understand their needs and gather feedback on the database’s usability.

Feedback Analysis and Incorporation: Analyze stakeholder feedback to identify additional features or improvements needed in the database structure or interface.

3. Data Analysis, Design, and Interface Enhancement

Develop a user-friendly database interface to improve ease of use and accessibility for MoFA staff and stakeholders (investors, banks, academia, policymakers).

Incorporate filter options to allow searches by region, business type, size, and other relevant categories.

Analyze data gathered from the updated database to identify key trends and sectoral gaps (examining and interpreting the information on active agribusinesses to reveal patterns, trends, and sectoral gaps). The analysis will look at aspects such as the distribution and concentration of businesses within regions, value chain segments (e.g., input suppliers, producers, processors, distributors, and retailers), and business types. Identifying key trends, such as regions with high or low business density, common challenges across businesses, and emerging market opportunities, will provide insights into areas where the sector is thriving or struggling.

4. Training and Capacity Building

Organize hands-on training workshops for Agribusiness Unit staff and regional staff to build their proficiency in database management, focusing on data entry, validation, security, and maintenance.

Develop user manuals and training materials that provide step-by-step guidance on the updated interface and database management processes.

Ensure the participation of at least two staff members from the Agribusiness Unit during the field data collection activities.

Provide post-training support for a specified period to address any issues or further training needs.

Reporting

Provide regular progress reports and a final report detailing audit outcomes, interface improvements, and recommendations for sustaining database accuracy and utility.

DeliverablesUpon completion, the consultant will deliver the following outputs:

An updated, accurate agribusiness database that reflects the current agribusiness landscape.

A user-friendly interface tailored to stakeholder needs, enhancing data accessibility and usability.

A sustainable database management framework, including policies for periodic updates, automated notification systems, and monitoring systems.

Trained Agribusiness staff and regional staff who are proficient in database management.

A stakeholder engagement report with integrated feedback that enhances database relevance and functionality.

Education Required: Master’s Degree