Expression of Interest - Individual Consultant (Sesame Value Chain)

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking to engage the services of an Individual Consultant to support the strengthening of food safety systems within the Sesame Value Chain in Gedaref State, Sudan. This proposed intervention in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under the EU‑funded project “Developing agro‑value chains for the improved resilience of rural communities”.

Despite its high economic value, the sesame value chain faces persistent challenges related to food safety, particularly aflatoxin contamination, limited technical capacity, and weak coordination among farmers, processors, exporters, and public institutions. Addressing these bottlenecks is essential for improving market access, safeguarding consumer health, and ensuring the long‑term resilience of the Sesame Value Chain in Gedaref State.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide expert technical support for the implementation, monitoring, and coordination of food safety activities under the UNIDO–IITA collaboration. The Consultant will contribute to strengthening the capacity of value chain actors, promoting compliance with food safety requirements, and supporting the adoption of improved agricultural, processing, and handling practices to reduce contamination risks. The Consultant will work closely with UNIDO and CTO, to translate project strategies into practical, field‑level actions.

The purpose of this assignment is critical to advancing the project’s goal of building a more resilient, safer, and better‑coordinated Sesame Value Chain in Gedaref State. The Consultant will help drive meaningful improvements across the value chain and contribute to the successful implementation of the EU‑funded initiative.

In line with this, we invite suitably qualified and experienced individuals to express their interest in providing the required services.

Closing Date:- 11 March 2026

Scope of Work / Key Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Lead field implementation of the sesame value chain and food safety assessment, including coordination of enumerators, study teams, and field logistics, and submission of structured inputs to the final assessment report.
• Support in designing and lead field baseline aflatoxin contamination surveys at farm, aggregation, storage, and processing levels, including sample collection, field testing coordination, and documentation of results.
• Coordinate and supervise assessment field teams, ensuring data quality, adherence to protocols, and timely completion of field activities.
• Support planning, organizing, and documenting stakeholder consultations and validation workshops, including preparation of agendas, presentations, participant lists, and summary reports.
• Develop and localize training and outreach materials on food safety, aflatoxin control, good agricultural and post-harvest practices, ensuring materials are adapted to local conditions and language.
• Coordinate and support CTO Master Trainer activities and Farmer Field Days, including training delivery, attendance records, and photographic and narrative documentation.
• Support and oversee Aflasafe SD01 biocontrol demonstrations and other food safety-related field demonstrations, including site selection, farmer engagement, monitoring, and reporting.
• Provide hands-on support to processors and aggregators for piloting Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), including practical demonstrations, on-site coaching, and training documentation.
• Ensure timely submission of all field reports and documentation in line with UNIDO, IITA, and donor reporting requirements and timelines..

Requirements:
Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Food Safety, Agriculture, Food Technology, Agribusiness, or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 – 8 years of relevant professional experience in food safety management, agricultural value chains, or related technical areas.
• Demonstrated practical experience in aflatoxin control and post-harvest handling and management in crop value chains.
• Proven experience working directly with farmers, processors, exporters, and local public institutions, particularly in rural or value‑chain development contexts.
• Strong communication skills in Arabic are essential; a working knowledge of English is an added advantage.
• Prior professional experience in Gedaref State or in similar agricultural production environments is highly desirable.

Duration and Location of the Assignment

The consultancy is expected to last for a period of ten (10) months. The assignment will be based in Gedaref State, Sudan.

Application Procedure

Interested individuals are invited to submit the following documents in response to this EOI:

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
• A brief technical statement (maximum 2 pages) outlining understanding of the assignment and proposed approach to achieving the deliverables.
• Financial proposal indicating the consultant’s expected professional fees.

All applications should be submitted electronically to IITA website: https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs no later than One Week from the date of this publication.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions or interviews.

We look forward to receiving your expression of interest and thank you for considering this opportunity.