Terms of
Reference for Consultant
Data Analyst
Background: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in
Africa (AGRA, www.agra.org) is a not-for-profit organization working with
African governments, other donors, NGOs, the private sector, and African
farmers to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes
of resource poor smallholder farmers in
Africa.
Recognizing that
inappropriate or poorly implemented policies can blunt incentives for
investment in productivity-enhancing products and services, AGRA’s Policy and
Advocacy Program leads the organization’s efforts to strengthen Africa’s food
and agricultural policy systems over the long-term while spurring reform and
innovation in the short-term.
AGRA has
developed a new Advocacy Strategy. Under the Strategy, AGRA’s advocacy mission
is to be a clear and consistent voice for an evidence-based, market-driven,
smallholder farmer-led Green Revolution in Africa. The anticipated outcomes of
AGRA advocacy are: (1) scaled innovative models; and (2) reformed policies.
In view of the
above, AGRA seeks a consultant to support analytical and writing work related
to implementation of the new Advocacy Strategy. The consultant will use his/her
expertise to acquire, organize, analyze, and load data related to AGRA and its
investments, and to the countries and value chains in which AGRA invests,
aiming to build an understanding about opportunities, challenges and priorities
for policy reform and scaling innovative models.
Scope of Work: Using methods of data mining,
statistics, and data visualization, the consultant will assist staff in AGRA’s
Policy and Advocacy Program to identify and present underlying trends and
patterns in macro and micro variables relevant to AGRA’s mandate.
The consultant
will perform advanced analytics on large unstructured and structured datasets
related to African and global agricultural development, aiming to measure, interpret,
and predict trends and patterns of relevance to AGRA.
Education
- Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Agriculture, Geography, Statistics, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Business, or equivalent work experience.
- A Masters degree preferred.
Experience
- 3+ years of experience in agricultural development-related activities in Africa;
- 3+ years of increasingly responsible professional experience in data analysis and data integration;
- 2+ years of quantitative research experience, with a strong emphasis on spatial analysis and detailed report preparation.
Skills and Attributes
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Access);
- Experience in using software programs such as Excel, SPSS and SAS for data analysis;
- Basic knowledge of GIS tools or data (e.g. ArcGIS) and relational databases (e.g. SQL Server - Spatial);
Duration: This
position will be open for a period not exceeding 6 months with the possibility
of extension based on the need for further assistance in this area and funding
availability.
Application Procedure
Interested
candidates should send their applications and CVs on or before March 15, 2014
to the following email address: procurement@agra.org.
Please visit the
AGRA website www.agra.org for a detailed TOR.
Use the
following reference on the subject line of the email: TOR-PAP-001: Data
Analyst.
AGRA reserves
the right at any time in the process to terminate this request without entering
into a contract and to accept or reject any or all applications and is not
bound to give reasons for its decision.
AGRA is also not
obligated to award the consultancy to the applicant that offers the lowest
price.
Canvassing in
any form will lead to automatic disqualification.
Only successful
candidates will be notified.
