Result of Service
At the end of the consultancy, the consultant will deliver a document diagnosing and analyzing the cassava value chain in the Nord department of Haiti. The study will identify key constraints across different stages of the chain that affect its resilience and development. The consultancy will also contribute to strengthening coordination among local stakeholders and the project focal point. This product corresponds to Outcome 3, Output 3.2. The diagnostic will serve as a key technical input for the subsequent phases of Component 3 of the project “Rural agricultural value chains and climate-smart technology policies at the subnational level in Latin America and the Caribbean”, particularly for the preparation of an action plan aimed at promoting climate change adaptation, improving productive capacities, and strengthening the participation of women and youth in the value chain.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background Within the framework of the project “Rural agricultural value chains and climate-smart technology policies at the subnational level in Latin America and the Caribbean”, implemented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) during the period 2025–2028, the objective is to strengthen technical and institutional capacities at the national and subnational levels in order to promote more productive, inclusive, and climate-resilient agriculture. This project is financed through the 17th tranche of the United Nations Development Account and is being implemented in four pilot countries: Colombia, Cuba, Chile and Haiti. Component 3 of the project, led by the ECLAC Subregional Office in Mexico, aims to promote economic and social upgrading in selected rural value chains through a participatory and territorial approach. Key activities include the preparation of technical diagnostics, dialogue roundtables, action plans, training workshops, and online learning materials. These activities focus on identifying productive, technological, economic, and institutional bottlenecks, and on proposing strategies to strengthen value chains, with particular emphasis on climate change adaptation and the inclusion of women and youth. In the case of Haiti, the project focuses on the cassava value chain in the Nord department. Therefore, ECLAC will hire a consultancy to undertake, as part of the first phase of the work, a technical diagnostic to better understand the current functioning of the value chain, identify its main actors and analyze its productive, technological, and economic characteristics. The analysis should also examine the key challenges limiting the performance and development of the value chain, both overall and at specific stages. The work will be based on the ECLAC value chain strengthening methodology (ECLAC, 2016) and will integrate gender, youth, and environmental sustainability as across-cutting issues in the analysis. 2026-SP11-PRO-1 Activities to be performed: Under the supervision of the ECLAC team, the consultant will carry out the following activities: 1. Compile and analyze relevant information through a literature review. 2. Identify key actors in the cassava value chain in the Nord department and other relevant actors in Haiti. 3. Coordinate with relevant government authorities and stakeholders to organize interviews and fieldwork necessary for the diagnostic. 4. Prepare a diagnostic work plan including the proposed instruments for collecting field information and data. 5. Produce a report summarizing the information gathered through fieldwork. 6. Based on the analysis of the literature review and fieldwork results, prepare a diagnostic report including: Mapping of the value chain, identification of key actors and stages of the chain; and an analysis across six levels: i) International and national context of the value chain, ii) Economic analysis, including international trade, iii) Markets and technological knowledge (including climate-smart technologies), iv) Governance, v) Support organizations, and vi) Environment. The gender perspective must be integrated across the six levels of analysis. The document will conclude with the identification of constraints or bottlenecks, both systemic and specific to each stage of the value chain. 7. Support ECLAC and relevant national counterparts in the organization of the first dialogue roundtable to validate the diagnostic and the constraints identified. 8. Incorporate comments and suggestions from the ECLAC team and project counterparts after review of the deliverables. Consultant Obligations: a) Provide any clarifications or additional information requested by the supervisor and supply any further information deemed necessary to fulfill the agreed deliverables. b) Certify that he/she is the original author of the work and documents produced under the contract with ECLAC. The consultant must also state that the content of the work and documents submitted constitutes his/her intellectual contribution and that neither the form nor the content is being simultaneously submitted to any other editorial outlet. c) Grant ECLAC the copyrights, patents and any other intellectual or industrial property rights, where applicable, over the work and documents produced by the consultant under contracts financed with ECLAC resources. d) If traveling on mission, complete the security courses required by the Organization, submit the mission report through the Mission Report System (MRS) (or provide the necessary information to the Unit for submission to the MRS), and submit the travel claim within two weeks after the mission has concluded. e) Ensure that all data and references to materials and publications are properly identified with their respective credits and included in the bibliographic notes and citations. f) Declare that the appropriate authorizations have been obtained from the holders of the relevant intellectual property rights, where applicable. g) Reports must be written in French, using Word or Excel from the Microsoft Office 2013 package or compatible, using Times New Roman 12-point font and 1.5-line spacing, with the minimum possible use of instructions, specifications, codes or special formatting (for example, only one type of font should be used). The ECLAC editorial manual and bibliography formatting standards must be followed. Tables, graphs, diagrams, etc. must be submitted in editable format (Excel, PowerPoint or other relevant software). Performance Indicators: • Quality of analysis and substantive inputs produced • Timely delivery of outputs and regular communication • Transparent management of data and information collected during the research Place of Work: Haiti.
Qualifications/special skills
The consultant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in economics, agronomy, rural development or related fields. At least 7 years of experience in economic development, productive development, rural development or related areas. Technical knowledge of the cassava value chain is desirable. Knowledge of the key actors in the cassava value chain of Haiti is desirable. A Master’s degree in these areas is desirable.
