Regional cross-border trade in livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, and camels) weighs very heavily in the trade balance of Sahelian countries. It often represents the second or third largest export in value, behind precious metals (gold, uranium), oil and cotton. Based on an exploitation rate of around 12% for cattle and 30% for small ruminants, the annual supply of livestock (number of animals sold for slaughter in the country or for export) is estimated at between 9.5 million cattle, 32.1 million sheep and 37.0 million goats for the 6 Sahelian countries together (ProDoc PACBAO, 2023). Animals with good physical condition are generally exported (bulls and oxen), while old and lean cull cows are destined only for the domestic market of producing countries. These exports mainly meet the demand of large cities in coastal countries such as Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and, to a lesser extent, Benin and Togo.

The West Africa Livestock Marketing Support Programme (PACBAO) was designed to stimulate intra-regional trade in livestock and meat, in order to contribute to the food security of a young sub-regional population with the strongest growth dynamics in the world. Specifically, the aim is to meet the need for red meat and meat products through the development of regional livestock/meat value chains.

Launched in July 2018 thanks to the signing of a financial agreement between ECOWAS and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) in the form of a financial contribution to the implementation of the Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and its operational programme (PRIASAN, 2016-2025), the first phase of implementation of the PACBAO programme ended on 30 June 2023. Thanks to the lessons learned from the implementation, a second phase of the PACBAO was formulated during the closing process of the first phase. Designed in a participacious, collaborative and inclusive manner thanks to the support of a consultant by ARAA, the final technical formulation document was submitted and validated by all regional stakeholders in the regional livestock/meat sector in September 2023.

The second phase of the programme (PACBAO-2) is the result of a financial contribution from the SDC, as was the case with the first phase. Its implementation will cover all ECOWAS countries plus Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Mauritania. It will last 4 years from December 2024 to October 2028.

As part of the implementation of the AWPB 2026, in particular component 1 of the programme entitled "Modernisation of intra-regional trade in livestock and meat", one of the main activities planned is to support the implementation of regulations on animal health and the safety of livestock products. This is support for the dissemination and appropriation of relevant sub-regional and international texts on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards. These standards guarantee the quality of agrosilvopastoral and fishery products, protect public health and facilitate access to regional and international markets. The various texts targeted for the implementation of this sub-activity of the programme are:

• Regulation No. 007/2007/CM/UEMOA of 6 April 2007 on plant, animal and food safety in WAEMU;
• Harmonized Regulation C/REG.21/11/10 on structural and operational rules for plant health, animal health and food safety in the ECOWAS area;
• Revised ECOWAS Treaty;
• WTO SPS Agreement;
• WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
• WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade;
• Codex Standards and Guidelines;
• WAHO Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes and Guidelines;
• WHO Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes;
• African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The different texts are available through the Drive link below: AMI 028_Docs_SPS

1. OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION

The overall objective is to design, produce and validate innovative audiovisual communication tools (interactive videos and audio formats) in order to strengthen information, awareness and the application of sanitary and phytosanitary standards by actors in the agri-food sector (livestock/meat) in West Africa.

Specifically, it will involve:

• Develop pictorial and simplified pedagogical scenarios based on regional (ECOWAS/UEMOA) and international (Codex Alimentarius, IPPC, WOAH) SPS regulatory texts;
• Produce interactive videos (with user choice options, built-in quizzes or multiple-choice scenarios) adapted to web and mobile formats;
• Produce dynamic audio capsules (podcasts, radio awareness spots) adapted to large-scale distribution, including in local languages;
• Ensure the translation and dubbing of content in the working languages of the region (French, English, Portuguese) and/or the main local vehicular languages according to the targets (e.g. Hausa, Bambara, Wolof, Yoruba, Fulani);
• Provide a guide on the use and technical deployment of these tools on the distribution channels (web platforms, WhatsApp, community radios).

2. SCOPE OF THE ENGAGEMENT AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
   1. Tasks of the Service Provider

Under the supervision of the PACBAO-2 Regional Coordination Unit, the Provider will perform the following tasks:

• Scoping and pre-production : Analysis of SPS reference documents, conduct of scoping interviews with technical experts, writing of synopses and storyboards (detailed scenarios incorporating interactive branching);
• Video & audio production : Shooting/Animation (2D/3D or motion design), professional voice-overs, integration of layers of technical interactivity, composition/sound design;
• Post-production and validation : Editing, subtitling, multi-format encoding and integration of feedback from the URCP and PACBAO-2 stakeholders.
  2. Expected deliverables

The expected deliverables are:

• Deliverable 1 : Inception Report and Validated Storyboards – Including the technical methodology, detailed execution schedule, final scripts, and storyboards for each video and audio;
• Deliverable 2 : Draft 1 of content – Integrating all interactive encoded/edited videos and raw audio files with voice-over;
• Deliverable 3 : Final Validated Communication Kit – Including:

• Eight (8) (including 3 official ECOWAS languages and 5 local languages above) finalized interactive videos (web formats and light versions for WhatsApp broadcasting) on international SPS standards (WTO, WOAH and FAO);
• Eight (8) (including 3 official ECOWAS languages and 5 local languages above) finalized interactive videos (web formats and light versions for WhatsApp broadcasting) on ECOWAS SPS Standards;
• Eight (8) (including 3 official ECOWAS languages and 5 local languages above) finalized interactive videos (web formats and light versions for WhatsApp broadcasting) on WAEMU SPS standards;
• Eight (8) (including 3 official ECOWAS languages and 5 local languages above) radio/podcast ready audio capsules (MP3/WAV formats) on international SPS standards (WTO, WOAH and FAO);
• Eight (8) (including 3 official ECOWAS languages and 5 local languages above) radio/podcast ready audio capsules (MP3/WAV formats) on ECOWAS SPS standards;
• Eight (8) (including 3 official ECOWAS languages and 5 local languages above) radio/podcast ready audio capsules (MP3/WAV formats) on WAEMU SPS standards;
• Editable source files and a short technical deployment guide.

3. PROVIDER PROFILE

The service provider (Agency) must demonstrate the following skills:

• Proven experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in audiovisual production, motion design, digital learning or institutional communication;
• Technical expertise : Proficiency in interactive video development software (e.g., H5P, Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, or similar interactive video coding solutions);
• Sector Knowledge : Previous experience in extension of complex topics related to agriculture, livestock, food safety or regional trade in West Africa is a strong asset;
• Linguistic ability : Demonstrated ability to produce fluent and rigorous content in French, English, Portuguese and possibly in major local languages of the sub-region;
• Equipment: Have professional-grade production equipment (audio recording studios, high-performance video editing stations).

4. SCHEDULE AND DURATION OF THE MISSION

The overall duration of the mission is set at 60 men - working days spread over a maximum period of 3 months from the date of notification of the start-up order.

5. APPLICATION FORM

Interested consultants must submit a file including:

• A detailed technical offer (methodology, timeline, team CV, portfolio via cloud/web links);
• A financial offer including the overall budget detailed by expense item (design, production, voice-over, translation, copyright, etc.).
• An updated CV highlighting similar experiences, accompanied by copies of diplomas and certificates of good completion;
• A statement on fraud and corruption by the SDC (attached).

All documents must be grouped together in a single file in PDF format (mandatory mention) with the following mention: "CANDIDATE NAME–Awareness on phytosanitary standards-AMI028-2026".

6. APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications are received no later than November 06, 2026 at 23:59 GMT, by downloading through the following link: https://bit.ly/3UhiNMp

7. REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Interested consultants can obtain further information by writing to the following email addresses:procurement@araa.org cc: ctienon@araa.org; awaki@araa.org with the subject Raising awareness on phytosanitary standards -AMI028-2026".

The ARAA reserves the right not to follow up on this call for applications.

Appendix 1: ANTI-CORRUPTION CLAUSE OF THE SDC

Client, suppliers, consultants, contractors and their subcontractors must comply with the following most rigorous anti-corruption clauses during the award and performance of this contract.

1. No Corrupt Practice: The parties agree not to grant, directly or indirectly, any advantage of any kind, or to accept any advantage of any kind under this Agreement. Any corrupt or unlawful act constitutes a breach of this Agreement and justifies its cessation and/or the taking of any other action in accordance with applicable law.

2. Fight against money laundering and terrorist financing: the ECOWAS Commission certifies that it has put in place internal procedures and means (GIABA) to prevent, detect and combat money laundering and terrorist financing in accordance with the FATF recommendations, and that it does not enter into relations, directly or indirectly, with any of the persons, groups or entities included in any of the financial sanctions lists (including in particular the fight against the financing of terrorism) of the United Nations, the European Union, Switzerland.

By signing the Anti-Corruption Declaration, suppliers, consultants, contractors and their subcontractors declare (i) that they have not committed any act likely to influence the process of awarding the contract to the detriment of the Client and in particular that no anti-competitive practices have occurred and will not occur and that (ii) the negotiation, award and performance of the Contract has not and will not give rise to an act of corruption or fraud.