Regional cross-border trade in livestock (cattle, sheep, goats and camellines) 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 (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 momentum in the world. Specifically, it is a question of meeting the need for red meat and derived 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 its annual work plan and budget for the year 2026 (AWPB 2026), in particular sub-component 2 relating to "Strengthening the commercial capacities and professional skills of actors along the livestock-meat sector" of component 2 of the program entitled "Strengthening the organizational and commercial capacities and professional skills of actors in the livestock-meat sector", one of the main activities planned is to support the strengthening of skills and vocational training of young people in the meat trades. This activity aims to create the conditions for a true professionalization of the meat trades, a guarantee of improving the productivity and profitability of the sub-sector. Indeed, the low professionalization of many assets in the sub-sector and the proliferation of slaughtering and distribution workshops with little standardization lead to the presence of all-purpose meat products without the possibility of tracing their origin on the markets. The changes in consumption habits of a fringe of urban populations with increasingly substantial purchasing power and demanding in terms of norms and standards require a transformation of the offer of its products and their diversification. The training courses could target the three main trades of: (i) butchery, (ii) delicatessen, (iii) artisanal preparers and (iv) cross-disciplinary training. The training courses could be sanctioned, for long courses of Certificate of Professional Qualification (CQP) or Brevet de Qualification Professionnelle (BQP) or Vocational Baccalaureate or a professional license (butcher manager) and, for short training courses, training certificates/attestations. The sub-activities that should contribute to the implementation of this main activity are:

• The realization of an inventory study of the needs for vocational training on meat processing and distribution trades and technologies in West Africa;
• The realization of a feasibility study for the development of professional skills through the upgrading of existing training centers and the vocational training of young people in the meat professions and;
• Supporting ECOWAS Member States in the development of professional skills through the upgrading of existing training centers and the vocational training of young people in the meat trades.

These terms of reference concern the recruitment of a research firm/firm to carry out a study that will take into account the first two sub-activities. The third sub-activity will be the subject of other terms of reference.

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY
   1. Objectives

The overall objective is to create the conditions for a real professionalization of the meat professions, a guarantee of an improvement in the productivity and profitability of the livestock/meat sector.

Specifically, it will involve:

1. Map jobs and assess existing skills:

• Identify current and emerging jobs: Establish a precise typology of professions throughout the chain (slaughtering, cutting, charcuterie/catering processing, packaging, cold logistics, mass distribution and retail butchery);
• Measuring skills gaps (Skill Gap Analysis): Assessing the actual level of qualification of professionals in relation to operational needs and market expectations;
• Analyze the demographics of the profession (retirements, attractiveness of professions, renewal of the workforce);

2. Analysing the impact of technological and industrial developments:

• Assess the mastery of processing technologies: Identify the learning needs related to modern equipment (automated cutting, mechanization, preservation techniques, elaborate processing);
• Integrate new packaging and preservation technologies: Identify the needs for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), vacuum packaging, or the use of eco-designed packaging;
• Develop skills in digitalization and traceability: Determine the level of appropriation of digital tools (RFID systems[1], barcodes, cold chain monitoring and inventory management software);

3. Meet regulatory, health and environmental requirements:

• Strengthening health safety control (HACCP[2]): Identifying gaps in good hygiene practices, health risk analysis and compliance with international or national standards;
• Integrating animal welfare and ethics standards: Assessing knowledge of animal welfare regulations during slaughter and handling;
• Taking into account the ecological transition: Identifying learning needs on the management of water and waste from the transformation and energy efficiency of refrigeration facilities;

4. Analyze the existing training offer and make recommendations:

• Audit the current training system: Assess the adequacy, capacity and quality of existing training centres (programmes, technical platforms, qualified trainers, infrastructure).
• Update or create competency frameworks: Provide the technical foundation for the development of competency-based programs (CBA).
• Propose a prioritized action plan: Define the priority modules, the appropriate training methods (continuing education, apprenticeship, face-to-face or hybrid) and the target profiles to be trained as a priority.

1. 2. Expected Results/Deliverables of the Engagement

The main results pursued through this activity are:

• Current and emerging jobs are identified and described according to their typology;
• Skills gaps are assessed and make it possible to assess the real level of qualification of professionals in relation to operational needs and market expectations;
• The demography of the profession (meat trades) is analysed and makes it possible to grasp the absorption potential in terms of new job creation;
• Learning needs related to modern equipment for meat processing are assessed in relation to different processing technologies;
• The needs for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), vacuum packaging, or the use of eco-designed packaging are identified by taking into account new packaging and preservation technologies;
• The level of appropriation of digital tools (RFID systems, barcodes, cold chain monitoring and inventory management software) of the actors is assessed in terms of digitalization and traceability;
• Deficiencies in good hygiene practices, health risk analysis and compliance with international or national standards are identified;
• Knowledge of the regulations on animal welfare during slaughter and handling is assessed;
• Learning needs on the management of water and waste from transformation and the energy efficiency of refrigeration facilities are identified;
• An assessment of the adequacy, capacity and quality of existing training centres (programmes, technical platforms, qualified trainers) is carried out and makes it possible to improve the effectiveness of the current training system;
• The technical bases essential for the development of programmes based on the Competency-Based Approach (CBA) are developed in terms of updating or creating competency frameworks;
• And the priority modules, the adapted training methods (continuing education, apprenticeship, face-to-face or hybrid) and the target profiles to be trained as a priority are defined.

2. IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

The activity will be implemented according to a collaborative and inclusive approach led by the regional coordination unit of the PACBAO-2 program of ARAA. It will involve other ARAA projects and programs with direct interventions in the field of vocational training (PRAOP 3), the ECOWAS directorates in charge of Agriculture, Trade, the private sector and industry. The direct beneficiaries, the direct actors of the livestock/meat value chains who are in the countries, will also be closely involved, as well as the government technical services of the target countries in charge of vocational training and livestock/meat value chains.

The targeting of beneficiary countries will be done according to the operational strategy for the implementation of PACBAO 2, which consists of operating according to a specific "livestock and meat marketing corridor" approach and federating interventions along Sahel-Coast axes, both for infrastructure and for soft (information, awareness, training, advisory support, advocacy, etc.). The 3 major corridors concerned are:

• The central corridor that drains livestock and meat from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin and Togo;
• The Eastern Corridor which runs from Niger and Chad to Benin and Nigeria and;
• The Western Corridor which runs from Mali and Mauritania to Senegal and Guinea mainly.

Operationally, a firm or a consulting firm/office will be mobilized to conduct the study under the supervision of the PACBAO-2 Regional Coordination Unit. The methodological approach should be based on an exploratory and analytical approach to the current situation in order to achieve the various expected results described above. A regional validation workshop will be organized in the presence of key actors in vocational training and livestock/meat value chains (RBM, APESS, COFENABVI-AO, etc.), representatives of ARAA, DADR, etc.

3. KEY DELIVERABLES

Three main deliverables are expected:

• A diagnostic or inventory report on the needs for vocational training in the meat industry;
• A technical feasibility document for the development of professional skills through the upgrading of existing training centres;
• A competency framework;
• A prioritized action plan for the upgrading of at least 3 national vocational training centers taking into account the priority modules, the adapted training modalities (continuing education, apprenticeship, face-to-face or hybrid) and the target profiles as well as the essential infrastructure and equipment.

NB. The main deliverables must be submitted in the three ECOWAS languages (French, English, Portuguese) in order to allow their judicious exploitation by all stakeholders.

4. SPECIFIC MISSIONS OF THE CONSULTANT
   1. Tasks and responsibilities of the Consultant

The Consultant will be responsible for:

1. Carry out the document review and exploit existing databases and technical documents on vocational training in livestock/meat value chains;
2. Develop the methodological framework note for the study as well as the data collection and analysis tools serving as a start-up report;
3. Organize the collection (surveys, interviews with training centers on meat professions and actors in the livestock and meat sector), processing and analysis of relevant data;
4. Analyze existing training standards;
5. Carry out a technical, institutional and organisational diagnosis of training centres specialising in training for meat professions;
6. Develop the various deliverables of the study, ensure the restitution of the results and integrate the observations of stakeholders for the finalization of the reports; etc.
   2. Consultant Profile

The firm or research firm should meet the following requirements and criteria:

• Be a duly constituted legal entity (firm, design office, consulting firm, research or training institute, university, NGO or any other entity with the legal capacity to contract), running alone or in a group;
• Be a firm or a firm or design office;
• Have at least two relevant professional experiences or missions in skills and employment needs analysis in the fields of animal value chains in West Africa and the Sahel (skills sector diagnosis, employment-skills prospective studies, job mapping, skills gap analysis, identification of company needs);
• Justify, with verifiable references, experience in at least two of the following areas: evaluation of vocational training centres, design or revision of professional reference frameworks, development of competency frameworks, development of vocational training curricula, design of professional certification schemes;
• Experience working with IGOs (CILSS, ECOWAS, UEMOA, ALG) would be an asset;
• Establish a multidisciplinary technical team consisting of:

5. APPLICATION FORM

Interested consultants must submit a file including:

• A technical offer including the understanding of the mission, the detailed methodology of the study, the description of the profiles of the experts of the technical team and the execution timeline;
• A financial offer detailing the various cost centres in accordance with the proposed technical offer;
• An updated CV/experience sheets 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–Feasibility Study-AMII029-2026".

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/4yHOBcf

7. REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Interested consultants can obtain further information by writing to the following e-mail addresses:procurement@araa.org cc: ctienon@araa.org; awaki@araa.org with the subject line "Feasibility study -AMI029-2026".

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.