The West African region had approximately 435.2 million inhabitants in 2023, of whom 32.47% lived on less than US$2.15 per day, meaning 141.32 million people were living in extreme poverty. Its economy remains heavily dominated by the primary sector, particularly agriculture, which accounts for 22.2% of GDP and provides between 22% and 73% of employment, depending on the country. Despite this central role, the Sahel and West Africa region continues to face recurring food and nutrition crises. Since 2014, the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity has increased overall, exceeding 49.7 million between 2020 and 2024. By November 2025, approximately 36.9 million people required immediate assistance, with the risk of this figure rising by an additional 10.7 million by mid-2026. Furthermore, 113 million people are living under food insecurity, with particularly high levels in some countries such as Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Chad. The situation is even more critical for displaced populations, especially in Chad.

This food insecurity stems primarily from interdependent factors: conflicts and mass displacement (8.4 million displaced persons in 2024), economic shocks (inflation, declining purchasing power, market disruptions), and extreme weather events affecting agricultural and pastoral production. To address this, states and regional organizations have implemented National Response Plans and solidarity mechanisms such as the Regional Food Security Reserve. However, the resources mobilized remain insufficient, with only 34% of needs covered by 2025. Despite these constraints, efforts have succeeded in mobilizing significant quantities of food and nutritional products, while simultaneously strengthening regional mechanisms. Looking ahead, ECOWAS plans to intensify national responses, further combat malnutrition, and improve the coordination and speed of interventions in crisis situations. It is within this framework that the recruitment of a Senior Technical Expert in Pastoralism, based in Lomé, is planned. The detailed terms of reference are available for download at the following address: https://bit.ly/44urRPs

1. 1. Roles/Responsibilities

He/She will be responsible for:

A. Technical support for the implementation of project activities

• Ensure the planning and technical execution of the activities of the AECID component of the Project to Support the Regional Strategy for Food Security Storage in West Africa;
• Ensure the preparation of technical documents and reports for the project in the areas of pastoralism and animal feed and nutrition;
• To ensure the implementation and operationalization of RRSA intervention mechanisms in response to pastoral crises linked to fodder deficit;
• To contribute to improving the functioning of the livestock feed market by supporting relevant stakeholders and the implementation of appropriate intervention mechanisms.
• Support the strengthening of the national beneficiary targeting mechanism;
• Supporting the project coordinator in strengthening the integration of the RRSA with school feeding programs,
• Supervise project activities related to strengthening social safety nets for food security;
• Ensure the implementation and synergy/complementarity of activities in common with the other components of the project and other ECOWAS projects operating in the same field;
• Contribute to the timely production of periodic project execution reports as well as reports presented at the Technical Monitoring Committee and the Steering Committee of ECOWAP projects and programs;
• Contribute to the successful execution of any external monitoring and external evaluation mission commissioned by the European Union, AFD, AECID and/or ECOWAS within the framework of the project;
• Ensure the systematic and continuous archiving of the Program's files.

B. Other tasks

• To provide technical support to all ARAA and ECOWAS activities in the context of pastoralism and animal feed;
• Support the planning and operationalization teams of the ECOWAP project steering committees and the ECOWAP project monitoring technical committees.
• Supporting the ARAA teams in the preparation of quarterly and annual reports and the Economic Affairs and Agriculture Department of the ECOWAS Commission.
• Provide technical support and the necessary information to ARAA's cross-cutting services (monitoring and evaluation, communication, administration, etc.) to ensure effective management of the institution.
• Perform all other tasks related to achieving the Project's objectives.

1. 2. Qualifications, experience, skills

A. Academic qualifications

• Bac+5 degree (Master or Engineering) in animal production, zootechnics, pastoralism, veterinary medicine, agronomy or equivalent;
• Additional training in the field of animal food and nutrition is an asset;

B. Required professional experience and CV evaluation criteria

The candidate must provide evidence of proven experience, presented in their detailed CV and supported by certificates:

1. General Experience

• Have experience in technical capacity building and organizational strengthening in the animal feed and/or pastoralism sector;
• Have proven experience in supporting private sector actors in their structuring and the creation of business opportunities;
• Have experience in a project funded by the European Union or another multilateral donor (USAID, World Bank, IFAD, AfDB, etc.);
• Having proven experience in collaborating with sub-regional institutions (ECOWAS, WAEMU, CILSS) is an asset.

2. Specific experience:

• Have at least 10 years of professional experience in the design and implementation of programs and projects related to animal feed, pastoralism, humanitarian response or natural resource management;
• To have implemented at least one project or program in the field of animal food and nutrition;
• Having a good understanding of regional institutional dynamics related to the implementation of projects and programs, as well as key players in the field of pastoralism and animal feed in the sub-region;
• Have good experience in collaborating with livestock, pastoralist and agro-pastoral organizations in the sub-region;
• Having experience in the implementation of resilience projects and programs, including food security social safety nets, would be an asset.

3. Additional skills

• Leadership, management and communication: Possess strong leadership and multidisciplinary team management skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills, including representing ARAA in high-level bodies.
• Ability to conduct strategic analyses and formulate technical recommendations.
• Institutional integration, tools and mobility: Having an understanding of the organizational structure of ECOWAS and regional institutional mechanisms for better integration of the project team, with good computer skills, and availability for frequent travel within the ECOWAS area and beyond.

4. Language skills

• Ability to express oneself perfectly in writing and orally in at least one of the three official languages ​​of ECOWAS and knowledge of a second language would be an asset.

• 1. Location, duration of the mission
• The staff will be based in Lomé, Togo, at the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA);
• The mission will last for the entire duration of the Project after a six-month probationary period. However, the consultant's contract will be signed for renewable 12-month periods, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and the Project's needs, over the project's duration (4 years).
• The position is full-time
  2. Other conditions
• The Consultant must adhere to the objectives and values ​​promoted by ECOWAS;
• The Consultant must work in accordance with the principles and guidelines established within ARAA;
• The Consultant is required to refrain from any situation which could put him/her in conflict of interest within the framework of the mission which would be assigned to him/her.
  3. Application file

Application files consist of:

• A cover letter specifying the date of availability;
• A recent curriculum vitae detailing professional experience and similar assignments;
• Three professional references (first and last name, current and past positions, email and telephone contact details);
• Certified copy of the highest diploma;
• Copies of work or service certificates, listed in the curriculum vitae and attesting to the experience acquired.

All documents must be grouped into a single PDF file with the following mention: "CANDIDATE'S NAME Senior technical expert in pastoralism – Stock II Project - AECID"

The eligibility criteria for ECOWAS funding are specified in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the "Revised ECOWAS Institutions Procurement Code" September 2021, available online on the ECOWAS website:https://www.ecowas.int/and the eligibility criteria of the European Union Commission.

1. 1. Application submissions

Applications must be submitted no later than July 17, 2026, at 23:59 GMT, via download through the following link: https://bit.ly/4cl1e3g

1. 2. Selection method

The consultant will be selected according to the individual consultant selection method as described in Article 63 of the ECOWAS Procurement Code. A shortlist of no more than three (3) candidates will be drawn up to continue the selection process. In the event of a tie, the candidate with the highest score based on experience criteria will be selected. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the process.

1. 3. Request for additional information

Interested consultants can obtain further information by writing to the following email addresses:procurement@araa.orgcc:ctienon@araa.org; azonou@araa.orgwith the subject "Senior Technical Expert in Pastoralism – Stock II Project - AECID-SCI005-2026".

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