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 Technical Expert in Monitoring and Evaluation of Pastoralism, based in Lomé, is planned. The detailed terms of reference are available for download at the following address: https://bit.ly/4wdfQtQ

1. 1. Roles/Responsibilities

He/She will be responsible for:

A. Technical support for the implementation of project activities

• Establish and operate a robust and effective monitoring and evaluation system for the activities of the AECID component of the Project to Support the Regional Food Security Storage Strategy in West Africa, which is part of the monitoring and evaluation system of the Regional Storage Strategy, ECOWAP and ECOWAS;
• To ensure the complementarity of the proposed system with the overall system of the project and its contribution to the capitalization and effective management of the Regional Food Security Storage Strategy;
• Contribute to the planning and technical execution of the activities of the AECID component of the Project to Support the Regional Food Security Storage Strategy in West Africa;
• Contribute to the development of technical documents and reports for the project relating to pastoralism and animal feed and nutrition;
• To ensure collection and analysis of data, the definition of reference values ​​and the monitoring of indicators necessary to ensure the management of activities, monitoring and evaluation, the production of knowledge in the context of pastoralism and livestock feeding;
• Ensure the application of results-based management approaches and the theory of change in the monitoring and evaluation of the project;
• Contribute to the processes of knowledge capitalization and management;
• 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 for the proper functioning of the overall monitoring and evaluation system of ECOWAP and ECOWAS;
• Contribute to the monitoring, evaluation and capitalization of activities of other projects related to pastoralism within ARAA;
• Support the planning and operationalization teams of the ECOWAP project Steering Committees and the ECOWAP Project Monitoring Technical Committees and ensure the consolidation, monitoring and use of the information produced;
• 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.
• Identify bottlenecks, constraints and risks that could affect project implementation, and propose appropriate corrective measures or solutions.
• Perform all other tasks related to achieving the Project's objectives.

1. 2. Qualifications, experience, skills

A. Academic qualifications

Master's degree (BAC+5): in agronomy, agricultural economics, socio-economics, planning, statistics, or any other equivalent degree

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. Specific experience:

• Have at least 5 years of experience in setting up and operationalizing monitoring, evaluation and capitalization systems
• Having proven experience of 2 to 3 years in the specific field of pastoralism and/or food security at a multi-country level would be an asset;
• Demonstrate good experience in planning and managing development projects;
• Possess proven analytical and synthesis skills, good writing skills, organizational skills and rigor;
• Have experience in a project funded by the European Union, AFD, AECID or other multilateral donor (World Bank, IFAD, AfDB);
• Demonstrate good computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet)
• Having work experience with one of the regional organisations (ECOWAS, WAEMU, CILSS, CORAF) is an asset.
• Experience with international organizations such as the FAO, WFP, UNDP could also be an additional asset.

2. 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.
• Institutional integration, tools and mobility: An understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure and regional institutional mechanisms is required for better integration of the project team, along with availability for frequent travel within the ECOWAS region and beyond.

3. Language skills

• Ability to express oneself perfectly orally and in writing 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 Technical expert in Monitoring and Evaluation of 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/   

1. 1. Application submissions

Applications must be received by the deadline of July 17, 2026 at 23:59 GMT, by downloading via the following link: https://bit.ly/3QrlJUj

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.org cc: ctienon@araa.org; azonou@araa.org with the subject "Technical expert in monitoring and evaluation of pastoralism – Stock II Project - AECID-SCI006-2026".

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