Study of Environmental Waste Management in Cashew Processing

Sector: Private Sector, SMEs

Project Grant No: ML0035 / 714122

The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) has received a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Africa Trade Fund (AfTra), to implement an extensive technical assistance program in specific areas of business and food safety advisory services aimed at improving processing efficiencies and access to foreign markets for cashew processors. To strengthen this component, the ACA invites suitably qualified consulting firms to express their interest in the following assignment: “Evaluation and diagnostic of the status quo of environmental waste management in the cashew processing facilities and development of a set of environmental waste management recommendations to be applied subsequently”.

The activities included under this specific assignment are:

i. To evaluate environmentally adverse effects that cashew processing might potentially cause to the environment.

ii. Identify the current waste management practices and business approaches of cashew processors in selected countries in East and West Africa, and reveal shortcomings and harmful environmental practices deployed in their daily routines.

ii. Highlight and assess best practices and environmental standards from Africa and Asia that reduce and bring an end to harmful waste management practices.

Once executed, this analysis will help to determine a course of action that will be promoted to prevent and mitigate environmental risks arising from cashew processing all over Africa.

The specific consultancy services included under this part of the project are as follows:

      (A) Situation analysis

(i)Environmental analysis

The Consultant will undertake an environmental diagnostic and data gathering exercise for the countries under evaluation using existing credible sources, and review this data to establish a baseline of existing environmental waste management practices in cashew processing. The Consultant will also review practices deployed in traditional and more advanced cashew processing countries like India and Vietnam to identify best practices.

(ii)Stakeholder Analysis

The Consultant will identify, map and evaluate key institutional stakeholders that are involved in promoting, issuing and implementing environmental standards in the respective countries, identifying their strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed.

(iii)Institutional and Legislative Framework Analysis

The Consultant will review the institutional and legal framework existing in the countries under evaluation to document existing regulation and policies for environmental protection. The final report will refer to the various legislations and identify potentially conducive and/or harmful policies to determine environmental best policy and legislative practices.  

(B) Identification and Evaluation of Environmental Opportunities and Risks

Based on the environmental and institutional analyses, the Consultant will prioritize the environmental and social opportunities and risks facing the cashew sector. This priority setting exercise will be done in consultation with key stakeholders.

(C)  Recommendations

The Consultant will propose concrete recommendations to address the technical and capacity building needs identified. This will include specific investments, policy and institutional adjustments that should be captured in a detailed action plan, a proposed implementation timeframe and estimated costs that can then be incorporated into national policies, strategies and plans.

The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) invites eligible and interested consultants to indicate their interests in providing the required services. Interested consulting firms must provide a statement of capability and experience indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint-ventures to enhance their chances of qualification. The expected duration of the assignment is three (3) months with a possible start date of 6^th November, 2015.

Evaluation of EOI will be  based on the following evaluation criteria :

i.         Capability and Experience of the firm

ii.       Key Professional skills of key consultants

iii.      Experience in Similar Industry

iv.     Experience in Similar assignments

The eligibility criteria, establishment of the short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the African Development Bank’s “Rules and Procedures for the Use of Consultants” (May 2008 Edition, Revised July 2012, which is available on Bank’s website http//www.afdb.org. Please note that interest expressed by a Consultant does not imply any obligation on the part of the Bank to include him/her in the shortlist.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 08:00 to 17:00 hours local time, Mondays to Fridays excluding public holidays.

Consultants are to submit (in hard copy) one (1) original copy and four (4) photocopies of the EOI.

The deadline for submission of EOI will be 17:00 (GMT) on the 11^th of September 2015.

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below:

African Cashew Alliance

Attention: Mr. Kingsley Mensah,

Jubilee House, 4th Street, Kuku Hill

PMB 35A- Osu

Accra – Ghana

Tel: +233 302 78 22 33

Email: kmensah@africancashewalliance.com

Find a PDF Version of the EOI below: 

EOI Environment Waste Wanagement Study.pdf