Irrigation Expert for Upgrading the Irrigation System at CITTAU (m/f)

Duties

• Background and Project Purpose: TechnoServe was contracted by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a three-year project with the purpose to advise and support the Chinese and host country co-operators of two Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centers (ATDC)— Lianfeng and Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique center, called CITTAU (Centro de Transferência de Tecnologias Agrárias de Umbeluzi), in Mozambique and University of Zambia and Jilin Agricultural University in Zambia. The ATDCs were established by Ministry of Commerce in China that endeavored to share the country’s agricultural expertise by establishing a network of 23 agricultural technology demonstration centers across Africa. These ATDCs represent China’s first major foray into development in Africa outside infrastructure and are meant to leverage Chinese learnings and technologies for the benefit of African smallholder farmers
• The BMGF has a strong partnership with the Government of China to reduce poverty in Africa by catalyzing country-led and inclusive agricultural transformations that will equal or surpass similar experiences in China and other Asian countries. The two parties have agreed to spearhead their collaboration through joint efforts to enhance the performance of the ATDCs in Zambia and Mozambique. To improve the effectiveness and impact of the these ATDCs, the Foundation asked TechnoServe to design and implement a project, in close collaboration with ATDC Chinese and host country partners, to help strengthen the ATDCs and institutions that can play constructive roles in the priority value chain and serve as technology transfer centers of excellence
• The goal of TechnoServe’s Technical Support for China's Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers is to build the ATDC capacity to pilot and scale technologies in prioritized value chains while also taking initial steps to establish the ATDCs as technology hubs. Longer term, the ATDCs will have the potential to become national-level clearinghouses for programs such as the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative. Under TAAT, the AfDB aims to 2 leverage technology to eliminate extreme poverty, end hunger and malnutrition, achieve food sufficiency, and turn Africa into a net food exporter
• The project includes two components, one focusing on ATDC capacity building and the other on technology transfer. Guided by ATDC management and staff, the project’s first component will seek to strengthen staff capacity and organizational functions by leveraging a light-touch change management approach. Under the first component TNS will support the development of a communications strategy for the Mozambique ATDC, to improve ATDC visibility and establish itself as a technology transfer center of excellence
• The second component aims to enhance the ATDC’s capacity to identify, demonstrate, and pilot transformative technologies in key value chains and ultimately partner with entities that have the incentive and resources to scale-up these proven technologies over the long term. By the end of the project, the target is for the ATDCs to have the capacity and credibility to implement a four-step technology transfer process — the ATDC Technology Transfer Model (TTM) — that is relevant for any agricultural value chain and can be replicable in other countries with appropriate adaptations based on the recipient country context and ATDC leadership structure

Consultants Role

• As an agricultural technology transfer and research center CITTAU implements irrigated agriculture. Currently CITTAU shares an irrigation system with the neighbor and partner institution Estação Agrária do Umbeluzi (EAU). This situation poses a challenge as the water needs of both institutions often result in: i) equipment failure (pumps and electrical system) due to overuse; ii) inability to properly implement irrigation schedules; iii) difficult management as the pump station managers have to operate the system for more than 20 hours a day. At the end this contributes to poor crop performance during fault events
• An alternative considered to solve the aforementioned problems is the creation of a parallel system to supply water to CITTAU, thus reducing the burden on the existing system
• Therefore technical support from an irrigation expert is requested to assess the feasibility for the creation of a parallel system to supply water for irrigation at CITTAU. For this purpose, some options include:
• Installation of an additional pump to increase the water volumes pumped into the existing system
• Install an additional new parallel irrigation pipe that will supply water exclusively to CITTAU

Deliverables

• The consultant shall produce a report that must include, but not be limited to:
• An assessment of the capacity of the existing system (e.g. current pumping capacity VS the needs, current infrastructure and layout)
• Assessment of the options presented in subchapter II of this ToRs, and, if applicable, propose additional options
• Present a detailed design (e.g. layout, calculations, etc.) for the proposed option
• Present a detailed budget/cost estimate for the implementation of the proposed option It is important to note that the selected option must consider the use of an existing pump with the following characteristics (the consultant must request to visualize the pump during the assignment to assess additional characteristics not presented herein):
• Type: Submersible Sewage Pump
• Outlet diameter: 250mm
• Flow: 600 m3/hr
• Suction head: 12m
• Electrical: 37kW, 380v, 72A, 50Hz

Requisites

• Eligible consultants must have:
• A minimum of Master’s Degree in Irrigation, Hydraulic Engineering or related areas of expertise
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the design and installation of irrigation systems

Expected Time Input

• The assignment must be performed between May and June 2019 with the following estimated effort in consultant days and of consultant days:
• Inception - 1 day
• Site visits for data collection - 2 days
• Data analysis and report write up - 15 days
• Presentation of results and adjustments
• Based on comments - 2 days
• Proposals must be submitted as follows:
• Deadline: 10th of May 2019, 5pm
• Language of the proposal: English or Portuguese
• Language of reporting: English and/or Portuguese

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Eligible consultants must provide the following documentation:
• Updated Curriculum Vitae
• Credentials describing previous work related to the design and installation of irrigation systems
• Copy of the latest/highest academic certificate
• A technical and financial proposal for implementation of the activity

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to ctamele@tns.org with the Subject line “Irrigation Expert for Upgrading the Irrigation System at CITTAU”