TITLE: Strengthening Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) for Sustaining Food Security in Ghana

LOCATION: Ghana

Background

Strategic Grain Reserves (SGRs), also known as emergency food reserves or food buffer stocks, have received considerable attention following the global food crisis of 2007-08. The recent trade (supply-chain) disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine war and the subsequent export ban by some countries also reinforce the concern of vulnerable (import dependent) countries with reliance on global markets to ensure national food security. Anecdotal evidence indicates that most of these countries that already had SGR are expanding their reserves, while countries that had dismantled their SGR are re-instituting them. In most cases, SGR are devised to address multiple policy objectives including providing emergency food assistance to vulnerable households, assisting farm households to secure fair prices, and contributing to domestic food price stabilization. However, past experience suggests that SGR may entail sizable fiscal costs and have negative incentive effects, especially in the absence of right institutional design.

The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) of Ghana was established in 2010 to ensure the security of farmers and insulate them against losses resulting from anticipated increase in the production of cereals and to stabilize prices on domestic markets. Using NAFCO as a case study, IFPRI is conducting research that aims to contribute to our understanding of Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) in the context of market/trade uncertainty and climate variability. Specifically, the study will assess the state of food production and markets in Ghana, governance of SGR, size and composition of grain stocks, procurement strategies, storage management, and distribution mechanisms. The study will also conduct cost analysis to understand the overall fiscal cost of SGR over time and estimate unit costs associated with grain procurement, storage, and distribution. IFPRI is seeking a consultant/collaborator who will join the research team and conduct field work in Ghana.

Scope of work

The main responsibilities of the consultant/collaborator include the following:

· Review the outline of the research report drafted by the IFPRI research team and provide feedback.

· Compile and analyse secondary data related the operation of NAFCO

· Identify and interview key stakeholders in the staple grain sector, including representatives of government, the private sector, and relevant non-governmental organizations

·Prepare a draft research report with inputs from the IFPRI research team. The draft report should cover the following topics:

– Describe the state of food grain production and markets in Ghana (IFPRI will contribute to this section)

– Analyse the governance of the strategic grain reserve (NAFCO) with a focus on its institutional setup, management structure, partnerships, and risk management strategies.

– Analyse the size and composition of grain stocks for priority commodities over time, including the methodologies used by NAFCO to assess and determine the appropriate/optimal size of grain reserves.

– Assess NAFCO’s procurement strategies including the procurement decision making process, procurement methods, temporal and spatial patterns in grain procurement, and engagement with smallholder farmers.

– Analyse NAFCO’s storage management with a focus on the distribution of storage capacity across regions, methods of moving grain among storage facilities, and food safety and quality control.

– Describe the distribution mechanisms with a focus on the main recipients of the grain reserve, pricing policy, and coordination with safety net and other food security programs, if any.

– Analyse the fiscal cost of the grain reserve and estimate the unit costs associated with procurement, storage, and distribution.

-Identify key lessons, best practices, and challenges in the management of SGR.

Deliverables

· Revised outline of the research report.

· Secondary data on NAFCO’s procurement, storage, and distribution of staple grains

· Interview guidelines.

·Draft research report.

Duration, level of effort, and required expertise

The duration of the collaboration is for two months (August 2024 – September 2024) with about 30 – 40 days level of effort.

The assignment requires a consultant with at least postgraduate degree in Agricultural Economics or Developmental Economics; a minimum of 5 years’ experience with technical expertise in agricultural value chains, market and price analysis, and rural development; and familiarity with the literature on food security and strategic grain reserves.

Application documents

Please upload your CV, recent research work (technical report or published research paper), and your daily rate on the online application form.