1. Background and Context
Pastoralism is a vital livelihood system in Africa, supporting millions of households, contributing significantly to food security, cultural heritage, and national economies. Despite its importance, pastoralism remains under-represented in national statistics and poorly integrated into policy processes due to fragmented, inconsistent, and outdated data.
The African Union Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa (2010) calls for stronger evidence-based decision-making, highlighting the need for reliable, harmonized, and accessible pastoralism data across Member States. Similarly, the AU Guidelines to Secure the Pastoralist and Prevent Conflicts, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Malabo/Kampala Declaration emphasize the role of robust data systems in monitoring agricultural transformation and resilience.
Given the cross-border nature of pastoralist mobility, climate change pressures, resource-based conflicts, and emerging market opportunities, there is an urgent need to develop a Continental Pastoralism Data Management System (CPDMS) — a coordinated platform for collecting, analysing, storing, and sharing harmonized pastoralism data to support policy, investment planning, and resilience-building efforts.
In view of the above, AU-SAFGRAD invites applicants to apply for a consultancy service to elaborate a document on the Establishment of a Continental Pastoralism Data Management System (CPDMS) in Africa. The consultancy service will be undertaken by a Team of two experts (A Team leader, an expert in Pastoralism and an expert on ICT and GIS)
2. Objective of the Assignment
The overall objective of the consultancy is to design and support the establishment of a sustainable and inter-operable Continental Pastoralism Data Management System that will:
- Develop Continental Data Management platform
- Provide accurate, up-to-date, and harmonized pastoralism-related data across Africa.
- Enable evidence-based policy formulation and investment decision-making at national, regional, and continental levels.
- Support cross-border coordination and early warning systems.
- Strengthen national and regional institutional capacities in pastoralism data collection, management, and use.
- Develop concept Note for data management Situation Room
- Integrates GIS, remote sensing, and mobile data collection tools.
- Provides user access for AU, RECs, and Member States.
3. Scope of Work and Tasks
The Consultant will undertake the following tasks:
- Inception Phase
- Conduct a desk review of existing pastoralism data systems, sources, and initiatives in Africa (AUC, RECs, FAO, ILRI, pastoral organizations and other relevant organisations).
- Assess data needs of key stakeholders (governments, RECs, pastoralist associations, NGOs, research institutions and others).
- Identify institutional and technical gaps in pastoralism data collection and management.
- System Design
- Propose a technical architecture for the CPDMS, including database structure, data standards, data protocols, and interoperability mechanisms with existing agricultural and livestock databases.
- Draft a data governance framework covering data ownership, sharing protocols, confidentiality, and quality assurance.
- Recommend tools and methodologies for data collection, including integration of remote sensing, GIS mapping, mobile-based reporting, and participatory approaches with pastoralist communities.
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Facilitate the validation workshop
- Propose a governance and coordination mechanism for the CPDMS, ensuring cross-border collaboration and sustainability.
- Pilot Implementation Framework
- Propose a phased implementation plan, starting with a pilot in selected countries/regions before scaling up continent-wide.
- Define indicators and data sets for initial roll-out.
- Sustainability and Financing
- Identify potential funding mechanisms (donor support, public-private partnerships).
- Develop a sustainability plan to ensure long-term functionality and updates.
4. Deliverables
The Consultant will produce the following:
- Inception Report with methodology, work plan, and stakeholder mapping (within 1 week of contract signing)
- Assessment Report on existing pastoralism data systems, gaps, and needs.
- Draft Technical Design Document for the CPDMS (including architecture, governance framework, and data protocols).
- Pilot Implementation Framework with proposed countries, indicators, and roadmap.
- Final Comprehensive Report incorporating feedback from stakeholders.
5. Duration and Timeline
The assignment is expected to be completed within six weeks, distributed as follows:
- Inception Phase
- Stakeholder Consultations
- Assessment & Design
- Finalization & Handover
6. Qualifications and Experience
A. The Team leader should have:
- Advanced degree in Agricultural field and/or Livestock Management or other related fields.
- At least 10 years of experience in livestock/pastoralism data systems, agricultural statistics, or related fields.
- Proven experience in designing and implementing continental or multi-country data platforms.
- Familiarity with AU frameworks (CAADP, Policy Framework for Pastoralism) and REC-level livestock initiatives.
- Experience working with pastoralist communities and understanding of socio-economic, environmental, and cultural dynamics.
- Excellent and proven analytical and report writing skills
- Excellent and proven of one of AU languages
- Relevant experience in related or similar assignments
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to prioritize and work with minimum supervision
B. Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Expert
- Strong ICT skills, including database development, GIS mapping, mobile data collection tools.
- Web Portal Design, Data Science, or other related fields
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and report writing skills.
- Excellent and proven analytical and report writing skills
- Excellent and proven of at least one of AU languages
- Relevant experience in related or similar assignments
- Excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to prioritize and work with minimum supervision
7.Reporting and Supervision
The Team of Consultants will report to AU-Semi-arid Food Grain Research and Development (AU-SAFGRAD)
8. Remuneration
1. The team of Consultants (Team leader and ICT Expert) will be paid an honorarium as following: (the team leader will be paid USD Eight Thousand (USD 8,000) Only, meanwhile the ICT expert will be paid USD four thousand (USD 4,000 only). The payment will be carried out in three instalments as follows: 30% after submission of the inception report and approved by the Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD, 40% after submission the draft report and Approved by the Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD and 30% after submission of the final Report and approved by the Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD. AU-SAFGRAD will also pay for any mission or meeting (economy ticket and DSA) that may be needed and authorized by AU- SAFGRAD.
9. Application
Qualified Consultants are invited to show interest by sending their CVs latest August 24, 2025, to AU SAFGRAD Office at the following address:
261, Rue de la culture BP 1783, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
E-mail: SayahE@africanunion.org Tel: +22625306071
If delivered by courier, the envelope must be clearly marked with the title of the assignment.
Only shortlisted consultants will be contacted.
Download The ToR below: