CSJ intends to work with market actors to trigger change in the market system in a way that enables smallholder farmers to gain increased access to affordable quality input products and services in turn increasing their incomes and ability to adapt and become resilient to the effect of climate change. Implementation of proposed value adding interventions will be carried out through nine work packages or thematic areas: soil restoration and management; climate-smart inputs and services; post-harvest handling and aggregation at the smallholder farmer level; linking smallholder farmers to local, regional, and international markets; scaling the commercial agent model; increasing women’s productivity and performance through access to targeted products, services and business opportunities; strengthening agricultural market performance by addressing unequal gender norms; innovations for refugees and refugee hosting communities and innovations to expand climate messages through media. All the nine work packages aim to drive systemic change by improving SHF access to affordable, high-quality goods and services, and a stable market for their products. This will boost incomes and help them withstand climate change effects, as UGCSJ collaborates with key market players to drive systemic change.

Background

During the inception period, CSJ conducted a broad market systems study to understand the underlying constraints that affect small holder farmers in northern Uganda due to the negative impact of climate change. This involved looking at different market actors to understand the different strategic interests and impacts including women, refugees, and other marginalized groups. One of the focal areas identified through CSJ is improving the access of smallholder farmers, including women and refugees, to sell their agricultural products on local, regional, and international markets.

CSJ intends to carry out further research to help the CSJ team to understand the potential market demand for green products[1]produced in NU from international and regional markets whilst providing knowledge of other wider constraints that affect exports and trade within these market systems. The research will also help CSJ determine the transformative opportunities which may increase green-focused trade originating in NU.

[1] The definition of a green product is one that positively impacts the environment, such as legumes that fix nitrogen to enhance soil fertility, or tree crops that boost biodiversity and sequester carbon, or products that avoiding harmful pesticides and promoting long-term ecological balance such as products produced organically or sustainably.

Objective of the assignment

This consultancy will conduct an analysis in Northern Uganda (NU), focusing on the production, market demand, and trade dynamics of environmentally beneficial crops, and analyses the existing landscape of developmental and government interventions to strategies the path forward for CSJ.

Scope of work

The scope of work will incorporate the following: Analyse the supply of green crops in NU. Quantify the production levels of key environmentally friendly crops, such as tree nuts, beauty product ingredients derived from tree crops, nitrogen-fixing crops like oilseeds and beans, as well as organic crops including horticulture crops that are currently being produced in NU. Perform a brief analysis of quality and quantity.

Market demand analysis. Research and document the demand for the identified green sector both within local, regional, and international markets, including upcoming trends to identify potential entry points for these crops and recommend markets that CSJ should target. Note this will focus on markets where NU products are currently accessing.

Map the macro trade investment landscape in Uganda. Understand the current investment landscape aimed at facilitating domestic and export trade from Uganda (government, public and private sector) focused on these targeted agricultural products.

Review contributions from development projects facilitating trade in Uganda and identify any gaps that will provide opportunities for CSJ to craft interventions on trade.

Way forward for CSJ. Based on the supply and demand analysis, as well as the gaps in the trade landscape, develop actionable recommendations for CSJ to pursue, focusing on interventions and taking into account that we want to impact trade transformation ally, taking a systemic approach. Identify potential partners. Note, this could also recommend additional value chain studies that may be required to focus CSJ interventions. The recommendations should help in the design or pointers of the interventions on trade in NU.

Deliverables

Draft Word report, no longer than 20 pages
PowerPoint presentation
Final report (Word & PowerPoint)
Expertise

Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in trade analysis, preferably with a focus on developing economies or regions similar to Northern Uganda.
Advanced degree in Economics, International Trade, Business Administration, or a related field. eCz5Lti veIMj
Proven track record of conducting trade analyses, with specific examples of previous work on value chains, trade facilitation, or export strategies.
Expertise in international trade dynamics, including export compliance, market access, and trade barriers, with demonstrated ability to develop actionable export strategies that align with both local capacities and international market demands.
An understanding of the major value chains and familiarity with the economic, social, and environmental context of Northern Uganda, and how