Consultant / Expert Team – Samoa

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Consultant / Expert Team for a engineering, governance consultancy assignment financed by Pacific Community in Samoa.

Aninver Development Partners SL is preparing a proposal for a consulting assignment supported by the Pacific Community in Samoa. The initiative focuses on strengthening food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and agricultural development through investments in climate-adapted crops and healthy soils, specifically targeting four opportunity crops: plantain, yam, breadfruit, and long bean.

We are seeking an expert Consultant / Expert Team to undertake a decision-oriented feasibility study for a planting material distribution system in Samoa. The role involves mapping current supply chains, assessing demand, evaluating technical and institutional feasibility, and recommending sustainable and scalable implementation options to support regional agricultural development and food systems.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Map the current planting material supply and distribution system for plantain, yam, breadfruit, and long bean in Samoa.
• Assess current and prospective demand for planting material regarding quantities, timing, and geographic needs.
• Evaluate crop-specific technical requirements for propagation, multiplication, quality assurance, handling, storage, and transport.
• Analyze the institutional, operational, biosecurity, social, financial, and logistical feasibility of alternative distribution models.
• Develop a preferred implementation pathway, including a realistic pilot design, governance arrangements, and scaling strategy.

Scope of work

• Conduct an inception phase, desk review, and stakeholder engagement planning to define data collection tools and methodologies.
• Map existing sources, suppliers, multiplication arrangements, and distribution pathways for the four target crops.
• Assess farmer preferences, seasonal demand, and barriers affecting access for diverse demographic groups.
• Analyze technical, sanitary, biosecurity, and infrastructure requirements necessary to maintain planting material quality.
• Examine alternative distribution models, ranging from centralized production to community-based multiplication and hybrid public-private networks.
• Formulate indicative cost models, resource requirements, and risk mitigation measures for selected distribution options.

Your role as Consultant / Expert Team

• Lead the execution of the feasibility study in close collaboration with the project team and local stakeholders in Samoa.
• Perform comprehensive analyses of agricultural supply chains, seed systems, and value chains for the designated opportunity crops.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations, interviews, and field assessments across target regions.
• Assess technical and operational bottlenecks related to crop propagation, varietal identity, storage, and last-mile delivery.
• Design alternative distribution models and evaluate their institutional feasibility and scalability.
• Draft clear, evidence-based reports, policy briefs, and strategic recommendations in English for the donor and local partners.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced degree in agriculture, agronomy, crop science, horticulture, seed systems, agricultural economics, food systems, rural development, supply chain management or related discipline
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in agricultural development, planting material or seed systems, crop production, value chains, feasibility studies or related fields
• Languages: Strong report-writing skills in English implied

Desirable

• Prior professional experience working in Pacific Island Countries and Territories.
• Familiarity with climate-adapted crops, soil health initiatives, and regional agricultural development frameworks.

An experienced agricultural development and seed systems specialist with a strong background in conducting feasibility studies, value chain assessments, and agricultural governance in island or developing economies.

Assignment details

• Location: Samoa
• Financed by: Pacific Community
• Sector: Engineering, governance
• Estimated duration: 4 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a Pacific Community-financed project in Samoa.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.