Assignment: Consultancy service to develop regional guidelines for the extraction, processing and trading of Nile perch maws in East Africa

Country: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania

Name of client: Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO), of the East African Community (EAC)

Start period: February/2020

Completion: September /2020

Description of the assignment:

The objective of the assignment is to hold consultations with key stakeholders along the value chain of Nile perch maws and develop guidelines for its extraction, processing, transportation and trading.

The specific tasks undertaken by the consultant include:

1. Carrying out a short desk study of existing relevant literature, policies, legislation, and data on fish maws within the Riparian States of Lake Victoria, namely Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
2. Visiting Fisheries Institutions, Nile perch landing sites, Nile perch maws processors, transporters, traders and exporters, major exit/entry border points for fish maws to get their views on what needs to be done to streamline extraction, processing and trade of the fish maws.
3. Investigating the current challenges, opportunities and recommendations to guide the development of the guidelines.
4. Developing draft guidelines which will guide extraction, processing and trade of fish maws but which will also ensure sustainable management and utilization of Nile perch fishery in Lake Victoria and other water bodies with Nile perch.

Assignment: Consultancy to assist in prioritizing SPS measures in the Trade in Agriculture Safety and Efficiency (TRASE) in East Africa

Country: Uganda, Burundi

Name of client: CAB International (CABI)

Start period: February/2020

Completion: August /2020

Description of the assignment:

This consultancy contributed to an assignment carried out by CABI where it was contracted by Land O’Lakes Venture37 to undertake a Comprehensive SPS assessment to prioritise Trade in Agriculture Safety and Efficiency (TRASE) activities in partnership with targeted EAC Partner States, the US. Department of Agriculture and other stake holders.

The specific tasks undertaken by the consultant include:

1. Contributing to the development of an assessment framework, methodology/approach and survey tools to capture field data.

This Included reviewing and helping to finalise the following:

• Prioritise trade flows (imports and exports), value chain actors involved as well as SPS trade constraints and opportunities
• Harmonise assessment approaches to be used by CABI and KO associates in the target countries
• SPS Assessment framework/checklist of questions for collecting the requisite information from key informants during the country missions
• Draft list of key informants/institutions/relevant competent authorities from whom to obtain latest information and data including evaluation reports, project reports eg East Africa Trade and Investment Hub, USAID project reports
• Draft list of key contact at regional and international bodies e.g EAC, COMESA Investment Hub, development partners and ISSOs

2. Contributing to the development of a scoring rubric and customized scorecard for each of the targeted countries describing their national SPS system. Under this activity he reviewed the draft SPS assessment methodology developed by CABI, which included a score card with appropriate main headings, parameters (criteria) as well as defining defined scores against which the SPS systems of the target countries were measured
3. Conducting and overseeing the conducting of SPS assessment in targeted countries and populated the country SPS score cards. Under this activity, he conducted a semi structured interview with a range of sanitary (Food Safety) stakeholders in two countries (Uganda, Burundi) including competent authorities.

Assignment: Deep Dive Study on Food Safety Standards and Animal Welfare Rules within DFID’s Commercial Agriculture Portfolio

Country: Uganda

Name of client: LTS/NIRAS International

Start period: November/2019

Completion: January/2020

Description of the assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy was to contribute to an assignment that LTS International and IMC were contracted to undertake a Deep Dive Study on Food Safety and Animal Welfare Standards within DFID’s Commercial Agriculture portfolio. The study provided answers to the following questions: How many DFID commercial agriculture programmes are considering food safety in their design and/ or delivery; How do programmes consider food safety e.g. which type of interventions do they implement; in which context; how is food safety linked to the programme’s Theory of Change; what has been the impact/outcome so far of the food safety intervention/programme?

The assignment also explored the relevancy of animal welfare issues addressed in livestock value chain programmes. Specifically, which policies, laws or regulations are programmes seeking to implement on factory farming of poultry (broiler and laying hens) cattle, space limitations, diets, slaughter, and live animal transport.

Assignment: Preparing the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for Animal Identification and Traceability Bill

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: April/2019

Completion: November/2019

Objective of the assignment

The RIA was intended to provide information to guide decisions on the necessary regulatory proposals to be included in the Animal Identification and Traceability Bill (AITB). The RIA therefore aimed to support the development of an effective legal framework for streamlining the collection, retention and sharing of information on livestock animals in order to help control animal diseases and livestock theft, enhance food safety, regulate the movement of livestock, improve livestock products, protect’ animal genetic resources, promote access to markets and providing other related benefits.

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify and analyze the problems that AITB is intended to address i.e. challenges of substandard goods on the market
2. Determine whether Uganda can address the problems on its own or need to involve other players e.g. the regional players in addressing the identified problems
3. Determine the fitting objective of AITB and how it should best be achieved
4. Identify options for establishing and implementing an effective LITS in Ugandan market
5. Determine the social, economic and environmental impacts of the different options identified.
6. Compare the different options and recommend the best ones for inclusion in AITB.
7. Propose modalities for monitoring the impacts of the proposed options during the implementation of the AITB.

Assignment: Preparation of the National Residue Monitoring and Control Programme for Meat and Meat Products in Uganda

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: April/2019

Completion: November/2019

Objective of the assignment

The main objective was to prepare the RMP/finalize the 1st RMP in Uganda to be submitted, by the Directorate of Animal Resources, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, to the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU Commission as well as to other technical Ministries/Directorates in other importing countries where Uganda has interest to export meat and meat products.

Specific Objectives:

1. To review the national residue monitoring and control plan for beef and beef products
2. To develop system for prevention and control of residues in meat and meat products
3. To develop tools (checklist) for inspectors to conduct routine compliance inspections to establishments in the meat value chains
4. To develop a sampling plan for meat establishments in the value chain based on the residue monitoring plan temperate to be used by inspectors carrying out routine inspection and official controls
5. To design a criterion and plan for annual review of the national residue control plans for meat and meat products based on emerging risks and market requirements
6. To design a tool/guideline for reporting mitigation measures during crisis management and product recalls where need arises
7. To design a tool for documentation, evaluation, analysis, dissemination and maintenance of data of RMP for policy decisions.

Assignment: Reviewing and Updating the Aquaculture Rules and Regulations

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: January/2019

Completion: April/2019

Objective of the assignment

The main objective of the assignment was to review, identify gaps, and update the Fish (Aquaculture) Rules 2003 and bring it in line with international best practices for promoting and guiding development of aquaculture; and controlling and regulating aquaculture establishments.

The review was undertaken in considerations of new developments in investments, technology, institutional, policy and regulatory frameworks and regional and international requirements. In addition, production conditions and regulatory environments were put into consideration in the revision to enable sustainable production and implementation of the Rules for Uganda.

Specific Objectives:

1. To conduct desk research to obtain relevant information related to recent trends, developments, standards and minimum requirements in aquaculture practices including establishments and management of production systems; approval of new aquaculture establishments; inspection and certification processes, processing, distribution and marketing technologies; permissible research and development (R&D) among other areas
2. To review existing national aquaculture related policies, laws, regulations, guidelines and standards as well as regional and international recommended codes of good practice and obtain relevant information to be incorporated in the revised Aquaculture Rules and Regulations.
3. To consult national level stakeholders as well as local government stakeholders and relevant institutions and assess the existing aquaculture practices along the aquaculture value chain by visiting selected representative aquaculture facilities and determining the current status, challenges and opportunities that can be tapped through the updated Aquaculture Rules
4. To undertake an in-depth review of the current aquaculture Rules and Regulations and identify the gaps in areas of recent trends in production systems and technologies such as cages, tank, ponds, aquaponics, recirculating Aquaculture System, as well as fish seeds and feeds production, processing, marketing and distribution.
5. To develop a draft of the revised and updated Aquaculture Rules and Regulations taking into consideration the gaps identified and findings from desk reviews and field studies
6. To subject the revised Aquaculture Rules to Stakeholder validation including integrating the views of cross-section of stakeholders such as academia, NAFFRI, NEMA, DWD, PSFU, cage farmers association, fish farmers association among others in the revised Aquaculture Rules

Assignment: Revising and finalising the National Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy and National SPS policy Implementation Plan

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Chemonics Inc. through the USAID Feed the Future (EEA) support to Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries

Start period: October/2018

Completion: February/2019

Objective of the assignment

The overall objective of the policy is to promote a rule-based SPS management and control system that enables compliance of agricultural products to animal and plant health and food safety standards; and increased market access 

Specific Objectives:

1. To align the SPS Management and control to the international best practices
2. To strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for human, animal and plant life or health protection
3. Harmonize SPS measures with regional and international requirements
4. To improve coordination and collaboration among SPS related stakeholders
5. To improve skills and build technical capacity for the management of SPS along the value chain
6. To support the Private Sector in development and implementation of necessary SPS standards and requirements
7. To support implementation of SPS measures necessary to facilitate the access of locally produced products to available prime markets in Uganda
8. To Strengthen border control and internal quarantine systems to manage SPS
9. To minimize the effects of SPS measures on trade in animal, plant, their products including food at national, regional, and international scales
10. To promote awareness on human, animal and plant life or health protection measures.

Assignment:Consultancy to Review the Standards (Import Inspection) Regulations (SIIR) and Carrying out of the Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Proposed Revised SIIR in Botswana

Country: Botswana

Name of client: Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry in Botswana

Start period: October/2018

Completion: March/2019

Objective of the assignment

The overall objective of the assignment was to revise the Botswana Standards (Import Inspection) Regulation (SIIR) by aligning it with the international and regional best practices and identifying and mitigating the impacts the implementation of revised SIIR could have on business, trade, industry, consumers, environment and general economy.

Specific Objectives:

1. Review of literature and available documents on international best practices for conformity assessments performed on imports and those applied by the Botswana’s potential international trade partners and regional peer countries
2. Evaluate the existing SIIR against the international and regional practices and identify areas that need revision in order to align SIIR with international and regional best practices
3. Revise SIIR to align it to international and regional practices
4. Assess the impact of regulatory requirements of SIIR on regulated (prescribed) products and mitigate any potential impacts its implementation could have on business, trade, consumers, industry, environment and the economy.
5. Integrate the recommendations of the Regulatory Impact Assessment in the revision and finalization of SIIR.

Assignment: Consultancy to Conduct a Diagnostic Study of the Agro-products Value Chains in Eswatini (Swaziland) to identify those with potential for improved agro-processing; Development of National Strategy for Agro-processing and Industry Upgrading and Modernisation Programme (IUMP)) and Action plans that are aligned to the SADC IUMP 2015-2063

Country: Eswatini (Swaziland)

Name of client: Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland) through the EU-SADC Trade Related Facility (TRF) Project

Start period: August/2018

Completion: November/2018

Objective of the assignment

The Overall Objective of the project was to identify value chains with high employment and export potential and develop a National IUMP to promote competitiveness and diversification of the manufacturing sector.

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify the most valuable agro-produces that are important to the economy of Swaziland
2. Undertake the national value chain diagnostic study of the identified agro-produces according to the country’s industrialisation strategy
3. Develop the national value chains strategy and related action plan, covering both existing and potential sectors. This assisted in the identification and development of sector specific strategies that are necessary to enhance value chains processes.
4. Develop the Industrial Upgrading and Modernization Program together with its implementation plan

Assignment: Conducting a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of animal feeds

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: April/2019

Completion: November/2019

Objective of the assignment

The RIA was intended to provide information to guide decisions on the necessary regulatory proposals to be included in the Animal Feeds Bill (AFB). The RIA therefore aimed to support the development of an effective legal framework for streamlining operations in the feed sector and improving the safety and quality of animal feeds.

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify and analyze the problems that the Draft Animal Feeds Bill is intended to address i.e. lack of implementation of standards in feeds value chain and lack of certification system for feeds hence resulting in unsafe and poor quality feeds being used in animal production.
2. Determine whether Uganda can address the safety and quality problems in the feed value chain on its own or need to involve international and regional players in addressing the identified problems.
3. Determine the fitting objective of Draft Animal Feeds Bill and how best it can be achieved.
4. Identify the different options for implementing standards in feed production to improve safety and quality of feeds in Uganda.
5. Determine the financial, social, economic and environmental impacts of the different options identified.
6. Conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis, compare the different options and recommend the best ones for inclusion in Bill.
7. Propose the indicators and modalities for monitoring the impacts of the proposed options during implementation of the Bill when enacted into law

Assignment: Conducting a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of Meat Development Bill

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: April/2019

Completion: November/2019

Objective of the assignment

The RIA was intended to provide information to guide decisions on the necessary regulatory proposals to be included in the Amended Meat Development Bill (AMDB). The RIA therefore aimed to support the development of an effective legal framework for streamlining operations in the meat sector and improving the safety and quality of meat and meat products.

Specific Objectives:

1. Identify and analyze the problems that the Amended Meat Development Bill is intended to address i.e. lack of appropriate meat safety and quality control system, lack of institutional structure for meat quality assurance, poor hygiene and sanitation in areas where meat is handed and lack of effective controls for meat imports and exports.
2. Determine whether Uganda can address the problems identified in the meat value chain on its own or need to involve international and regional players in addressing the identified problems.
3. Determine the fitting objective of Amended Meat Development Bill and how best it can be achieved.
4. Identify options for implementing a meat safety and quality control system, improvement in meat quality assurance, hygiene and sanitation; and instituting proper controls for meat imports and exports
5. Determine the financial, social, economic and environmental impacts of the different options identified.
6. Conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis, compare the different options and recommend the best ones for inclusion in Bill.
7. Propose the indicators and modalities for monitoring the impacts of the proposed options during implementation of the Bill

Assignment: Developing the Fruits and Vegetables (Phytosanitary and Quality Assurance) Rules 2016

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives through the Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme (QUISP) in Collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: April/2015

Completion: May/2015

Objective of the assignment

The objective was to provide an instrument that could be issued by government to enforce phytosanitary and quality assurance requirements set out in the various EU legislation within the Uganda fruits and vegetable subsector so as to ensure compliance of the exports to the EU market requirements

Specific Objectives:

The project involved desk work review of the EU market requirements for fruits and vegetables set out in the various EU legislation.

It also involved reviewing the current Plant Health and Protection Act (2015), The Agricultural Chemicals Control Act (2006), the Plant Variety Protection Act (2014) and others such as the Food and Drugs Act (1964) and Public Health Act (1969) to identify provisions related to phytosanitary and food safety that have effect on production, handling, trade and export of fruits and vegetables. And by adopting the Government of Uganda Format for development of Rules (Statutory Instruments) develop the Fruits and Vegetable (Phytosanitary and Quality Assurance) Rules for enforcing compliance with requirements for fruits and vegetables that are harmonized with those applied in the EU markets

Assignment:Consultancy for Preparation of a Value Chain Analysis Report for the Nile perch Maw Trade in East Africa that investigates all harvest, processing and trade aspects as well as quality and legislative issues

Country: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

Name of client: Deutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Collaboration with the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO)

Start period: May/2018

Completion: July/2018

Objective of the assignment

The Overall Objective of the Value Chain Analysis (VCA) study was to gather information on the Nile perch maw with the main focus on its local and regional trade in East Africa. The information is essential in designing interventions for achieving sustainable fisheries management of Nile perch at Lake Victoria, improving artisanal fisheries leading to better access to fisheries products and employment opportunities, and reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Specific Objectives:

1. To investigate the challenges, constraints and opportunities in local and regional handling, processing and marketing of Nile perch.
2. To investigate the harvesting, handling and processing, marketing and distribution for the Nile perch including the players involved and their roles especially the roles of women within the value chain.
3. To examine the market structure/system and trade of Nile perch and its products; and investment potential/ opportunities.

Assignment: Technical Assistance for Development of Relevant Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Protocols and Procedures to Minimize the Spread of Covid-19 in Priority Value Chains

Country: Kenya

Name of client: NIRAS International Consulting Kenya Ltd (in collaborating with NIRAS Uganda)

Start period: March/2021

Completion: June/2021

Objective of the assignment

The project was aimed to ensure continued supply of a safe agricultural supply chain that conforms with SPS standards, health and safety requirements for traded agricultural products. This was achieved by improving Competent Authorities controls for SPS risks/concerns in key food supply chains; and ensuring faster border clearance through use of ICT for inspections, controls and issuance of approvals.

Specific Objectives:

• Identifying/confirming the relevant Competent Authorities, Ministries, Departments, and agencies mandated to assure food safety, animal health and plant health in relation to international trade.
• Identification of priority list of the value chains
• Reviewing SPS related concerns/risks, including SPS notifications, for the prioritized food supply chains and suggest relevant actions
• Reviewing of adequacy of existing prioritized SPS measures by the CAs
• Development of protocols and procedures for inspection and border approvals
• Identification and implementation of ICT interventions

Assignment: Draft National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Policy of Uganda

Country: Uganda

Name of client: Chemonics International Inc. Under contract agreement with USAID for the Feed the Future Uganda Enabling Environment for Agriculture Activity

Start Date (months/year): November/2018

Completion date: February/2019

Objective of the assignment

Specifically, the objective of the assignment was to promote a rule based SPS management and control system that enables compliance of agricultural products to animal and plant health and food safety standards; and increased market access

Specific Objectives:

1. To align the SPS Management and control to the international best practices

2. To strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for   human, animal and plant life or health protection

3. Harmonize SPS measures with regional and international requirements

4. To improve coordination and collaboration among SPS related stakeholders

5. To improve skills and build technical capacity for the management of SPS along the value chain

6. To support the Private Sector in development and implementation of necessary SPS standards and requirements

7. To support implementation of SPS measures necessary to facilitate the access of locally produced products to available prime markets in Uganda

8. To Strengthen border control and internal quarantine systems to manage SPS

9. To minimize the effects of SPS measures on trade in animal, plant, their products including food at national, regional, and international scales

Assignment: Consultancy to develop regional guidelines and framework for a regional SPS Early Warning system and Rapid Response Guidelines

Country: Mauritius, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa

Name of client: Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Start Date (months/year): July/2017

Completion date: November/2017

Objective of the assignment

Specifically, the objective of the assignment was to assist the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to develop Regional Guidelines and framework for an Early Warning system related to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) threats and Rapid Response Guidelines.

Specific Objectives:

1. To survey international best practices Guidelines on the topic of Early Warning systems

2. To survey the current situation in 3 SADC member states covering the systems in place for plant protection, Animal Health and Food Safety in country

3. Make recommendations based on international best practices for a standardised framework for the SADC region and its member states on: harmonized approach to gathering and sharing information on pests, diseases and other threats to the health and wellbeing of the people, fauna and flora of the countries and region practices and systems required to provide effective and timely transparent risk-based response to potential and actual SPS threats

Assignment: Provision of Technical Assistance to Develop a Project Proposal for Seychelles under the SADC Trade Related Facility

Country: Seychelles

Name of client: Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Other agencies such as Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Child care, collaborated

Start Date (months/year): March/2017

Completion date: April/2017

Objective of the assignment

The overall objective of the assignment was to assist the Government of Seychelles to develop a project proposal for strengthening quality infrastructure for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).

The assignment also involved the completion of an application form for EU SADC Trade Related Facility (TRF) funding request (Annex 2 of the TRF Operational Guidelines). In designing the project proposal, the following issues were taken into account:

The project was coherent with SADC’s integration strategy, Seychelles’ national development plans and/ or policies with clear linkages to the implementation of the regional trade facilitation programmes

the project aimed at mitigating or overcoming challenges linked to the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade (especially the Annexes on SPS and TBT)

the project was consistent with the strategies and objectives of the TRF and fit within the identified intervention areas; and

the project was situated within a coherent strategic framework of addressing Seychelles’ regional/ extra-territorial trade commitments; sustainable; with objectives, key results and indicators clearly linked to the implementation of identified gaps.

Specific Objectives:

1. Specifically, this assignment was to assist the Government of Seychelles to develop a TRF application package, containing the following information:

2. Identify the objectives to be achieved, project outcomes and outputs and activities to be undertaken

3. propose a Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) that includes a baseline, progress indicators and final targets (multi-annual where applicable) and sources of verification (SoV) to allow measurement of progress against implementation of the project

4. propose a result-based budget and payment schedule, based on the progress indicators and targets proposed in the PAF

5. outline an implementation methodology and a project management and implementation arrangement, including details on how financial and procurement processes will be managed

Assignment: Provision of Technical Assistance to Develop a Project Proposal for Zimbabwe under the SADC Trade Related Facility

Country: Zimbabwe

Location within country: Harare

Name of client: Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Other agencies such as Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Child care, collaborated

Start Date (months/year): September/2016

Completion date: October/2016

Objective of the assignment

The overall objective of the assignment was to assist the Government of Zimbabwe to develop a project proposal for strengthening quality infrastructure for SPS and TBT. In designing the proposal, the following issues were taken into account:

The project was coherent with SADC’s integration strategy, national development plans and/ or policies with clear linkages to the implementation of the SADC regional industrialization strategy and Road Map (2015-263);

the project was aimed at mitigating or overcoming challenges linked to the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade in Zimbabwe (especially Annexes for SPS and TBT);

the project was consistent with the strategies and objectives of the EU SADC TRF and fit within the identified intervention areas; and

The project was situated within a coherent strategic framework of addressing Zimbabwe’s regional/ extra-territorial trade commitments; (TBT/SPS obligations); sustainable; with objectives, key results and indicators clearly linked to the implementation of identified gaps.

Specific Objectives:

1. Specifically, this assignment was to assist the Government of Zimbabwe to develop a TRF application package, containing the following information:

2. Identify the objectives to be achieved, project outcomes and outputs and activities to be undertaken;

3. propose a Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) that includes a baseline, progress indicators and final targets (multi-annual where applicable) and sources of verification (SoV) to allow measurement of progress against implementation of the project;

4. propose a result-based budget and payment schedule, based on the progress indicators and targets proposed in the PAF; and

5. outline a project management and implementation arrangement, including details on how financial and procurement processes will be managed

6.  

Assignment: Provision of Technical Assistance to Develop a Project Proposal for Mozambique under the SADC Trade Related Facility

Country: Mozambique

Location within country: Maputo

Name of client: Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Other agencies such as National Institute for standardization and quality (INNOQ); Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security collaborate

Start Date (months/year): August/2016

Completion date: September/2016

Objective of the assignment

The overall objective of the assignment was to assist the Government of Mozambique to develop a project proposal on quality and standards with specific focus on TBT and SPS measures.

The assignment also involved the completion of an application form for TRF funding request (Annex 2 of the TRF Operational Guidelines). In designing the project proposal, the following issues were taken into account:

The project was coherent with SADC’s integration strategy, national development plans and/ or policies with clear linkages to the implementation of the SADC regional industrialization strategy and road map and other trade facilitation programmes;

the project was aimed at mitigating or overcoming challenges linked to the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade or the Economic Partnership Agreement in Mozambique;

 the project was consistent with the strategies and objectives of the TRF and fit within the identified intervention areas; and

 the project was situated within a coherent strategic framework of addressing Mozambique’s regional/ extra-territorial trade commitments; (TBT/SPS obligation); sustainable; with objectives, key results and indicators clearly linked to the implementation of identified gaps.

Specific Objectives:

1. Specifically, this assignment was to assist the Government of Mozambique to develop a TRF application package, containing the following information:

2. Identify the objectives to be achieved, project outcomes and outputs and activities to be undertaken;

3. propose a Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) that includes a baseline, progress indicators and final targets (multi-annual where applicable) and sources of verification (SoV) to allow measurement of progress against implementation of the project;

4. propose a result-based budget and payment schedule, based on the progress indicators and targets proposed in the PAF;

5. outline an implementation methodology and a project management and implementation arrangement, including details on how financial and procurement processes will be managed

6.  

Assignment: Consultancy to develop a training manual for MSMEs engaged in cereal and cereal products related business operations

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives

Start Date (months/year): September/2016

Completion date: October/2016

Objective of the assignment

The main objective of the assignment was to build the capacity of cereal operators and enable them to implement food hygiene, good manufacturing and food safety standards through training, coaching, mentorship and promoting implementation of the good hygiene and good manufacturing practices (GHP and GMP

Description of the actual services provided:

1. Developed the training manual for MSMEs engaged in cereal and cereal products related business operations
2. Trained the staff of the cereal operators on food hygiene and food safety standards
3. Facilitated cereal operators to comply with the food hygiene good hygiene and food safety standards and related requirements
4.  

Assignment 1: Consultancy Services to Support the Implementation of Key Short Term Assignments under QUISP Project

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives

Start Date (months/year): May/2016

Completion date: November/2016

Objective of the assignment

1. Developing short-term policy studies to guide the decisions of the SMCA fora and other relevant institutions on topical issues.
2. Supporting MAAIF, KCCA and UNBS to implement  the animal feeds and meat value related standards and or technical regulation
3. Developing end of implementation evaluation and phasing out strategy to ensure sustainability of key QUISP results
4. Supporting training of MDAs in: development of Technical Regulations according to Good Regulatory Practice (GRP), implementation of control plans and standard operating procedures, modern monitoring, surveillance and control based on Risk Analysis (i.e auditing, certification, sampling and testing) – including code of practice or check lists for fresh fruits and vegetables
5. Supporting the training and implementation of quality standards and best practices for MSMEs
6. Supporting  capacity building of Technical Assessors and laboratory Analysts in method validation and estimation of measurement uncertainty

Assignment 2: Consultancy Services to develop the National Fisheries Policy Implementation Plan under the Lake Victoria Environment Management Project

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Entebbe

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: July/2016

Completion: September/2016

Key Experts of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and the functions they performed:

Narrative description of project: Food Safety Associates Ltd was requested by the MAAIF to undertake a sector-wide value chain study to generate information and data needed to guide the development of the National Fisheries Policy Implementation Plan to realize the objectives of the policy.

Objective of the assignment: The main objective is to develop National Fisheries Policy (NFP) Implementation Plan in line with the mission of the new National Fisheries Policy i.e. to optimize the utilization of the fisheries resources benefits through increased and sustainable production

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates Ltd:

• Conducting desk research, stakeholders analysis and field studies to undertake a subsector-wide value chain analysis study for major fish species to identify the technologies, nature of fishing and fish related operations, processes and enterprises, challenges, solutions available to address the challenges, opportunities for improving operations, productivity, profitability, product development, value addition and marketing among others for each of the major species from major water bodies and aquaculture
• Analyse data and information obtained from the desk research, stakeholder’s analysis and field work study and produce a report of the fisheries subsector wide value chain analysis highlighting the situation analysis for major fish species captured from major water bodies in Uganda and aquaculture. The report will identify in detail the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for improving operations and increasing productivity, profitability, product development, value addition and marketing for each of the species. The report will also identify issues confronting the developments in the value chains for different species as well as the key stakeholders affected or impacted by the developments. It will give the actions and interventions necessary for improving the above variables for each of the species while considering the nature of the operators, institutional and policy frameworks in place.
• Meet with key stakeholders at National Level to seek their views on the findings of the Value Chain Analysis Study and validate the findings. Individual stakeholders could be contacted through e-mails to seek their views or organise individual or joint meetings.
• Use the findings of the value chain study and the provisions of the National Fisheries Policy, to determine policy interventions, expected outcomes, outputs and develop a five-year costed National Fisheries Policy Implementation Plan in accordance to the suggestions made above
• Meet or circulate the developed National Fisheries Policy Implementation plan to consult key stakeholders for their inputs to the draft National Fisheries Policy Implementation Plan
• Incorporate comments of the stakeholders and Present the National Fisheries Policy Implementation Plan to the Directorate of Fisheries Resources for comments
• Receive comments if any, from the Directorate of the Fisheries Resources, revise the draft NFP Implementation Plan by incorporating those comments of DiFR and submit the final draft of the Plan
• Compiling a brief end of assignment report detailing the constraints and lessons leant in undertaking the assignment to inform future similar work
• Submit the report to the DiFR

Assignment 3: Developing the Fruits and Vegetables (Phytosanitary and Quality Assurance) Rules 2016

Country: Uganda

Location with Country: Kampala

Name of Client: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives through the Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme (QUISP) with Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: April/2015

Completion: May/2016

Key Experts of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and the functions they performed:

1. 1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Key Expert on Development of Fruits and Vegetable rules
2. Jeffrey Atwiine, Reviewed the fruits and vegetable rules

Narrative description of Project: Food Safety Associates Ltd/NIRAS/BSI team was requested by Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives to develop a Fruits and Vegetables Phytosanitary and Quality Assurance Rules that will enable the fruits and vegetable operators and official controls comply with the requirements for the EU markets.

Objective: The objective was to provide an instrument that could be issued by government to enforce phytosatinary and quality assurance requirements set out in the various EU legislation within the Uganda fruits and vegetable subsector so as to ensure compliance of the exports to the EU market requirements

Description of actual services provided by key Consultants of Food Safety Associates Ltd:

The project involved desk work review of the EU market requirements for fruits and vegetables set out in the various EU legislations.

It also involved reviewing the current Plant Health and Protection Act (2015), The Agricultural Chemicals Control Act (2006), the Plant Variety Protection Act (2014) and others such as the Food and Drugs Act (1964) and Public Health Act (1969) to identify provisions related to phytosanitary and food safety that have effect on production, handling, trade and export of fruits and vegetables. And by adopting the Government of Uganda Format for development of Rules (Statutory Instruments) develop the Fruits and Vegetable (Phytosanitary and Quality Assurance) Rules for enforcing compliance with requirements for fruits and vegetables that are harmonized with those applied in the EU markets

Assignment 4: Supporting the collaboration between MTIC/QUISP and Makerere University School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering to establish a Masters’ Degree Course in Food Safety and Quality Management

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of client: The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) Under the Quality Infrastructure and Standards Project (QUISP)

Start period: January/ 2016

Completion: March/2016

Narrative description of the project: The overall objective of the proposed course was to produce adequate and well equipped food safety and quality professionals that can support the establishment and sustenance of an appropriate food safety and quality system which is capable to respond to the ever changing needs of the agro food sector in Uganda and beyond.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates ltd:

1. Conducted  a capacity  gap  analysis in industry and  potential  employer institutions and identified food safety and quality issues that should be covered by the course to meet the needs of the agro-food sectors
2. Provided  technical  expertise in the  design  and  development  of  course  content and curriculum by Makerere  University, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Engineering.
3. Supported  the  development  of the course content and curriculum  by  working with  key academic  staff  at the DFTN
4. Coordinated stakeholders consultations with respect to development of course content and the curriculum
5. Consulted the key and representative stakeholders for their input to ensure the relevance of the course to the needs of the agro food sector.
6. Supported  the approval process  of the  curriculum developed to ensure  compliance  with the  guidelines  recommended by the  University,  Uganda National Council  for  Higher Education  and  other relevant accreditation bodies.
7. Provided  technical support on  all processes  leading to approval of the  courses  by relevant  bodies
8. Supported the development of academic and laboratory inventories and identified the initial relevant teaching materials and aids needed for the commencement of the Msc Programme
9. Developed a resource  roadmap for implementation of the MSC FSQM programme by  Mak SFTNB,
10. Supported  exchange visits and information sharing  with reputable  institutions  with  experience  of  running similar or related programs  for  successful implementation of   the  developed program

Assignment 5: Developing a Traceability User Manual for Operators in the Fruits and Vegetables Export Supply Chain

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of Client: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives through the Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme (QUISP) in Collaboration with the Uganda Fruits and Vegetable Exporters and Producers Association, Uganda Export Promotions Board and MAAIF

Start period: December/ 2015

Completion: February/ 2016

Key experts of Food Safety Associates Ltd Involved and the functions they performed:

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, key expert on  Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme
2. Nelson Wafula, Reviewed the Traceability User Manual for Operators in the Fruits and Vegetables Export Supply Chain

Narrative description of Project: Food Safety Associates Ltd/NIRAS/BSI team was requested by Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives to develop a tool for enabling the fruits and vegetable operators play their roles as stipulated in the Implementation Guide for the Traceability of Fruits and Vegetables in the Export Supply Chain

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates experts within the assignment: 

1. The Food Safety Associates Experts worked with the representatives of the Uganda Fruits and Vegetable Exporters and Producers Association and MAAIF and visited facilities of some of the Fruits and Vegetables operators to seek their views.
2. Developed tracing manual which was reviewed with the coordinators or agronomists of the export companies. The final manual was discussed with representatives of MAAIF, UFVEPA and technical personnel of export companies.

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperative (MTIC) through Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme (QUISP) with Ministry Of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)

Start period: May/2015

Completion: June/2015

Narrative description of the project: Food Safety Associates Ltd/NIRAS/BSI team was requested by Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives to come up with implementation guide for Traceability of Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Exports in Uganda.

The overall goal was to come up with guidelines that are purposed to the manner in which different players undertake traceability activities and how they are linked together to establish an effective traceability that can allow Uganda’s stakeholders respond effectively to any food related incident involving fruits and vegetable exports. Draft the document for guiding the implementation of the traceability requirements by all stakeholders in fruits and vegetable sector in Uganda.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates Experts:

1. Considered fruit and vegetable facilities, processes and procedures of operators and practices along the production and supply chain
2. Sampled exporters of fruits and vegetables
3. Sampled farms that supply the exporters under study
4. Sampled at least one pack house operated by exporters understudy
5. Visited facilities of entire production and supply chain (from on-farm to airport chain) to observe activities and consult operators on modalities for: Product collection/bulking, product loading and offloading, handling, packaging, transportation, packing and shipment
6. Consulted with MAAIF, UEPB, MTIC and Uganda Fruits and Vegetable exporters and producers on the current and feasible system for identification and information generation in light of international best practices already established in the Traceability system guide.

Assignment 7: Strengthening of Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Quality Infrastructure in Uganda to Meet the Export Requirements for Agro-food Products Program

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of client: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)

Start date: April/ 2015

Completion: June/ 2015

Food Safety Associates expert involved and functions he performed:

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Key Expert on Sanitary, Phytosanitary and Quality Infrastructure

Narrative description of the project: The overall goal was to develop and sustain agro-food exports to support employment, increase the people’s income and contribute to poverty reduction.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates Expert:

1. Implementation of key aspects of National SPS Policy and Strategic development plan for food safety (2016-2020)
2. Development, enactment and implementation of rules for food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary controls for exports in line with Policy, Strategy and existing Acts
3. An institutional framework for coordinating food safety and quality controls in the country established in accordance to the new food safety law
4. Institutional structure for supporting official controls for SPS streamlined and roles of individual institutions harmonized, rationalized and clarified
5. Risk Analysis framework for agro-food sectors developed and implemented for all exported commodities
6. Standard operating procedures for SPS inspection that are in accordance to EU regulations developed and implemented
7. Data bases for all agro-food operators within the agro-food export chain established
8. Tools such as quarantined pests and approved pesticides developed to support inspection services
9. An organized system for surveillance for plant and animal products established and implemented
10. Rapid alert system for plant and animal products developed and implemented
11. Rationalize the use of the available laboratory services
12. Continuous exchange of technical information between operators within the chain together with mandated public sector institutions through regular meeting supported

Assignment 8: Inventories of New Industrial POPs: Perflorooctane Sulfonic Acids (PFOS), Its Salts and Perflorooctane Sulfonyl Floride (PFOS-F) in Uganda

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Kampala

Client: National Environmental Management Authority

Start period: October/2014

Completion: February/2015

Food Safety Associates expert involved and functions he performed:

Narrative description of Project: The main objective of this assignment was to carry out inventory of new industrial Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Perflorooctane Sulfonic Acids (PFOS), its salts and Perflorooctane Sulfonyl Floride (PFOS-F) and establish the quantity of PFOS in Uganda’s environment and develop the action plan for its management in accordance with the Stockholm convention requirements.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates ltd:

1. Reviewed and documented data and information on the manufacture, use and importation of articles containing PFOS and PFOS-F
2. Conducted national inventories to collect information from sectors dealing with products that contain PFOS
3. Identified the types and quantities of processes using the articles containing PFOS; identified the types of alternatives available at the international level and which are used in products and processes at the international level so as to replace the PFOS
4. Proposed acceptable purposes and specific exceptions applicable to Ugandan scenario
5. Developed strategies with measures, timelines and goals for the management of these chemicals (actions plans under the NIP);
6. Prepared inventory report for these chemicals;
7. Collaborated and provided information when required to other task teams carrying out similar consultancies under the project;
8. Made other input that was appropriate to ensure that the inventory report on these industrial chemicals reflects the circumstances of Uganda regarding the subject matter.

Assignment 9: Providing technical Assistance to Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme in Uganda PHASE 11

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start date: February/2014

Completion date: January/2015

Hired team: Food Safety Associates Ltd/NIRAS/BSI

Key Experts of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and the functions they performed:

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Key Expert on Coordination of Quality and Standardisation
2. Mr. Jeffrey Atwine, SQMT Legal Frameworks Expert

Narrative description of the project: The overall objective was to promote sustainable use of standards and quality infrastructure so as to improve the competitiveness of Uganda’s products, processes and service delivery systems in domestic, regional and international markets

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates Ltd:

• Reviewing the results and recommendations of a study carried out to identify gaps in the legal framework for the enforcement of technical regulations that need to be filled
• Supporting the development and/or enactment of new legislation to fill the identified gaps
• Facilitate (where appropriate) stakeholder consultations during the review and update of the respective current laws in quality infrastructure area.
• Providing technical input on the on-going study on the establishment of national framework for coordination and collaboration of all stakeholders in standards and quality area – The standards and quality forum
• Advising on the establishment of elaborate procedures and chart for mode of coordination and operations of the standards and quality forum
• Assisting in the drafting of procedures, modalities and frequency for national quality and standards forum

Assignment 10: Consultancy to provide technical support to implementation of priority activities under the QUISP

Country: Uganda

Location within country: Kampala

Name of Client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start date period: September/2014

Completion: January/2015

Key Experts of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and the functions they performed:

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire (Team Leader)
2. Prof. Charles Muyanja (Food Safety Expert),
3. Mr. Jeffrey Atwine (legal Expert)
4. Mr. Roland Karumuna (Meat Hygiene Expert)

Narrative description of Project: The assignment aimed to:

1. Review and update the draft National SPS policy and its implementation plan and support the QUISP PMU and the task force that was established to implement the meat standards in Kampala Market
2. Support the continuation of legal and regulatory review that was initiated during the course of QUISP 1 and QUISP 2 which was abruptly halted when the work of technical assistance team of QUISP was suspended after the donor with drew the funding
3. Support the establishment of the National Quality Coordination Forum and Implementation of strategies to strengthen and reform the national quality infrastructure in Uganda already agreed upon during the QUISP phase 1and 2

Description of actual services provided by FSA staff regarding meat hygiene standards within the assignment: 

The Food Safety Associates (FSA) Ltd’s Experts reviewed and undertook a Gap Analysis in abattoirs in Kampala and wrote a comprehensive report. The gap analysis identified the areas within the enterprises that required greater technical emphasis. They compiled training and awareness materials that focus on improvement of the specific aspects identified and conducted a workshop to sensitise the representatives of abattoir operators. The experts developed materials used in the training of the meat business operators selected by MTIC and Task force.

Assignment 11: Consultancy to establish a well functioning food safety control system in Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries Resources/Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA)

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Entebbe

Start date period: November/2012

Completion: September/2013

Name of senior professional staff of our firm involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Team Leader
2. Prof. Charles Muyanja, Food safety expert
3. Mr. David Baziwane, Food Safety Expert

Narrative description of the project: The main goal was to recommend the appropriate measures to establish a well coordinated and functioning food control system for MAAIF

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates (ltd):

1. Carried out desk and literature review to obtain information on the best international practices in food safety control and the existing system in Uganda
2. Carried out field visits to food producers, processors, handlers etc to identify the existing practices and the deficiencies in food control and management and establishment level.
3. Consulted national level stakeholders to identify their views and suggestions to the national food control system suited for Uganda
4. Produced an analytical report to the current status of food safety control system and what changes are necessary to establish a well coordinated and functioning food control system under MAAIF
5. Developed an implementation manual and protocols to guide MAAIF in introduction and implementation of food control system recommended

Assignment 12: Undertaking a midterm review for the ICEIDA funded Quality Assurance for Fish Marketing Project implemented by the Department of Fisheries Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Entebbe

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries Resources/Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA)

Start period: March/2012

Completion: August/2013

Narrative description of the project: The development objective of the project was to increase volume of marketed fish both in the domestic and export markets through reduction in post-harvest losses. The main objective of the Midterm review was to review the project’s two and a half year period of implementation and establish if the project was still on track to achieve its intended objectives and meet its goal, and recommends the necessary changes where necessary to be implemented in the remaining term of the project

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates ltd:

1. Visited the project office to obtain appropriate briefing and necessary information on the working of the project
2. Met the officials of MAAIF, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, and ICEIDA to discuss leadership and vision of the project and the financing mechanisms
3. Interacted with project stakeholders across the project districts and MAAIF headquarters to obtain updates on project implementation
4. Visited project sites to interact with the beneficiaries and assess the state of the facilities and services provided by the project
5. Provided and drafted report for review by the clients

Developed a final report

Assignment 13: Providing Technical Assistance to Economic Partnership Agreement and Trade related Private Sector Support (EPA TAPSS) Programme

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start period: August/2012

Completion : June/2013

Hired team: Agriconsulting Europe/Ecorys Nederlands and Food Safety Associates Ltd

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and functions he performed

Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Team Leader – SPS component of the Technical Assistance Team.

Narrative description of the project: The main goal of the assignment was to strengthen standards environment and mechanism for implementation of SPS measures with a view to enabling Uganda’s products conform to international quality requirements

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates (ltd) staff:

1. Developed the SPS awareness and sensitisation materials
2. Trained the local government staff on good SPS practice.
3. Drafted SPS guidelines, standard operating procedures and code of good practices
4. Undertook a study on revitalisation of the WTO notifications office under MTIC
5. Undertook a functional analysis study for the mandated public SPS institutions

Assignment 14: Capacity and equipment inventory of testing and calibration laboratories in Uganda

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start period: March/2013

Completion: June/2013

Hired company: Tropical Agriculture and Natural Resources Services Centre Ltd (TRANRSEC) with Food Safety Associates (FSA) Ltd as sub contractor

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and functions performed:

1. Prof Charles Muyanja (Team Leader);
2. Dr. Ananias Bagumire (Laboratory Infrastructure Expert),
3. Mr. Kephar Kachama Kateu (Laboratory testing and methodology expert);
4. Mr. Mulongo George (Laboratory equipment and calibration expert)

Narrative description of the project: The main objective of this assignment was to establish the capacities and inventory of conformity assessment service providers in testing, calibration fields and related certification fields in Uganda.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates (ltd):

1. Identified and developed an inventory of both Public and Private ( including industries) testing, verification and calibration laboratories involved in conformity assessment and research activities in Uganda and reviewed the mandates and legal frameworks under which they operate,
2. Identified and developed an inventory of key equipment available, its age, capability and calibration status and identify essential but lacking equipment in the testing and calibration laboratories,
3. Identified the testing and calibration scopes covered by the existing testing and calibration laboratories and the scopes that are lacking but which are critically needed by clients (exporters, importers, manufacturers, regulators, etc) ,
4. Identified and developed an inventory of the available trained experts (human resource) in SMCA field both in Public and Private Sector,
5. Provided a comparative assessment of the time taken to provide results for similar tests/certification services and cost implications by different SMCA service providers,
6. Identified any other competence or gaps in the existing testing and calibration laboratories in terms of; expertise, accreditation status, presence or absence of formal laboratory quality management systems, equipment maintenance and servicing capacity, existence of formal laboratory safety management systems, operating environment, ICT capability, existence of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and any other capacity needs and challenges,
7. Based on the gap analysis, prepared proposals for capacity development of human and physical resources,
8. Provided/designed the criteria for rationalizing the set up and allocation of centers of excellence in for specific testing and certification services,
9. Recommended a sustainable way of keeping and updating a database on laboratory capacities and equipment inventory as an important component of quality infrastructure

Produced and presented an inception report for stakeholder input and later produce a draft report for discussion and stakeholder in put before producing a final report

Assignment 15: Providing technical Assistance to Quality Infrastructure and Standards Programme in Uganda

Country: Uganda

Location with Country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start date period: June/2011

Completion: May/2013

Hired company: NIRAS and Food Safety Associates Ltd as sub contractor

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates involved and functions performed:

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Key Expert on Coordination of Quality and Standardisation Stakeholders
2. Mr. Jeffrey Atwine, SQMT Legal Frameworks Expert

Narrative description of the project: The overall objective was to promote sustainable use of standards and quality infrastructure so as to improve the competitiveness of Uganda’s products, processes and service delivery systems in domestic, regional and international markets

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates (ltd) staff:

• Reviewed the results and recommendations of a study carried out to identify gaps in the legal framework for the enforcement of technical regulations that needed to be filled
• Supported the development and/or enactment of new legislation to fill the identified gaps
• Facilitated (where appropriate) stakeholder consultations during the review and update of the respective current laws in quality infrastructure area.
• Provided technical input on the on-going study on the establishment of national framework for coordination and collaboration of all stakeholders in standards and quality area – The standards and quality forum
• Advised on the establishment of elaborate procedures and chart for mode of coordination and operations of the standards and quality forum
• Assisted in the drafting of procedures, modalities and frequency for national quality and standards forum

Assignment 16: Study to collect data and information for developing modalities for harmonizing Uganda’s position and effective participation in SPS-related International Trade Negotiations

Country: Uganda

Location: Kampala

Name of Client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start period: June/2012

Completion:  September/2012

Hired companies:  Tropical Agriculture, and Natural Resources Services Centre (TRANRSEC LTD) with Food Safety Associates Limited as sub contractor

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, (Team Leader)
2. Prof. Charles Muyanja (SPS and Food Safety Expert)
3. Ms. Faith Wabulya Kiboneka (SPS Expert) ;
4. Mr. Muzoora Elly (Economist)

Narrative description of Project: The main Objective of the Project was to analyze the mandates, approaches, procedures, and current SPS issues being discussed in WTO SPS Committee, OIE, IPPC and CAC that are of interest to Uganda; so as to identify appropriate modalities for improving effectiveness of Uganda’s participation in those meetings.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates staff within the assignment: 

The staff was solely responsible for the assignment; they developed action plans, undertook filed work, literature search, reviewed mandates, modalities and procedures of the studied organizations and produced the required reports and final outputs of the assignment

Assignment 17: Developing modalities for harmonising Uganda’s position and effective participation in food safety-related international trade negotiations

Country: Uganda

Location within Country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

Start period: June/2012

Completion July/2012

Hired companies:  Tropical Agriculture, and Natural Resources Services Centre (TRANRSEC LTD) with Food Safety Associates Limited as sub contractor

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire (Team Leader) and
2. Prof. Charles Muyanja (Food Safety Expert)

Narrative description of the project: the aim was to provide information for guiding Ugandan delegates attending international meetings to push for harmonized national positions in Codex and international food safety meetings.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates (ltd):

1. Reviewed of the codex working manual, codex websites, WTO websites, reports of codex and its technical committees’ meetings and various technical reports on the subject matter.
2. Review and appraisal of national policies related to food safety and national food safety strategic plan.
3. Establishment of key contacts with in relevant public institutions that provided some information that was based on.
4. Studied 3 cases of developed, developing and less developed countries in order to get Ugandan delegates an informed point of view of different countries.
5. Obtained the required information/data both in published and un-published form from scientific, policy and trade journals; research reports, and dissertations, and various websites.

Assignment 18: Implementation of EAC/UNIDO-NORAD Programme on Trade Capacity Building in Agro- Industry products for Establishment and proof of Compliance with International Market Requirements

Country: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi

Location within Region: The capital cities of the EAC member states

Name of client: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)

Start period: October /2009

Completion: June/ 2012

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates involved and functions he performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Regional Programme Coordinator

Narrative description of the project: The global objective of the programme was to enhance institutional capacities of the five countries members of the East African Community to implement WTO TBT/SPS agreements and achieve compliance with international markets requirements.

The main objectives are to enhance the capacity of enterprises to produce according to international market requirements and strengthen export oriented support services mainly relating to conformity assessment.

Objectives of the National components

• (a) Provide technical and logistical support to national export-support institutions to participate effectively in regional harmonization of SPS measures and standards
• (b) Provide technical and Information Technology support to national TBT and SPS enquiry and notification points to improve service delivery to the private sector
• (c) Upgrade selected national chemistry laboratories based on the identified needs and assist them to accreditation in selected scopes
• (d) Upgrade selected national microbiology laboratories based on the identified needs and assist them to accreditation in selected scopes
• (e) Upgrade enterprises for selected agro-industry products to serve as pilot models for demonstrating the application of appropriate food safety management systems and assist towards ISO 22,000:2005 certification.

Description of actual services provided by staff of Food Safety Associates:

• (a) Provided experts to produce a draft and support consultations in the development of an EAC SPS protocol
• (b) Provided experts to produce a draft and support consultations in the development of EAC Harmonised measures for food safety
• (c) Supported regional technical experts in a series of meetings to update EAC to Harmonised measures for plant health, Animal Health and sanitary measures for fish and fishery products
• (d) Supported the relevant East African Standards sectoral committees to develop various EAC Harmonised regional standards for food and food products
• (e) Supported East African Business Council (EABC) to sensitise the business community about the TBT and SPS issues affecting trade in agro-products through workshops, printed material and websites
• (f) Provided experts to draft an EABC Business guide on TBT and SPS , support the regional consultation on draft and printing of final copies of the guide
• (g) Assisted all EAC member states to develop mechanisms for developing and implementing food safety and SPS policies
• (h) Assisted national laboratories in the Bureaus of Standards and other food control agencies by procuring equipment, training the staff and preparing labs for accreditation in some scopes
• (i) Assisted member states to establish and operationalize Enquiry and notification points for TBT and SPS in line with the respective WTO agreements
• (j) Assisted selected enterprises in EAC member states to institute appropriate food safety management systems to serve as pilot models and assist them in preparation for ISO 22,000:2005 certification

Assignment 19: Development of Code of good practices for food safety in aquaculture and artisanal fisheries subsectors and a fish inspector’s guide

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Entebbe

Name of Client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries Resources/Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA)

Start date: March/2011

Completion):  June/2011

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Team Leader
2. Prof. Charles Muyanja, Quality assurance expert
3. Ms. Faith Wabulya, fish and fishery products expert

Narrative description of Project: The main goal was to develop codes of good practices that would support stakeholders and operators in fisheries subsector to comply with the newly developed regulatory requirements needed to guarantee safety of fish at all stages in the chain.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates staff within the assignment: 

1. Assessed the current practices by operators and produce a manual of code of good food safety and quality assurance for aquaculture products
2. Assessed the current practices and develop the code of good food safety and quality assurance practices fish and fishery products obtained from the artisanal subsector
3. Assessed the current practices and develop a simplified inspectors’ guide to be used by inspectors during MSC activities for fish and fishery products
4. Presented the developed documents to the respective representatives of the stakeholders and revised the document

Assignment 20: Harmonising legislation for control of quality assurance of aquaculture products with that of the EU

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Kampala

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries Resources/Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA

Start date: October/2010

Completion: February/2011

Name of senior professional staff of our firm involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Team Leader
2. Prof. Charles Muyanja, Quality assurance expert
3. Ms. Faith Wabulya, fish and fishery products expert
4. Mr. Jeffrey Atwiine, Legal Expert

Narrative description of the project: The main goal was to review the existing quality assurance regulatory system for aquaculture products in order to strengthen regulations to harmonise with or meet equivalence of international market requirement and therefore ensure sustainable market access through export of aquaculture products from Uganda to the EU.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates staff:

1. Identified gaps, revised and harmonised the Fish (Quality Assurance), Rules, 2008 with the relevant National, Regional and International legislation of aquaculture products.
2. Identified gaps, revised and harmonised the aquaculture Rules, 2003 with National, Regional and international legislations for aquaculture products.
3. Revised manual of standard operating procedures (SOP) for fish inspection and quality assurance , 2008
4. Revised Manual of SOPs for Aquaculture establishment and production, 2003
5. Consulted stake holders during the revision process (2 – commercial Fish Farmers; 2- small scale Fish Farmers; 1 feed manufacture; 3 commercial Fish processors, ; 3- related regulatory services; 1 national Fisheries Research Institute ; UNBS)
6. Documented gaps and indicated the required costs for establishing a comprehensive quality assurance system that can be sustainable, guarantee safety and quality of aquaculture products.

Assignment 21: Mid Term Review of EAC/UNIDO-NORAD programme on Trade Capacity building in Agro-Industry products for establishment and proof of compliance with International Market Requirement

Country: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi

Location within Region: The capital cities of the EAC member states

Name of client: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Trade Capacity Branch

Start period: October/2009

Completion: February/2010

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, SQMT, SPS and Project Evaluation Expert:

Narrative description of the project: The global objective of the UNIDO-NORAD programme in East Africa on Trade Capacity Building in Agro-Industry products for the establishment and proof of compliance with International Markets Requirements is to enhance institutional capacities of the five countries members of the East African Community to implement WTO, TBT/SPS agreement and to achieve compliance with international markets requirements.

Narrative description of Project: The global objective of the UNIDO-NORAD programme in East Africa on Trade Capacity Building in Agro-Industry products for the establishment and proof of Compliance with International Markets Requirements is to enhance institutional capacities of the five countries members of the East African Community to implement WTO, TBT/SPS agreement and to achieve compliance with international markets requirements.

The main objectives are:

1. To enhance the capacity of enterprises to produce according to international market requirements
2. To strengthen export oriented support services mainly relating to conformity assessment.

The objective of the Mid Term Review (MTR) was to assess the progress of the programme after one and a half years of implementation having started in 2007, and to identify areas of success and areas where performance was not adequate, and to suggest approaches on building on success and improving areas of the programme where adequate success had not been realised.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates staff within the assignment:

1. Visited the five EAC member states of Uganda , Burundi,  Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania; EAC secretariat in Arusha and UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna to hold focused discussions and carryout first hand assessment of deliverables the programme had provided to programme counterpart agencies (National Bureau of standards, government ministries, institutions of high learning, private sector etc), also discuss with UNIDO experts hired to implement the programme, and obtain their views on performance  and improvement  of the programme performance in the region.
2. Assessed the capacities of institutions (labs, inspection services, regulators, etc) being supported by the programme to establish whether the support given addresses the existing needs
3. Updated the programme document, redrew the expected out puts, and activities to ensure that the programme is focused to meet the intended programme goal.
4. Developed a new programme work plan and budget to ensure the remaining funds are channeled in area that address  identified needs to the stakeholders
5. Wrote a report that analysed the status and progress of programme  implementation in the region, the capacity gaps  in supported institutions, agencies and enterprises, and needs to be done to fill those gaps and the workman and budget for the two-years period remaining on the programme for both the national and regional components of the programme

Proposed a coordination mechanism for the stakeholders in the programme to improve the delivery of programme outputs

Assignment 22: Evaluation of the Impact of Global Financial and Economic Crisis on Fish Industry in Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania, Under the UNIDO programme on impact of global financial and Economic Crisis on LDC‘s Productive Capacities and Trade.

Country: Uganda and Tanzania

Name of Client: UNIDO

Start period: September/2009

Completion: November/2009

Name of senior professional staff of Food Safety Associates Ltd involved and functions performed

Dr. Ananias Bagumire, The Team Leader

Ms. Faith Wabulya Kiboneka (Fish Industry Expert)

Narrative description of Project: The global objective of the project was to understand how the structural, competitive, and political – economic situations of specific industries were shaping the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on those industries and their future courses.

The main objective of the evaluation in East Africa was to understand the impact of global financial and economic crisis on food industries in the LDCs that depend on food exports and the appropriate interventions and/ or mitigation measures necessary.

Description of actual services provided by our staff within the assignment:

1. Carried out a rapid assessment based on visits of selected fish factories, and interviews with executive managers and stakeholders such as fish industry associations, relevant government agencies, and donor representatives
2. Used primary and secondary data and information obtained to analyse the status, performance, needs, and constraints of fish industry regarding trade, output, value addition, labour and industry structure during the financial and economic crisis and the implication of the crisis on future courses.

Assignment 23: Developing residue monitoring plan and harmonisation dossier for Uganda’s application to the EU for approval of aquaculture exports and harmonising legislation for control of quality assurance of aquaculture products with that of the EU

Country: Uganda

Location with country: Entebbe

Name of client: Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Department of Fisheries

Start period: March/2009

Completion: April/2009

Name of senior professional staff of our firm involved and functions performed

1. Dr. Ananias Bagumire, Team Leader and Responsibility holder for the assignment

Narrative description of the project: The main goal of the project was to obtain approval from the EU authorities to include Uganda on the positive list of countries approved to export aquaculture products in Europe.

Description of actual services provided by Food Safety Associates (ltd):

1. Carried out assessment of the status of aquaculture facilities and estimated the export potential of existing facilities
2. Advised the existing aquaculture operators and collaborated with them in developing the residue monitoring plan and compilation of the harmonisation dossier submitted to EU in application for approval of Uganda’s Aquaculture exports
3. Reviewed the existing legal frame work status of controls and proposing the sanitary surveillance and control mechanism that will improve the status quo and draw  a road map for the country progress in meeting the necessary compliance
4. Responded to EU checklist and made a case for Uganda’s entry to EU market based on the progress made and future actions leading to compliance.