Call for applications: Assessing the impact of food policy options in East Africa

 Call for applications

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has initiated a collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to assess the impact of a series of food policy options in East Africa. IFPRI opens a call for applications to AGRODEP members willing to work on this project.

Objective

The objective of the work the study is to analyze for Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda, the price and welfare effects of a series of policy measures on nutritious foods which are not affordable for households.  Policies related to food supply chains and external food environment will be particularly scrutinized. The targeted foods are eggs, milk, chicken and meat (beef).

Activities

The main activities to be carried out include the following:

• Build for each country a Computable general equilibrium model similar to IFPRI Standard Model (Lofgren et al, 2002)^[1] or to PEP models (Decaluwe et al, 2010)^[2] with new features based on the available data and the scenarios to be simulated.
• Customize and update the social accounting matrices for each country to reflect the purpose of the s a database for all African countries with the study.
• Perform a literature review (including previous GAIN studies) on the sectors targeted by the study to prepare the scenarios to be simulated. This could include:
  • Increase in agricultural productivity
  • Reduction or removal of custom duties on imports
  • Implementation of an export tax to favor the domestic market
  • Reduction or removal of consumption taxes
  • Implementation of an input subsidy
  • Reduction of transaction costs (trade and transport margins)
• Perform the simulations and write a report analyzing the results.

Outputs and deliverables

The outputs of this study will be:

• A customized CGE model for each country
• An updated social accounting matrix for each country
• A report describing the literature review, the methodology of the study and the results of the simulations.

The consultant will use known and reliable data sources to do this work. These sources may include (but not limited to): national accounts, FAO food balance sheets, World development indicators etc.

Timeframe and Schedule of Deliverables

The work will be carried out according to the schedule set forth below.

Required skills

The consultant must have:

• Proven experience in CGE modeling, particularly within the PEP or IFPRI framework
• Proven work experience in agricultural economics with links to nutrition
• Good knowledge of the food policy environment of target countries (Ethiopia, Rwanda and Kenya)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

How to apply?

Applications (a curriculum vitae of the applicant that includes its current affiliation) should be sent to Fousseini.Traore@cgiar.org no later than July 10, 2020.