Food Loss and Waste Measurement Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research non-profit organization established in 198

• With over 30 years of experience in Africa, WRI has been instrumental in supporting local partners and African governments in advancing forest protection, landscape restoration, and sustainable urban development. The organization aims to foster an inclusive transformation that allows both the people and landscapes of Africa to thrive. WRI Africa operates under three strategic pillars: Vital Landscapes, Thriving and Resilient Cities, and Institutional and Economic Transformation. The Vital Landscapes pillar focuses on revitalizing and protecting landscapes through four key areas: Food, Restoration, Water, and Forests. Given the rapid population growth in Africa and the ongoing challenges posed by climate change, this pillar is dedicated to enhancing the resilience of natural ecosystems to ensure they continue to provide essential services such as food, water, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation sustainably. Furthermore, it seeks to catalyze a comprehensive transformation of African food systems to ensure environmentally friendly production, transportation, storage, processing, trade, and consumption of food, thereby safeguarding human health and well-being.

Job Overview:
The current assignment is part of WRI-Africa’s Vital Landscapes Pillar, specifically focusing on the food loss and waste (FLW) portfolio within the food program. The primary goal of this portfolio is to contribute to effective FLW prevention and reduction through collaborative efforts that scale up the Target-Measure-Act (TMA) approach. This approach encourages organizations to integrate FLW measurement into their operations, which is crucial for understanding the extent, locations, and reasons behind food loss and waste. Accurate measurement provides a solid foundation for prioritizing actions, whether they involve aligning government policies or changing business practices. A significant challenge in mitigating FLW is the lack of reliable data regarding its magnitude, hotspots, and key drivers. Existing literature indicates discrepancies in measurement scope and boundaries, complicating progress tracking against targets and hindering the formulation of robust policies. Kenya's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 12.3, which aims to reduce food loss and halve food waste by 2030, necessitates the establishment of national frameworks supported by credible and standardized FLW measurement approaches. The assignment will focus on the potato value chain in key producing regions of Kenya, aiming to generate nationally representative data on FLW levels, causes, and drivers while engaging stakeholders and building collaborations to enhance awareness and capacity for data generation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks, including: assisting in organizing and facilitating two pre- and post-data collection meetings with local stakeholders in Nyandarua, Bomet, Nakuru, and Meru counties; collaborating with the WRI team to design a comprehensive data collection plan, identifying a representative sample, and mapping geographical locations for data collection; recruiting and training qualified enumerators while ensuring gender and social inclusivity; digitizing the data collection tool and deploying enumerators according to the established plan; coordinating and supervising the data collection process to maintain quality assurance; curating and analyzing the collected data; preparing a detailed completion report; and participating in a national stakeholder workshop to share findings and gather feedback for future actions. Deliverables include a report of stakeholder meetings, a comprehensive FLW assessment report detailing methodology and findings, and a seminar presentation to communicate results and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master’s degree or higher in social science, development studies, food science/technology, postharvest technology, or a related field. Extensive experience in agricultural research, particularly in food loss and waste, is essential. Strong analytical skills, both qualitative and quantitative, are required, along with the ability to synthesize large datasets into actionable outputs. Candidates should have a solid understanding of Africa’s agri-food sector and its connection to food loss and waste issues, as well as nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. Familiarity with the Kenyan agricultural sector and food value chains is crucial. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of producing high-quality, policy-oriented research papers and possess excellent English writing and oral communication skills. Strong leadership and teamwork abilities, along with good work ethics, are also necessary.

Educational Background:
A master’s degree or higher in relevant fields such as social science, development studies, food science/technology, or postharvest technology is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively conduct research and analysis in the agricultural sector, particularly concerning food loss and waste.

Experience:
Candidates should have extensive experience in conducting research within the agricultural sector, specifically focusing on food loss and waste. This experience should include working with various stakeholders, including public and private sector entities, and a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality, policy-oriented research outputs. The consultant should also have experience in data collection and analysis, particularly in the context of agricultural value chains.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as excellent writing and oral communication skills are essential for this role. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the local context may be considered an advantage, although not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The assignment is scheduled to take place between 15th June 2025 and 31st August 202

• Interested candidates should submit their Expressions of Interest by 6th June 2025, including a brief document outlining their approach, an indicative work plan and budget proposal, and CV(s). All documents should be compiled into a single PDF file and sent to the specified email addresses for the attention of the relevant WRI Africa personnel.