Consultant to Develop a Strategic Plan to Upgrade ICBA's GenBank Operations

The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture(ICBA) is an international, non-profit agricultural research center established in 1999 through the visionary leadership of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ICBA is a unique applied agricultural research center in the world that is focused on marginal areas where an estimated 1.7 billion people live. It identifies, tests and introduces resource-efficient, climate-smart crops and technologies that are best suited to different regions affected by salinity, water scarcity and drought. Through its work, ICBA helps to improve food security and livelihoods for some of the poorest rural communities around the world. ICBA is an equal opportunity employer and appoints qualified staff regardless of race, creed, color, age, gender, religion or national origin. We demonstrate our commitment to each member of our team through a competitive benefits package designed to assist our employees to cover their needs and the needs of their immediate family members.

ICBA is seeking a qualified and experienced consultant to assist in the development of its strategic plan to upgrade its GenBank facility and operations. ICBA’s GenBank houses a valuable collection of genetic resources, which are of paramount significance in addressing climate change and food security challenges. The selected consultant will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of this initiative.

Job Summary

ICBA's mission revolves around unlocking the genetic potential concealed within its GenBank facility, which boasts an extensive array of genetic resources. With over 16,000 accessions spanning more than 230 species, ICBA's GenBank collection places a strong emphasis on species exhibiting remarkable heat and salinity tolerance, as well as exceptional water use efficiency. The significance of this repository extends beyond scientific interest, as it plays a critical role in addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change and the imperative matter of global food security.

Recognizing the necessity for prudent management and continued investment, ICBA acknowledges the paramount significance of the GenBank facility. As the world faces increasingly daunting challenges arising from climate change and growing concerns about food security, particularly within resource-limited agricultural production systems, the role of ICBA's GenBank facility becomes even more pivotal.

It is against this backdrop that ICBA seeks to engage a qualified consultant to implement a comprehensive strategic plan for the GenBank facility. This strategic initiative aims to assess the current status of the facility, prioritize species and traits, conduct a gap analysis, upgrade infrastructure, enhance data management and digitalization, foster collaboration and networking, establish research and breeding partnerships, conduct educational and outreach activities, outline a sustainability plan, and establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.

By adhering to these steps and considerations, ICBA aims to create a visionary concept that fully encapsulates its aspirations for the GenBank facility. The successful implementation of this plan will be instrumental in ensuring that ICBA's GenBank remains a central and dynamic hub for addressing critical agricultural and environmental challenges in marginal environments.

 

Job Responsibilities

Assessment of Current Status

  • Conduct a thorough assessment of the GenBank operations, including:
    1.  Facilities, infrastructure, and storage conditions
    2. Operations model/practices
    3. Data management systems, and 
    4. Human capital.
  • Identify gaps and areas that require improvement.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the genebank's conservation and utilization strategies, considering factors such as genetic diversity, seed viability, and documentation.
  • Provide recommendations for improving infrastructure, capacity building, and resource allocation to ensure the long-term sustainability of the genebank.

Prioritization of Species and Traits

  • Prioritize species and traits that align with current agricultural and environmental challenges in marginal environments.
  • Focus on food and feed crop species for cash or food security with potential for improving high nutrition, heat and salinity tolerance and water use efficiency.

Gap Analysis

  • Identify missing genetic resources that complement the existing collection.
  • Focus on species or traits of high value for addressing current and future challenges.
  • Evaluate the legal status, and the compliance with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of ICBA’s collection.

Collaboration and Networking

  • Propose potential collaborations with research institutions, agricultural organizations, and stakeholders.
  • Propose a plan for sharing genetic resources, exchange knowledge, and work collectively on addressing broader challenges.
  • Analyze the genebank's role in supporting regional and global agricultural research and development goals.
  •  

Research and Breeding Partnerships

  • Identify potential partnerships with plant breeders and researchers to develop new varieties with improved traits.
  • Propose a plan for the adoption of these traits in crops.

Educational and Outreach Activities

  • Develop an agenda for workshops, seminars, and training sessions to raise awareness about genetic resources.
  • Develop a plan to engage the scientific community and the general public in the importance of genetic resources and their applications.

Long-Term Sustainability

  • Develop a sustainability plan outlining funding and management strategies.
  • Diversify funding sources and explore partnerships with public and private entities.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Propose a plan for regularly monitor the impact of investments and initiatives.
  • Propose a plan to evaluate the success of breeding programs and the facility's contribution to addressing challenges.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration and partnerships to enhance the genebank's impact and reach

Strategic Plan Development

Develop a comprehensive strategic plan outlining key objectives, priorities, and action steps for the future development and management of the GenBank facility.

Qualifications and Experience
  1. Extensive experience in genetic resource management and crop improvement.
  2. Demonstrated success in managing similar projects.
  3. Relevant academic qualifications (PhD) in plant breeding, agriculture, or related fields.
  4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

 

Proposal Submission

Interested consultants should submit a proposal that includes:

  1. A cover letter expressing interest and understanding of the assignment.
  2. Detailed methodology and approach to address the scope of work.
  3. An itemized budget, including all anticipated costs.
  4. A work plan outlining key milestones and timelines.
  5. Curriculum vitae or company profile.
  6. References or examples of previous relevant work.
Post Date
17 October 2023
Status
Closed
Vacancy Type
Consultancy
Closing Date
open until filled
Location
ICBA and Remote
Report To
ICBA
Job Number
NA
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