Regional South Africa Summer Fancy Food (SFF) Trade Show Consultant

OVERVIEW OF ATI

The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) Activity is designed to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United States.

Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support activities, and a large, flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract facility designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the private sector identify.

BACKGROUND

The Summer Fancy Food Show has been earmarked as the premier food show in the United States for the Africa Fine Foods Pavilion. According to the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/specialty-food-and-beverage-sales-expected-to-reach-207-billion-in-2023-according-to-state-of-the-specialty-food-industry-2023-24-report-301858205.html sales of specialty foods and beverages across all retail and food service channels neared $ 194 billion in 2022, up 9.3 percent over 2021, and are expected to reach $207 billion (about $640 per person in the United States) by the end of 2023.

ATI’s participation at the upcoming Summer Fancy Food shows in 2024 will be supported under the Prosper Africa Continental Services Buyer-Supplier workstream as the activity represents foundational work that will continue at a scale that exceeds any existing mission’s geographic mandate. The continental mandate includes developing a continental partnership with a corporate partner; mobilizing export firms to respond to U.S. buyers’ requirements, market intelligence to source U.S. buyers for international trade and leveraging co-funding options between Prosper Africa continental buyer-supplier services with regional and bilateral missions funding pools. ATI will also seek co-funding from regional and bilateral missions as well as African export firms to ensure that only credible and deal ready firms participate in the event.

To achieve this, ATI will build on its success at the June 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show by expanding participation to include export and deal ready firms from the continent that will be able to benefit from the exposure and access to buyers directly. This targeted approach will lead to increasing the average export transaction size by linking together export and deal ready firms with pre-selected and qualified U.S. buyers in specialty foods.

ATI will introduce major enhancements in the participation at the Summer Fancy Food June 2024 Show by partnering with industry experts in the United States to deliver greater export sales of $100 million. This export performance will be attained by bringing in between 100 and 150 participating African export firms under an African Fine Foods Pavilion banner drawing export firms from North, West, East, and Southern Africa. ATI will also focus on engaging U.S. buyers across high potential specialty food sub-sectors to build deeper linkages between U.S. importers and African exporters.

POSITION OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES

The Regional SFF Consultant will provide support to recruit, screen, prepare firms to exhibit in-person and follow-up on post show activities and reporting in collaboration with ATI as follows:

The consultant will support and coordinate with Southern Africa country teams to prepare selected firms to exhibit in-person in advance of June 2024 show and follow-up with firms post the show.

Responsibilities

The Project aims to appoint a consultant, to support and prepare regional partners to participate at the SFF show. The consultant is expected to fulfil the following roles and responsibilities:

• Convening a SFF Show 2024 Working Group, in collaboration with the Project.
• Onboarding the Southern African export-ready specialty food firms in collaboration with the Project in coordination with national and provincial TPSPs.
• Arranging and coordinating participation of exporting firms in learning events that are being held before, during and after the event. These will be organized by the working group and Project.
• Coordinate shipments including all necessary materials for the booth equipment and marketing materials to the SFF Show in New York in accordance with deadlines set by show organizers.
• Collecting high resolution photos, logos and company information from exhibitors in collaboration with national and provincial trade promotion service providers and export firms for inclusion in the Africa Fine Foods Pavilion brochure and for preparing the artwork for each customized booth.
• Drafting and finalizing deal notes (partnership agreements) between ATI (and it’s appointed partner, Ndarama Works, tasked with collecting the cost-share contributions from firms and TPSPs) and each of the exhibitors that are being supported by ATI.
• Coordinating with the ATI Communications team on the development of an Africa Fine Foods Pavilion brochure.
• Collecting information during and after the show on meetings that took place between the exhibitors and prospective buyers using the format prescribed by ATI’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning department.
• Profiling the Southern Africa firms and coordinating with the appointed U.S.-based TPSP to secure B2B meetings with U.S. buyers and other actors in the value chain such as distributors.
• Conducting relevant meetings or coordination sessions with the delegation to prepare the group for the Summer Fancy Food show.
• Harvesting highlights or success stories, with related evidence and photos, during and after the show for sharing with ATI Communications for the purposes of posting on ATI and USAID social media platforms.
• Supporting the exhibitors during the SFF Show with queries, advice on their booth set-up and buyer interactions and troubleshooting issues on the show floor.

Deliverables

1. Deal notes signed.

• Draft a deal note, disseminate to at least 50 selected firms and collect them. Due Date: April 20, 2024

2. Folder with firm photos, logos and other content need.

• Collect logos, high resolution pictures, company description and contact details from the selected firms, develop and print the Africa Fine Food pavilion brochure and for developing the artwork for the booths. Due Date: May 15, 2024

3. Pre-departure webinars reports.

• In collaboration with U.S.-based TPSP, schedule and host pre-departure webinars to prepare the selected firms, provide pre-departure webinar reports. Due Date: June 10, 2024

4. Cost-share contribution report and evidence

• Coordinate the collection of the $500 cost share contributions from each selected firms, with Ndarama Works, and provide a tracker of proof of payment for each exhibitor. Exhibitors that have not paid will not be allowed to participate. Due Date: April 30, 2024

5. Track and ensure the payment of exhibitor liability insurance to the provider.

• Provide information to all exhibitors on the compulsory insurance required and the payment information. Follow-up to ensure all exhibitors have paid insurance and that the SFA have the needed evidence. Due Date: May 05, 2024

6. Track and record all export deals (facilitated and closed) in partnership with the U.S. based TPSP.

• In collaboration with U.S.-based TPSP, prepare profiles and supply information to enable suitable matchmaking of suppliers with U.S. buyers, collect and capture data during the show. Follow up with all exhibitors on the buyer linkages established and deals closed, and request supporting documents to verify. The Buy-in is targeting closed and prospective deals of at least $35 million in value. Due Date: July 31, 2024

The consultant will be required to:

1. Submit all required documentation to ATI including:

   a. Deal tracker containing information on meetings held, prospective deals and closed deals between Southern Africa suppliers and U.S. buyers.

   b. Photographs of the side events and the SFF Show featuring Southern Africa exporters and their products.

   c. Signed partnership agreements with each exhibitor.

   d. Proofs of payment of cost share contribution from each exhibitor or their supporting TPSP (e.g. FoodBev SETA, Wesgro, NIPDB).

   e. Meetings of all TPSP working group meetings including a table of agreed actions and progress.

2. Provide monthly reports of the status of progress in line with the agreed deliverables and work plan.

3. Provide updates to the export firms on all arrangements leading up to the SFF Show.

4. Submit invoices based on approved deliverables linked to performance against agreed milestones.5.

5. Submit event/activity reports in ATI format.

Important Note: Where contact with any government agencies is required, only a designated USAID officer can initiate communication with the government agency.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in business, economics, social sciences or related field.
• At least 6 years’ experience in coordination of events, supporting trade shows preferably in agricultural and food products.
• Able to write reports and presentations using MS Office Suite applications.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Desirable

• Post graduate degree or professional qualification in business administration, management, merchandizing, economics or another relevant field.
• International work experience, particularly in Southern Africa countries.
• Training and public speaking experience.
• Relevant specialized experience in specialty foods.

Reporting

The Regional SFF Consultant will report to the Southern Africa Activity Manager working closely with the Team Leader.

ABOUT DAI
DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.