The consultant worked under the supervision of SLIEPA designate Officer in close collaboration with the Project Coordinating Unit of the Rural and Private Sector Development Project Secretariat. The results to be achieved by the Consultant included, but not be limited to

1. Survey of regional market for gari, palm oil, rice and cashews

2. Determining the volume required for each market

3. Determine the types of produce in greatest demand, the potential quantities and seasonality of demand.

4. Identify competitive selling prices

5. Identify the competitors

6. Determine the quality standards for each market

7. Determine the feasibility of supplying export markets and name priority ones.

8. Develop the Post-Harvest Management system necessary to support each market source

9. Identify the possible distribution mechanism and route to support the Sierra Leone market, if viable.

10. Examine and determine the most appropriate marketing system that is necessary to sustain any of the markets that is deemed viable.

11. Identify the organizational and infrastructures needed for growers to adequately meet market demand.

12. Determine the effectiveness of group marketing.

13. Determine the effectiveness of group clusters.

14. Examine the trade restrictions (especially quarantine restrictions, fair trade, labelling), if any, for export of these products to export markets that are deemed to be viable.

15. Custom regulations, duties on imported products, tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Document the market regulations and statutory requirements specific to each of the targeted product as well as the trading conditions,

16. Develop a marketing plan using the results of the survey so that an appropriate development project can be generated.

17. Identify and recommend relevant major promotional events in the sub region e.g., annual trade shows/fairs and commodity conventions that could benefit Sierra Leonean business people.

18. Organize a training program and workshop to implement some of the recommendation

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

Services provided/achievement include:

1. Acreage of cultivated land under high -value crops increase

2. Increased market/demand for the products

3. Increased value added, profitability and income

4. Enhanced market opportunities

5. Substantial increase in agricultural export

6. Efficiency of agricultural value chains in export crops as reflected in quality premium

7. Improved availability of commodities of better quality