Technical Advisors, USDA Food for Progress Proposal Development

Counterpart International is seeking experienced independent consultants to serve as technical advisors in support of upcoming USDA Food for Progress (FFPr) proposal development efforts. The technical advisors will support capture, design, and live proposal development for anticipated FFPr opportunities across multiple regions. Geographic Experience Consultants should indicate country and regional experience in one or more of the following Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Asia Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Technical Areas of Interest We are particularly seeking experts with demonstrated experience in Agricultural development and value chain strengthening Trade capacity building and export competitiveness Private sector partnerships and investment mobilization Agribusiness development and SME growth Policy and regulatory reform related to trade and agriculture Scope of Work Assignments are short-term and focused on capture, project design, and proposal development. Review the FFPr Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and related background materials to assess strategic fit. Oversee and/or participate in rapid market and value chain assessments to identify gaps, opportunities, and areas for lasting impact. Support identification of priority value chains aligned with USDA priorities and U.S. interests. Participate in reconnaissance travel, as needed. Partnership Development Identify and engage potential strategic partners and consortium members. Recommend priority stakeholders for capture interviews. Facilitate consultations, scoping calls, and introductions. Contribute to a partner engagement strategy that promotes complementarity, sustainability, and scale. Project Design Lead or co-lead development of the technical design, geographic focus, interventions, and results framework. Facilitate internal design sessions for key technical components (e.g., farmer training, input systems, aggregation, trade facilitation). Ensure alignment of proposed interventions with FFPr objectives and country context. Guide integration of win themes and strategic positioning across proposal sections. Proposal Development Support development of the Strategic Analysis and Plan of Operations. Lead identification and design of core project activities. Advise on development of performance indicators and targets in coordination with MEL writers. Contribute to risk assessment and mitigation strategies to ensure operational efficiency and compliance. Participate in iterative draft reviews and prioritization of feedback. Qualifications Senior-level technical expertise (10+ years preferred) in agricultural development, trade, private sector development, or market systems programming. Demonstrated experience designing or implementing USDA Food for Progress programs. Experience conducting rapid market/value chain assessments. Strong facilitation and strategic design skills. Experience working across diverse stakeholder environments, including government, private sector, producer organizations, and financial institutions. J-18808-Ljbffr