Sanitary And Phytosanitary (sps) & Standards And Quality Infrastructure Specialist

Company Description

ICPRS International is a Community-Based Programme Development and Consultancy Organization collaborating with NGOs, Public & Private Sector Organizations, Faith-Based Organizations, and Community-Based Organizations. The organization specializes in social research, monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, knowledge management, and program design. With a focus on sectors like governance, economic empowerment, health, education, agriculture, natural resource management, and sustainable development, The Organization aims to drive impactful change. The organization is dedicated to fostering development and addressing pressing societal challenges through innovative solutions.

Role Description

ICPRS is seeking to engage a highly experienced, results-oriented, and technically competent expert for a short-term consultancy assignment.

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary and Standards and Quality Infrastructure Specialist will assess SPS systems, standards, quality infrastructure, conformity assessment, testing, certification, and accreditation systems that support corridor trade and market access. 

The assignment will cover the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor, involving Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria; the Abidjan–Ouagadougou Corridor, involving Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso; and the Cotonou–Niamey Corridor, involving Benin and Niger.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess sanitary and phytosanitary systems, standards, quality infrastructure, conformity assessment, testing, certification, and accreditation systems relevant to corridor trade.
• Attend technical defence and inception meetings to shape programme direction and stakeholder alignment.
• Review the capacity of standards bodies, laboratories, regulators, certification agencies, and related institutions.
• Analyse indicators on MSME certification, samples tested, cost and time of testing services, and export-market interceptions.
• Identify gaps in SPS and quality infrastructure systems that affect trade, market access, and compliance with regional and international standards.
• Engage national regulators, standards agencies, private sector actors, laboratories, and development partners.
• Provide recommendations for harmonisation, mutual recognition, laboratory strengthening, certification improvement, and improved market access.

Qualifications and Skills

• Advanced degree in Agriculture, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or a related discipline.
• At least five years of experience in SPS and standards system assessments.
• Experience in laboratory accreditation, quality infrastructure, and standards harmonisation in Africa.
• Knowledge of ISO/IEC 17025, WTO SPS/TBT Agreements, and ECOWAS quality infrastructure frameworks.
• Experience working with standards bodies, national regulators, laboratories, and certification agencies.
• Familiarity with public-private partnerships for standards compliance and market access.
• Strong analytical, technical reporting, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Qualified and interested candidates should submit their CV and relevant certificates to recruitment.icprsinternational@gmail.com by 19th May 2026. Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line as SPS & Quality Infrastructure Specialist.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

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