Update of the Directory of Cashew Derived Products in CICC Member Countries

1. Background and Justification

The cashew sector is a strategic lever for economic development for the member countries of the Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC). West and Central Africa accounts for a significant share of global raw cashew nut production, yet local processing remains limited despite considerable potential.

In a context of growing local processing, it is essential to have an up-to-date reference tool that highlights innovations, improves the visibility of value chain actors, and facilitates market access. Updating the directory of cashew derived products represents a key advocacy and promotion instrument for sector stakeholders.

Within this framework, and as part of the implementation of the RSA-CICC Project No. 81318784 PN. 21.2199.4-506.00, funded by GIZ under budget line 2.13, “Support for the Collection of Statistical and Market Information on Cashew,” the CICC plans to use this funding to recruit a specialist to conduct this study.

This study is part of the annual work plan of the Commission for the Promotion of Processing (CPT). It aims to produce a comprehensive reference document, structured by country, incorporating nutritional, commercial, and regulatory data on products.

2. Study Objectives

2.1 General Objective

To update and structure a comprehensive regional directory of cashew derived products in CICC member countries, in order to facilitate the sharing of experiences, the promotion of products and the improvement of the competitiveness of processing actors.

2.2 Specific Objectives

• Identify and classify the various derived products (processed kernels, juices and cashew apple-based products, co-products and by-products) in each member country.
• Document the nutritional characteristics (energy value, macronutrients, micronutrients) of each listed product.
• Compile information on promoters, processing companies and cooperatives, including their full contact details and production capacities.
• Analyse the types of packaging used, their suitability for target markets (local, regional, export) and best practices observed.
• Identify certifications obtained (organic, HACCP, Fairtrade, ISO, national standards, etc.) and quality standards applied.
• Compile and organise data by country to enable regional comparative analysis and facilitate the sharing of good practices.
• Formulate recommendations to strengthen the competitiveness and visibility of products on national, regional and international markets.

3. Expected Results

• A comprehensive, structured and illustrated directory of cashew derived products, organised by member country.
• A structured digital database (Excel and PDF formats) integrating nutritional characteristics, information on promoters, packaging and certifications.
• An analytical synthesis of best practices and successful experiences in processing and marketing.
• Operational recommendations to improve the quality, certification and marketing of cashew derived products.
• A final report validated by the Commission and CICC, ready for dissemination to stakeholders.

4. Methodology

The consultant shall adopt a participatory and rigorous approach, combining a desk review with field data collection. The methodology will include the following steps:

4.1 Desk Review

• Inventory and analysis of existing studies, reports and directories on cashew derived products in member countries.
• Collection and analysis of sectoral statistics available from national and regional institutions.

4.2 Primary Data Collection

• Direct surveys of processing companies, cooperatives, and processing units in member countries and technical partners operating in the sector.
• Semi-structured interviews with national focal points, commission members, professional associations and promotion institutions.
• Photographic and technical documentation of products (packaging, labels, certifications).

4.3 Data Processing and Analysis

• Entry, coding and validation of collected data.
• Comparative analysis by country and by product type.
• Drafting of a synthesis note on identified good practices.

5. Deliverables and Timeline

The total duration of the mission is three (3) months from the date of notification of the contract (T0), with a deadline for completion set at 31 October 2026.

6. Consultant Profile

The assignment may be carried out by an individual consultant or a team. The required profile is as follows:

• Master’s degree (minimum) in food sciences, agro-economics, rural economics or a related discipline.
• At least five (5) years of professional experience in the agricultural or agri-food sector in Africa, with expertise in cashew value chains being an asset.
• Proven experience in conducting sectoral studies or directories with regional scope.
• Knowledge of quality standards, certification systems and packaging practices in the agri-food sector.
• Excellent analytical, synthesis and writing skills in English. Proficiency in French or Portuguese will be an asset.
• Proficiency in office software (Excel, Word) and database tools.
• Candidates from member producing countries, particularly those with direct experience in artisanal and semi-industrial cashew processing, are especially encouraged to apply.

7. Supervision and Technical Support

The consultant will be placed under the direct supervision of the Director of the Commission for the Promotion of Processing (CPT). The CICC will provide technical support throughout the implementation of the study and will facilitate contact with national focal points in member countries.

Regular monitoring meetings (at least twice a month) will be organised between the consultant and the supervision team to ensure compliance with the schedule and the quality of deliverables.

8. Application File

All applicants must submit a complete application file comprising the following documents:

 A technical proposal

It must include, in order, the following documents compiled into a single file:

• Understanding of the need and relevance of the approach.
• The service provider’s experience and references, supported by a CV.
• The methodology and implementation schedule.
• Copies of diplomas.
• Certificates of satisfactory performance or certificates of services rendered, etc.

 A financial proposal

The financial offer must include:

• A detailed budget (fees, travel costs, per diem, communication costs, deliverable production costs, etc.);
• Any element that allows for an assessment of the value for money of the proposal.

9. Selection Criteria

The selection of the consultant will be carried out on the basis of the “Quality and Cost-Based Selection” method, according to the following indicative criteria :

Technical Proposal Evaluation

The technical score is considered at a rate of 70%.

Financial Proposal Evaluation

The evaluation of the financial offer involves a horizontal and vertical verification of the consultant’s proposed offer in order to confirm the offer amount, which is then considered at a rate of 30%.

The overall evaluation score is obtained using the following formula:

The bidder with the highest overall score at the end of the process is the provisional award recipient.

10. BID SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

Applications must be sent with the subject line: « SELECTION OF A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE UPDATE OF THE DIRECTORY OF CASHEW-DERIVED PRODUCTS IN THE CICC MEMBER COUNTRIES » by email to relationspubliques@ciccashew.org   no later than 15 July 2026 at 5:00 PM (local time).

Any incomplete application, submitted after the deadline, or not complying with the above requirements will be automatically rejected.