Consultancy: Local developer of Digital Market Intelligence System (DMIS)

sequa gGmbH is a globally operating non-profit development organisation. Since 1991 sequa has carried out programmes and projects of international cooperation in close collaboration with the German private sector. sequa offers know-how and long-term experience in capacity development for chambers and associations (BMOs), vocational education and training, private sector development and trade promotion. The organisation is based in Bonn, Germany. sequa employs more than 100 persons (2023) and reported a turnover of EUR 60 m in 2023.

We are offering a project-based assignment as

Consultancy Service – Local developer of Digital Market Intelligence System (DMIS) (m/f/d)

Location:                               remote

Assignment Period:             November 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027

Working time scope:            up to 40 days

Project:                                  Private Sector Support (PSS) Along the Horticulture and Oilseed Agriculture Value Chains in the GIZ Strengthening Rural Value Chain II Project (SRVC II)

Job Code:                              ETH-1148 consultancy service – DMIS development

The Project

The SRVC II project is a comprehensive agricultural value chain development (VCD) project, working along selected agricultural value chains in the horticulture and oilseeds sub-sectors. The project aims to strengthen private sector development, supply chain management and post-harvest management. It works with various public and private partners, including agricultural input and service providers, agricultural producers and processors as well as business associations to foster public-private collaboration and dialogue (PPD). In addition to and beyond selected value chains, the project aims to support federal partners with agricultural policy development and inter-sectoral coordination for Ethiopia’s agricultural sector to fulfil its potential to provide food security, employment and supply high quality food to local and international markets.

sequa has received the mandate to implement a sub-component for the Horticulture and Oilseed Agriculture Value Chains. Next to targeted support for SMEs in market integration and business growth, sequa aims to enhance the institutional and service delivery capacities of relevant business membership organisations (BMOs).

The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and Ethiopian Pulses Oilseeds and spices Processors exporters Association (EPOSPEA) were selected as partners.

A special focus of the support for the BMOs will be to design, develop, and operationalize a reliable, continuously updated digital market intelligence system that provides actionable global market data to support informed production, export, and policy decisions in the horticulture sector. Both BMOs aim to enhance their organizational performance and efficiency through the implementation of improved DMIS with tailored global market data sourcing system development. The main objective of the requested consultancy service is to improve the market intelligence service delivery of the BMOs and competitiveness in the horticulture and oilseeds sectors.

To achieve the project objective, two work packages are envisaged: Platform Development & System Architecture and Implementation & Market Intelligence. Both work packages are intended for a national service provider based in Ethiopia. Service providers with the capacity and expertise to deliver both packages should indicate this in their application and submit a combined proposal.

One provider will be selected to support both partner BMOs (scope: up to 40 days), or we may assign one provider per BMO (scope: up to 20 days). The offer is directed at Ethiopian providers.

Your Tasks / Responsibilities

Work Package of DMIS Platform Development & System Architecture 

Phase 1: Requirement and Architecture Design

• Requirements & architecture: Define system requirements, architecture, and user roles.
• Data source assessment: Assess available global market data sources and licensing requirements.
• Implementation roadmap: Develop a detailed implementation roadmap.
• Participate in joint system design workshops with the BMOs, if requested.

Phase 2: Prototype / UI-UX

• Prototype & interface design: Develop a prototype/mock-up of the digital dashboard, with user-friendly interfaces for data visualization and analysis.
• Cross-platform design: Ensure the proposed design is compatible across devices and browsers.
• Validate the prototype/UI-UX with the BMOs before full development begins.

Phase 3: Development and Integration

• Platform development: Design and develop a secure, scalable, web-based digital dashboard.
• Interactive digital platform: Produce an integrated member-facing platform enabling data access, reporting, communication, and service requests.
• Members’ in-house data integration: Integrate member companies’ internal databases with the central system of the BMOs.
• Participate in joint data integration testing, if requested.

Phase 4: Testing and Deployment

• Conduct system testing, quality assurance and troubleshooting.
• Participate in joint pilot and system validation with the BMOs, if requested, to minimize gaps between software development and data management.
• Deploy the finalized platform.

Phase 5: Training and Handover

• Staff training: Train designated staff on system operation and architecture, and on technical maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Documentation: Prepare technical documentation.
• Hand over the system and documentation to the BMOs.

Deliverables

The assignment (covering both work packages, whether delivered by one combined provider or split per BMO) shall result in the following six deliverables, each subject to sequa/BMO review and written acceptance:

Your Qualification / Skills

• The consultant/service provider team should have relevant professional experience in market intelligence systems, web platform development, dashboard design, data analytics, user access management or trade-related information systems;
• Demonstrated experience in system security, data management and scalable digital architectures
• Demonstrated experience in horticulture, agriculture, agri-trade, or export-oriented value chains is highly preferred;
• Ability to work comfortably and handle pressure;
• Good working knowledge of ICT/IT- communication technologies;

Your Working Experience

• 10+ years of relevant experience as market intelligence systems developer, digital platforms developer, data integration specialist, or trade-related information systems design;
• At least 3-5 completed assignments involving the design and development of digital information systems or market intelligence platforms at national, regional, or international level;
• Regional experience in Africa, Asia or Europe is preferred.