Job description:
To feed its growing population amid climate change and other challenges, the developing world needs a flourishing food system that is nutrition-sensitive, efficient, safe, healthy, and environmentally sustainable. This requires bringing modern technologies to local communities, helping stakeholders to acquire the relevant technical know-how, and building strong partnerships and institutions. Developed countries around the world can play important roles in these efforts and Japan is one of them. We explore how Japan can lend its expertise to address food and nutrition challenges in the developing world by examining the transferability of Japanโs advanced technologies, know-how and institutional innovations to the developing world.
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), under the financial support through the Japanese Governmentโs FY2025 Supplementary Budget, implements the project โReducing food loss with AI-assisted photo-based quality assessment in conflict-affected Northeast Nigeriaโ.
In many developing countries, including Nigeria, much of fruit and vegetable production is lost largely because of lack of an adequate cold chain, including postharvest handling, cold storage and temperature-controlled transportation. As a result, not only the availability of fish, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and meat but also the safety and nutritional content of the food are affected. Under such conditions, all agents in the supply chain including farmers suffer from income reduction, while consumers face un-stable and lower-quality supply of normally more nutritious foods. The proposed intervention aims to accurately measure the magnitude of food loss and identify critical areas to reduce the loss at the post-harvest chain from farmgate to retail markets. AI-assisted photo-based quality and food loss assessment will be introduced to understand (a) quality distribution (including the rate of spoilage) and (b) the volume of loss in the tomato value chain at up to 40 wholesale and retail markets.
IFPRI is seeking qualified consultants who can implement AI-assisted photo-based quality and food loss assessments on tomato in wholesale/retail markets in Nigeria using the AI program developed in the project. Tasks also include preparation works such as (i) taking videos from which images are extractable for AI training and (ii) data collection required to develop the 3D measurement.
Scope of work:
Sensitize market unions to harmonize activities for the project
Take videos following specific instructions for the AI training in Farin Gada Vegetable Market in Jos
Collect data required in the preparation stage as well as in subsequent research
Implement the AI-assisted photo-based quality assessment on tomato in wholesale/retail markets
Use the 3D measurement program to estimate the volume of discarded tomatoes
Indicative timeline:
April 2026 to March 2027. We anticipate signing a contract as soon as possible.
Required qualifications of the consultant / survey team leader:
Demonstrated outstanding experience in conducting field surveys in northeast Nigeria
Demonstrated experience in conducting agricultural economics, value chain, horticulture research in Nigeria
Demonstrated expertise in advanced digital and IT technologies relevant to the current project
Demonstrated ability to communicate with market unions/associations to introduce the intervention and conduct data collection in the markets
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Preferred qualifications:
Based in Jos, Nigeria
Excellent tracking records with international collaborators
Demonstrated experience in introducing and managing interventions that aimed to reduce postharvest food loss such as cool transportation and cold storage
Demonstrated experience in coordinating field activities in the field
Knowledgeable about food loss in general
Proficiency in English
Requirements in the application:
CV (project leader)
Firm profile
List of past/current projects with brief descriptions
Cover letter
Technical proposal (3 pages)
Deliverables:
Videos (from which photos to be extracted) for AI training
Works for tuning 3D measurement program
Quality and food loss assessment field works
Deadline:
February 4, 2026