1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) aimed at accelerating agricultural transformation through the development of integrated agro-industrial clusters in areas of high agricultural production across the country. The programme is implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), in collaboration with State Governments, development partners, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the private sector.
The SAPZ Programme is co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). It adopts a clustered agro-industrial development model to address structural constraints in Nigeria’s agro-processing environment, including limited access to quality infrastructure, weak market linkages, high post-harvest losses, and low levels of value addition. Through this approach, the programme seeks to create sustainable markets for farmers, enhance competitiveness of agro-industrial enterprises, promote import substitution, generate employment particularly for women and youth, and contribute to inclusive economic growth and rural poverty reduction.
Phase One of the SAPZ Programme covers eight (8) participating States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as listed in Table 1 below. Interventions under Phase One focus on the development of Agro-Industrial Hubs (AIHs), Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs), and Aggregation Centres (ACs), supported by associated and ancillary infrastructure to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve productivity, and facilitate agro-processing and market access.
The Programme has four broad components: (i) Infrastructure Development and Management of Agro-Industrial Hubs; (ii) Agricultural Productivity, Production, Market Linkages and Value Addition in SAPZ Catchment Areas; (iii) Policy and Institutional Development Support; and (iv) Programme Coordination and Management.
Given the multi-stakeholder, multi-state, and multi-donor nature of the SAPZ Phase One Programme, it is inevitable that disputes, grievances, and conflicts may arise in the course of implementation. These could relate to land acquisition and use, resource allocation, exclusion from programme benefits, gender equity, social inclusion, contractor-community relations, labour and working conditions, environmental and social safeguards compliance, and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH). To ensure transparency, accountability, social inclusion, and full compliance with the safeguard requirements of IFAD, AfDB, and IsDB, a robust, accessible, and culturally appropriate Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) is essential.
An approved SAPZ GRM Strategy was developed by the National Coordination Office (NCO) in August 2025, providing the overarching framework for grievance management under Phase One. This Terms of Reference (TOR) outlines the requirements for engaging a qualified Consultant to operationalize this framework at national and state levels, through the design and deployment of GRM tools and systems, establishment and training of Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs), deployment of multi-channel grievance lodging mechanisms, integration of SEAH-sensitive protocols, and development of a centralized monitoring and reporting system.
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