Background

Climate Risk Management in Turkmenistan (CRM) Project is focused on improving resilience of the rural agricultural communities through more effective climate risks reduction and risk information support.
In 2013 the Project placed special emphasis on climate risk assessment at local community level and mapping exercise in three pilot regions: Nohur - highlands (mountains); Bokurdak - desert Garagum; Sakarchaga - intensive irrigational farming areas. Participatory approaches in the implementation of risk assessment and partnerships with local communities and authorities supported to develop an action plan on capacity building activities and adaptive measures for vulnerable agricultural and livestock communities.
According to the project plan 2014, a number of concrete adaptive measures will be implemented in the pilot regions to improve CRM response and reduce existing risks: laser land levelling; soil testing and soil fertility assessment; drip irrigation for outdoor growing; construction of water regulating devices; horticulture development and nursery management.

Main objectives of the proposed services

The objective of this consultancy is to recruit an International consultant to develop new or adapt existing teaching module on drip irrigation and train local growers and specialists in respective topic. Training shall be tailored to the needs of the project beneficiaries and include theoretical and demonstrative sessions.

The consultant shall take into consideration the best available regional or international training practices in the field and rely on well-structured teaching modules and materials.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist on Environment and direct supervision of the CRM Project Manager, in close collaboration with local irrigation specialists (Ministry of Water Resources), the International consultant will be tasked with the following duties and responsibilities: 

• Develop and submit a detailed plan on assignment implementation to UNDP; 
• Coordinate with the Project team to discuss new or existing training module on the topic - Integrated approach to water and fertilizer management for fruits and vegetables grown through drip irrigation system. Brief description on training participants, project sites and practical application of drip irrigation system by local growers who face challenges in orchards and open fields will be provided by CRM Project Manager; 
• Prepare all resources to deliver a training activity for local growers and national irrigation specialists; Training materials shall include, but not limited to such topics: implementation of irrigations systems; drip irrigation systems: hydraulic principles; irrigations systems components; soil-plant-water-relations; nutrition management; design process; monitoring, lessons learned and etc. 
• Share the training module with the Project team and incorporate relevant comments and suggestions effectively in order to fully reflect the needs of the target audience; 
• Develop the final version of all training materials including both theoretical and demonstrative parts; 
• Deliver a one-day training for 28 participants based on prepared teaching materials and key findings from a two-day field mission to Nohur project site; UNDP will be responsible for visa issues, training related expenses and field visit to project site. 
• Provide a final report including initial findings at the end of the mission and follow-ups;
  Communications with International consultant and Project team will take place via e-mail and /or Skype.

The total duration of the consultancy will be 12 days according to the following plan with expected deliverables:

First  stage Deliverables:

• Detailed plan on implementation submitted: 1 day; 
• Teaching materials including both theoretical and demonstrative sessions prepared in coordination
  with the project team and national irrigation specialists: 4 days; 
• Interim report and training module completed and submitted: 1 day;

Second stage Deliverables:

• One country mission conducted (round table meeting with irrigation specialists, field visit to Nohur project site and one-day training for target audience): 4 days ; 
• Final report with all findings and recommendations on improvement prepared and submitted: 2 days;

Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR (Annex 1) as follows: 

• 60% of contract total value will be paid upon completion of First stage Deliverables as per TOR; 
• 40% of contract total value will be paid upon completion of Second Stage Deliverables as per TOR;
  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal is included into Offeror's Letter to UNDP.
  
  The proposed total amount of offer must be “all-inclusive”. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, travel expenses, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amount submitted in the proposal.

The consultant will be directly supervised by the CRM Project Manager and overall supervised by the Programme Specialist on Environment.

Competencies

Corporate competencies: 

• Demonstrate integrity and ethical standards; 
• Possess a positive and constructive attitude to the assignment; 
• Respect cultural, historical, religious, national, and ethnic peculiarities of the country;

Functional and technical competencies: 

• Skills in delivering high-standard trainings tailored to the specific needs of the target audience; flexibility and creativity in presenting training and seminar materials; 
• Excellent organizational, analytic, communicative and teamwork skills; 
• Good writing skills and computer literacy;
  

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Master degree in the field of agricultural or irrigation engineering, land and water resources management or other related area.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of practical experience in the implementation /administration of training activities for fruit and vegetable growers, farmers; 
• Minimum 3 years of proven expertise in conducting trainings relevant to drip irrigation system; 
• Good knowledge of all aspects of the water and resource-saving technologies ; 
• Working experience in CIS countries is an asset;

Language:

• Proficiency in English;
• Fluency in written and spoken Russian is strongly preferred.
  

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: 

• Offeror's letter to UNDP, please follow the link for download: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs/ 
• Detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum, which should include: consultancy fee, travel costs, administrative expenses (if applicable), and/or any other expenses an applicant deems would incur during assignment; 
• Detailed methodology indicating phases, tasks, methods, techniques, time, resources, accessibility and tools to be applied for successful completion of assignment; 
• Resume (curriculum vitae) describing similar project assignments in recent years; 
• UN P11 form, please follow the link for download http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs/

Evaluation:

Individuals will be evaluated against a combination of the Offerors’ qualifications and financial proposal: 

Consultant’s qualification -70%, which includes:

• Appropriate education -25%;
• Relevant experience - 35%;
• Additional skills (language, etc.) - 10%;
• Financial proposal - 30%.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.