UNDP Jobs - 49951- International Technical Consultant/ Expert /to Dev

International Technical Consultant/ Expert /to Develop a Comprehensive Project Document for Initializing and Implementing of Future Agriculture Project

Location :

At Contractor’s Location with Travel to Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

08-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

24-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

21 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

21 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Agricultural sector has the greatest potential for improving rural livelihood and eradicating poverty and is the cornerstone of Ethiopia’s medium term strategy - the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). By the end of the GTP period, the government seeks to double yields of smallholder farmers largely by scaling-up best practices, producing high value crops, expanding irrigation development and promoting natural resource conservation. A substantial increase in agricultural yield and output is expected to be realized by implementing interventions aimed at speeding-up the assimilation and adoption of improved agricultural technology and management practices of the most productive “model farmer” to the less productive smallholder farmers. Recent studies show that the impact of these strategies on productivity and production targets while are generally achievable, the country needs to adopt more cost-effective, innovative and modern approaches to innovative agricultural systems. These approaches have been designed and implemented in selected countries in Africa and Asia to increase production and productivity of smallholder farmers with notable success. Ethiopia can draw on these experiences to develop and utilize ICT-based innovative approaches to implement robust strategies and intervention to transform its agricultural sector and double production and productivity of smallholder farmers as envisaged in the GTP.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex I- Terms of Reference (ToR)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Consultant is expected to work with the Lead Consultant and National Consultant (recruited by UNDP for the same purpose). The Technical Consultant shall have the responsibility for the completion and delivery of outputs under this ToR. S/he is expected to work on a range of activities in support of the development of the comprehensive project document. The roles of the various experts to be contracted for this assignment including the Lead Consultant have been described in the TOR.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex I- Terms of Reference (ToR

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Ability to understand the innovative ICT-based approaches for agriculture and interpret the concept of the project and translate those into technical requirements;
Proven experience in conducting innovative ICT-based approaches in Agriculture;
Ability to apply sound judgment in the context of assignments given, and work under pressure;
Shows persistence and remains calm in stressful situations;
Shows pride in work and achievements, demonstrates professional competence and mastery of the subject matter;
Responds positively to feedback and different points of view. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least Master’s degree in in System Engineering, Information Systems, Network Engineering or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience after achieving higher degree in the above mentioned fields out of which at least four years are in the agricultural sector;
Applied experience on ICT-based innovative approaches for agriculture; familiarity with ICT in Agricultural innovation systems, traceability and identification for market;
Experience in programme and project formulation experience in UN programme formulation, in Africa, is an asset;
Experience in Ethiopia will be considered as an asset.

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English, including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions;
Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, government authorities, local communities, project staff); and ;
Computer skills: Full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and common internet applications will be required.

Application Instruction:

Follow the following link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=18025
Download both TOR and Procurement Notice from the above link;
Submit your application according to instruction given on the TOR and Procurement Notice.

Documents Required:

Technical Proposals in pdf;
Financial Proposals in pdf;
CV and full address of at least three references.

Note

Those applicants who have submitted their CV, without submitting technical and financial proposals will be automatically disqualified from further considerations.