UNDP Jobs - 50015- Consultancy for Analysis and Scoping of Market Tre

Consultancy for Analysis and Scoping of Market Trends, Oportunities and Competitiveness of Local Products in Berea and Butha-Buthe

Location :

Maseru, LESOTHO

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

13-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

06-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 month

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 month

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

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It works with individual countries on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP Lesotho supports Lesotho’s development priorities laid out in the National Strategic Development Plan and through that, the achievement of the MDGs. The main focus areas of the UNDP Country Program are Democratic Governance; Environment and Energy; Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth, with Gender Mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS as crosscutting areas.

UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Lesotho, intends to implement a project to address the increasing unemployment challenges, especially among youth and women, specifically targeting Berea and Botha-Bothe. The project, called Youth and women employment promotion project, is aimed at contributing towards poverty eradication and economic growth through skills development, promotion of inclusive markets and finance for development specifically among women and youth. Specifically, the project implementation strategy is focused on three areas:

Capacity building and enterprises development for employment creation;
Improved access to markets and linkages;
Access to finance.

The project will be piloted in Botha-Bothe and Berea districts, with major focus on agri-forestry projects. In order to aid project implementation process and beneficiary mapping, it is important to understand the sector dynamics at the district level, challenges and opportunities that the project may encounter. In this context, consultancy services are required to undertake a rapid livelihood assessment, scoping and analysis of market trends, opportunities and competitiveness of local products, in the area. The consultant will also be responsible for analysing demand and supply, especially of horticulture and small livestock, district processes and overall policy implications that may contribute towards employment creation through the sector.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

Market scoping and mapping

Identify potential local market opportunities for agro-forestry products in the district;
Analyze current market trends in terms of market demand and supply, market determinants, supply chains and
Assess extent of government intervention and any other projects with potential synergies in the districts;
Assess private sector, government and CSO involvement, their capacity and role played in the supply chain;
Recommend innovative business models that can be adopted in supporting the district productivity and employment creating opportunities;
Analyze potential project beneficiaries in terms of type and formations, and possible potential risks that the project may face in the implementation, as well as mitigation factors.

Value chain analysis

Determine and analyze existing gaps and identify immediate mitigating factors and an outline of potential employment creation opportunities;
Understand the existing market situation, and nature of trade relations (relationships, attitudes and behaviors) between the market players;
Suggest sustainable improvements (requiring minimum capital) to ensure a viable market system, increased productivity, employment and incomes to the beneficiaries;
Draw an implementation plan consistent with the project plan as well as results of this study.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age issues;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty;
Demonstrated ability to assess complex situations succinctly, distill critical issues, and draw forward-looking conclusions and recommendations;
Ability and experience to work within multi - disciplinary teams, and deliver quality reports within the given time;
Excellent business development, negotiation, analytical, research, presentation and communication skills.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to engage large number of stakeholders at the same time;
Demonstrates leadership, team building and coordinating skills;
Shares knowledge and experience;
Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree (Master) in Economics/Agricultural economics/Development Studies, or equivalent.

Experience:

Extensive (at least 10 years) experience and proven track record with in supply chain and value chain assessments, and program development and implementation;
Experience with developing value chain programs Experience with private sector development, Public-private partnerships, inclusive markets and finance mechanisms is an asset.

Language requirements:

Writing and communication will be in English, and must have excellent communication skills in English.

Detailed terms of reference can be viewed on http://www.ls.undp.org/content/lesotho/en/home/operations/jobs/.