UNDP Jobs - 55448- Project Executive (Farm Livelihoods), National Rur

Project Executive (Farm Livelihoods), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Two Positions (Open to Indian Nationals only)

Location :

New Delhi/Hyderabad, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

20-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year (Extendable)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 Country Programme (2013-17) is aligned with the Government of India’s Twelfth Plan priorities and seeks to improve the effectiveness of national programmes and policies for disadvantaged regions and groups especially women, Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes, minorities, displaced persons and persons with disabilities. UNDP’s partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) under “Governance and Accelerated Livelihoods Support” aims to strengthen the effectiveness of key Ministry programmes by providing (a) technical assistance to the state government and NGOs in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha to improve sustainable livelihoods with linkages to Panchayati Raj Institutions for governance in left wing extremism affected areas (b) policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry and the state governments to help improve the efficiency, accountability and inclusiveness of National Rural Livelihoods Mission and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme and (c) policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry and state governments to help “green” select schemes.

The Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development had launched the “National Rural Livelihood Mission” (NRLM) in June 2011 after restructuring its existing centrally sponsored flagship Scheme “Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana” (SGSY). The NRLM functions in a mission mode for target based time bound delivery of outcomes following a demand driven approach which would allow the states to formulate their own poverty alleviation plans on the basis of available allocation, resources and skills. UNDP, under the GOALS Project, provides technical support to NRLM for efficient and inclusive implementation through (a) positioning professional managers and domain experts to improve implementation at the state level; (b) strengthening the social mobilisation in favour of women from persistently excluded groups; and (c) developing and testing of context-specific, market-led, livelihood strategies that will enable institutions of the poor women to secure their role in markets and supply chains and ensure higher and sustained returns.

The NRLM is designed to cover, in a phased manner, 7.0 crore poor households living in over 6 lakh villages, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats, 6000 blocks and 600 districts across 28 states and 7 UTs. The primary vision of NRLM is to ensure livelihood, income and food & nutritional security of poor and vulnerable households. It envisions ensuring an additional annual income of Rs. 30,000 - 50,000 for ultra-poor households through promotion of sustainable agriculture. This is expected to reach out to 3 crore ultra-poor households in the country who are organized into SHGs. This will happen in next 10-12 years in a planned manner. NRLM, as a core strategy to strengthen the existing livelihoods of the poor, focuses on promotion of sustainable agriculture practices by reducing the risk as well as cost of agriculture. The key interventions promoted under sustainable agriculture are-community managed sustainable agriculture, promotion of millets and cereal crops, in-situ water conservation, tree based farming practices, regeneration of forest species, system of root intensification, usage of locally available inputs, integrated farming practice with small ruminants etc.

NRLM has identified Community Based Organizations like Zilla Samakhyas (ZS) promoted under Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as National Resource Organizations. These organizations identify and create a pool of Community Resource Persons (CRP) from among the best practitioner farmers for promotion of sustainable agriculture practices in other states through a CRP led model. NRLM supports the State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLM) in different states in this endeavor by providing technical assistance in rolling out the ultra-poor strategy for sustainable-agriculture-based livelihood promotion. SRLMs take the services of ZS for providing the CRPs and SERP places State Anchor Persons in these states to provide on-field-support for the implementation of the programme. NRLM provides support to SRLMS in material development for training the project staff, CRPs and community members in sustainable agriculture practices.

NRLM has also launched Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) in 14 states as a roll out plan for promoting sustainable agriculture. There are a few successful models on sustainable agriculture in various agro climatic zones in the country being implemented by various NGOs and government programmes. There is a strong need to identify these best practices and document them in a manner which will be useful for the practitioners. Communication materials need to be developed on these best practices for dissemination and training.

The position of Project Executive (Farm Livelihoods ) has been envisaged at the national level to complement the efforts of the NRLM at national, state, district and block levels.

As part of its support to NRLM, UNDP is looking for a dynamic individual for this position.

Summary of Key Functions

Within the overall guidance of National Mission Director, NRLM, the Senior Mission Executive, Livelihoods (Sustainable Agriculture), NRLM will work under the supervision of the Lead (Farm Livelihoods), NRLM, and Programme Analyst, UNDP.

The incumbent will primarily be responsible for supporting project implementation capabilities of SRLMs & CSOs, facilitating partnerships with organizations and mobilisation of human, knowledge & financial resources to complement the efforts of the NRLM at national, state, district and block levels.

S/he will undertake any other task assigned by the NMD-NRLM; Lead (Farm Livelihoods), NRLM, and Programme Analyst, UNDP

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of NMD, NRLM, and the direct supervision of Lead (Farm Livelihoods), NRLM, and Programme Analyst, UNDP, the SME-Livelihoods (SA), NRLM will facilitate sustainable agriculture efforts in NRLM.

Specific tasks include:

Support the implementation of Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) and ultra-poor strategy roll out through promotion of agro ecology under NRLM;
Support planning, execution and monitoring of initiatives undertaken for promotion of farm livelihoods;
Support development of training and capacity building strategy for promotion of farm based livelihoods ;
Support desgining training & capacity building modules and materials for training Community Resource Persons (CRP) and the community;
Document best practices of farmers being taken up under farm livelihoods initiatives in NRLM;
Perform any other related tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by NMD-NRLM; Lead (Farm Livelihoods), NRLM, and Programme Analyst, UNDP.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Integrity and Confidentiality.

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understanding of issues pertaining to climate change adaptation, agro ecology, rural development, poverty reduction, livelihoods, employment etc.;
Good research, data analysis and conceptualization skills;
Ability to write concept notes, proposals etc., and make effective presentations;
Understanding of processes/tools of Social Mobilization, participation, institution building, capacity building of community members, leaders, cadres and professionals, Livelihoods Planning and micro-planning etc.;
Project/Programme Management.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Capacity to gather comprehensive information, evaluate it and identify key issues;
Builds strong relationships with the NMMU team and State Rural Livelihoods Missions, focusing on impact and result;
Ability to communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
Possesses consultative and collaborative capacities.

Self-Management:

Has ability to work under supervision as well as with self-initiative and motivation;
Demonstrates strong teamwork and has the ability to effectively coordinate with various team members;
Establishes priorities for self, schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources;
Has openness to change and ability to adapt to new situations;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Knowledge and Skills:

Proficiency in MS-Office, especially PowerPoint and Excel;
Strong facilitation skills;
Networking skills;
Knowledge, skills and ability to use a variety of communication methods, tools and media.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Science, Engineering, Technology, Management, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Dairying, ICT, Economics, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development Studies or related fields.

Experience:

About 2 years of relevant experience at the national/international levels in supporting implementing farm livelihoods interventions in large development projects/organizations;
Supporting field level programme execution and community training;
Coordination and facilitation of teams and partners.

Language:

Proficiency in spoken and written English. Good knowledge of regional languages and Hindi is an asset.

Travel:

Willing to travel.

Note:

Remuneration package is Rs. 60,006 /- per month (taxable). UNDP also offers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for contract holder and encourages work life balance.