UNDP Jobs - 59805- Accounting Trainer for Rural Communities

Accounting Trainer for Rural Communities - Bissau Guineans Only

Location :

Bissau, GUINEA-BISSAU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

9 days

Languages Required :

French Portuguese

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

Agriculture is the main economic activity of Guinea-Bissau as it occupies more than 80% of the total population. Moreover, the agricultural sector remains very traditional lack of availability of improved inputs and agricultural equipment quality. This is not conducive to improving the production of farmers and by extension their lives. Indeed, poverty has reached an alarming level and affects mostly rural areas. Faced with this reality, the Government of Guinea-Bissau has requested technical and financial support fund set up by India, Brazil and Africa to improve the lives of people around the development of agriculture and improvement of other services in rural communities.

Since 2005, IBSA project has been invested in three different regions of Guinea Bissau: Biombo, Oio and Bafata. The first project entitled "Development of agriculture and rural community services" covering the period 2005-2009 has led to more than 4,500 farmers to acquire new knowledge about modern farming techniques to improve the production of rice, citrus and mango. New improved seed varieties were introduced and farmers training sessions received on the management and control of water. Similarly, the Solar panel integrated in the project has provided lighting to health centers, schools, streets and water pumps to 05 villages.

The success of first pilot project encouraged IBSA Fund to invest in two other projects:

Project "Rural electrification through solar energy" (June 2011 – July 2014) covering twenty villages;
Project "Rehabilitation Support the Coastal Lowlands to Produce Rice and Processing of Products of Agricultural and Livestock Origin" three (3) years (2011-2015);

Both project has been improved the life quality of 24 villages. All community now has access of a renewable source of energy. In all 24 rural villages solar equipment were installed in order to provide lighting street lamps, the chain and cold storage of medicines and vaccines, schools, juvenile centers and water points. The exploitation of solar equipment received for charging phone batteries and power supply juvenile centers has allowed many communities to create cash income (operating revenues) for various uses (investment community use). Solar energy also allowed women to attend literacy courses during the night in order to improve their knowledge and encourage their participation in their association.

The project “Rehabilitation Support the Coastal Lowlands to Produce Rice and Processing of Products of Agricultural and Livestock Origin” improved conditions in the techniques of planting, soil conservation and water, and promoted a sustainable agriculture. In this project, more than 300ha of rice fields have been rehabilitated; about twelve warehouses were built to store food and hand tools; improved rice seeds have been introduced to increase the rice production of 0.7 tons / ha to 2.0 t / ha; new varieties of vegetable seeds were introduced for women to increase their financial income and improve diet in the villages; six solar greenhouses were introduced to dry fruits and vegetables; the village women had access to drying courses of fruits, vegetables and meats to encourage improvements in family diet and also to increase the financial returns; women also had access to the agricultural products marketing course and men have improved their rice production techniques and conservation of soil and water.

Summarizing the IBSA project in Guinea Bissau promoted rural development through the introduction of agricultural techniques of production with respect for the environment, the strengthening of the concept of associations, the importance of participation of women and promotion of quality of life in rural areas.

Given that both projects "Rural electrification through solar energy" and “Rehabilitation Support the Coastal Lowlands to Produce Rice and Processing of Products of Agricultural and Livestock Origin” will close soon, it is important that the twenty four partner villages of the project are aware of the appropriation in terms of accountability and accounting. Only then, it will be independent of foreign aid enough to promote local development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

This training should start in September 2015. Its objective is to analyze and give directions for 24 associations how accounting should be done in order to promote rural development.

The specific objectives of this training are:

Strengthen the concept of association;
Raise awareness of the associations on the maintenance costs of equipment acquisition, inflow of funds and investments;
Empowering associations so that they become independent of foreign aid.

Responsibilities and Description

A professional or a team of experts will be recruited to conduct this training. The consultant or NGO should make a deep analysis of the IBSA project investment since 2005 and consider what equipment costs, maintenance and replacement of parts or even the equipment should be made to ensure that these structures are sustainable. After this analysis, the NGO or the consultant will carry out the accounting of the preparation course for the members of associations. The consultant should consider that the course will be given in three different regions. Each region consists of eight partner villages, a total of 24 to 30 students will be present on the day or days of the training.

Competencies

Participate in an environment based on teamwork;
Excellent capacity to analyze rural investments and how to promote a sustainable environment;
Fund raising techniques;
Promote rural development;
Demonstrate a commitment with the values and integrity of United Nations;
Sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University degree level in socio-economics, agricultural economics, accounting or/and rural development related disciplines.

Experience:

3 years of professional experience in this field.

Language:

Fluent in French and Portuguese.

Documents to be included when submiting the proposals:

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

Proposal:

Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work (if applicable)

Financial proposal

Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Lowest price and technically compliant offer

When using this method, the award of a contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as both:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Offering the lowest price/cost

Responsive/compliant/acceptable” can be defined as fully meeting the TOR provided.

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight - [70];
Financial Criteria weight - [30].

Evaluation Criteria:

Criteria A: Accounting techniques experience in rural comminities and association - 25pts;
Criteria B: Relevant experience in rural communities - 25pts;
Criteria C: Experience with government work - 25pts;
Criteria D: Languages (Portuguese, Creole and Fula) - 25pts.