Background

The project offers an intervention strategy for the development of rural tourism in Armenia with the objective of creating sustainable income-generating opportunities as supplemental income source to reduce the level of rural poverty, contribute to equal territorial development and shape conducive environment for rural development. The project has three main components:

  1. Planning of sustainable integrated rural tourism- The tourism assets of the community will be identified, assessed and prioritized for the further development by preliminary expert assessment and participatory planning mechanism, which will outline the vision and strategy for the rural tourism development in the community through wide consultation and participation of the local stakeholders.
  2. Increasing income level through diversification of tourism products and services in the community- Developing human resources through sector-specific trainings (business management, food processing, sales, marketing, training local guides, etc.) will help to address the knowledge gaps and prepare the local communities to effectively manage the tourism enterprises. Meanwhile all the actors integrated in both production, service provision and management will be trained in sustainable utilization of tourism assets and adoption of mechanisms to bring down the environmental impact of their activities. In addition, the project will facilitate the access of the local tourism enterprises to seed financing through the loan mechanism of SME DNC.
  3. Sustainable Destination Management- Establishing institutions to engage the local stakeholders and authorities into management and development of the community as a tourism destination. Meanwhile UNDP will build synergies between its upcoming projects planning to use big data and establish an up to date information center in Yerevan to promote the new tourism destinations. In addition the project will help the new destinations to market the tourism services through ICT tools.


 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Integrated Rural Tourism Development Economist/Project Coordinator the incumbent will be responsible for the rural tourism resources inventory research and assessment, in close cooperation with the relevant central, regional and local authorities, private sector representatives and other UNDP projects.

Tourism resources inventory in the rural areas of Armenia should be conducted with the goals to analyze, assess and recommend tourism attractions that create a potential for the rural communities to develop as a tourism destination and contribute to environmental conservation, community development and poverty reduction.
The tourism inventory of natural resources will become an important source of information for guiding the team of project stakeholders in exploring opportunities for planning and developing rational and practical tourism products and services, linking attractions with rural destinations.
Incumbent should collect all available secondary data related to the natural resources of the villages of the Republic of Armenia.  Inventory of natural resources should be done according to the following points:

  • Climate conditions
  • Air Temperature 0C
  • Flora
  • Fauna
  • Soil
  • Water resources
  • Freshwater sources
  • Specially Protected Areas
  • Natural Monuments
  • Minerals
  • Natural dangers and risks

In addition to the descriptive perspectives of the resources, incumbent should:

  • collect qualitative characteristics of the resource according to the defined data collection questionnaire
  • make appropriate references of the data collected sources
  • make appropriate assessment
  • make a critical evaluation of those resources in terms of their safety, attractiveness, access, long- and short-term potential usage

Competencies

  • Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different social and cultural background and set good rapport with population in rural areas.
  • Ability to deliver and reach the planned targets without undermining proper operational processes.
  • Creativity, flexibility and an innovative approach to problem solving.
  • Proven ability to work within the set up time frames on multiple activities and tasks concurrently;
  • Good computer literacy, knowledge of MS office software and web based applications. Ability to work with office equipment.
  • Excellent knowledge of the regions and geography/natural resources of the Republic of Armenia

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

  • Advanced university degree in fields related to nature, geography and other relevant field.

Professional experience:

  • At least 3 years of relevant experience in nature, geography or relevant field
  • Experience in research and data collection/analysis

  Language:

  • Fluency in Armenian (both spoken and written) and working knowledge of English, knowledge of Russian is an asset.

PAYMENT MODE:
Payment will be made upon satisfactory performance of the consultant after submission and acceptance of respective claims and deliverables of 6 developed products/services, accompanied with respective package of documents (duly completed monthly timesheets, reports etc.).

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING METHODOLOGY:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications and experience, written test and financial proposal.
The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR;
  • Having received the highest cumulative (technical, filled questionnaire and financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points

  • Criteria A – Advanced university degree in nature, geography or other related field. - max. points 10;
  • Criteria B – At least 3 years of relevant experience in nature, geography or relevant field. - max. points 10;
  • Criteria C - Exceptional writing, editing and communications skills. – max. 15 points
  • Criteria D- Excellent knowledge of the regions and geography/natural resources of the Republic of Armenia - max. 10 points
  • Criteria E - Experience in research and data collection/analysis. - max. points 10
  • Criteria F – Good technical skills (computer literacy, knowledge of MS office software and web based applications) skills – max. 5 points
  • Criteria G - Familiarity with tourism sector of Armenia – max. 5 points
  • Criteria E - Work experience in similar assignments with national organizations - max. points 5.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 30 points.
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

General Conditions of Contract is available here: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).