Background

Land degradation directly affects the livelihoods of the rural population by reducing land productivity, and by causing significant agricultural production losses. The Government of Uzbekistan has identified the land degradation as a high priority area for development of the country and established the Fund for Ameliorative Improvement of the Irrigated Land (further the Fund). The Fund is the state body accumulating target financial resources, allocated for improvement of ameliorative condition of irrigated lands. The UNDP CO in Uzbekistan jointly with the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan is launching a new project on “Capacity Building of the National Irrigated Land Reclamation Fund”.
The overall objective of the new project is to strengthen the capacity of the Fund Management Department of the National Irrigated Land Reclamation Fund in policy planning and financing for more effective management of irrigated lands in Uzbekistan. The project comes to address the priorities outlined by the Government of Uzbekistan, and will be implemented along with other UNDP projects aiming at achieving ecosystem stability on degraded land, strengthening sustainability of national protected areas system and conservation of riparian (tugay) forests – all focusing on sustainable land use.
 
Project objectives.
 
Overall objective of the Project is to formulate an integrated approach to irrigated land management to improve environmental quality and agricultural productivity. The Project will address capacity building needs of the implementing organization, the Fund Management Department, to enable the National Irrigated Land Reclamation Fund to meet this objective. The focus of capacity building will be on streamlining institutional responsibilities, enhancing the technical capacity of the Fund Management Department staff with respect to irrigated land reclamation and management, modernizing project preparation and appraisal systems, improving the legal framework for irrigated land reclamation, demonstrating effective methods of land reclamation, and improving the Fund’s interaction with international donors.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop an institutional assessment of the National Irrigated Land Reclamation Fund and an organizational assessment of responsibilities for irrigated land reclamation responsibilities in Uzbekistan. The institutional assessment will evaluate the current level of institutional capacity of the Fund Management Department against the responsibilities assigned to it under the Government decrees and subsequent regulations. The expert will determine whether resources are adequate to cover current mandates and make recommendations for institutional strengthening. The organizational assessment will map current responsibilities of all organizations within Uzbekistan that are responsible for various aspects of land reclamation. Institutional mapping will then ascertain gaps and overlaps in responsibilities and determine whether the Fund has adequate authority to carry out the responsibilities for which it is assigned. 
 
To achieve expected outcomes the consultant will be responsible to accomplish following outputs: 
  • Institutional and Organizational Assessment of the national irrigated land reclamation situation in Uzbekistan, and
  • Development and initiation of Capacity Building Plan.
 
To achieve expected outputs the consultant will be asked to accomplish following tasks: 
  • Identify national stakeholders, and carry out (and document) consultations with key stakeholders in the area of irrigated land reclamation;
  • Gather all relevant information and perform a detailed analysis on current status of organizational framework for land reclamation and staffing levels of Fund Management Department and determine their adequacy vis-à-vis responsibilities assigned under Presidential decree and subsequent regulations;
  • Assess all relevant experience in the Central Asian region on irrigated land reclamation and provide linkages to best practices around the world;
  • Conduct, develop and maintain the relationship with all stakeholders, including appropriate international agencies, local authorities, community level beneficiaries, private sector actors and related active or completed projects. Relevant projects of national research institutions, as well as donors funded projects, especially ADB, WB, SDC, IWMI, GTZ and ICARDA should serve as one of the main information and experience sources in this assignment;
  • Make recommendations for institutional and organizational streamlining, including for changes to current staffing pattern based on assessment results;
  • Develop and initiate a Capacity Building Plan for institutional and organizational strengthening based on institutional strengthening recommendations.

Competencies

To the extent feasible, the consultant will design capacity building activities that make use of on the job activities where possible, as well as classroom training exercises.
 
To achieve above mentioned outputs, the consultant under guidance of the Project Manager, will be expected to identify relevant local consultant(s), prepare Terms of References for their tasks, accept their reports and consolidate all collected information and data into single report.
 
Deliverables and timeframe
 
The following deliverables and indicative schedule are expected from the consultancy contract but the core product of the international consultancy will be
 
  • Institutional and Organizational Assessment Report with recommendations for institutional and organizational streamlining, including changes to current staffing patterns;
  • Capacity Building Plan based on capacity building needs of the implementing organization, the Fund Management Department; and
  • Delivery of Capacity Building Plan. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy assignment. All deliverables should be submitted to UNDP by the Consultant in English.
 #          Deliverables      Deadlines
  1. Detailed work plan and report outline  9 November, 2009 - 15% of total lump sum
  2. Draft Institutional and Organizational Assessment Report and Capacity Building Plan: 15 December, 2009 -35% of total lump sum
  3. Final Institutional and Organizational Assessment Report and Capacity Building Plan: 20 January,   2010 -25% of total lump sum
  4. Initiation of Capacity Building Plan delivery (in the form of trainings, seminars, workshops etc. for at least 50 persons): 10-16   February, 2010 -25% of total lump sum
 
Tentative timeframe
 
  1. Briefings for Consultant - 3-6 November, 2009
  2. Desk review and preparation of the 1st mission - 3-6 November, 2009
  3. Trip to Tashkent, interviews with local stakeholders, meetings, data collection, other activity associated with performing the assessments - 23-26 November, 2009
  4. Validation of preliminary findings with stakeholders through circulation of initial reports for comments, meetings, and other types of feedback mechanism - 26-30 November, 2009
  5. Preparation of Final Assessment Report and Capacity Building Plan - 5-12 December, 2009
  6. Submission of Final Assessment Report and Capacity Building Plan - 15-20 January, 2010
  7. Conducting trainings (seminars, workshops) on Capacity Building Plan for at least 50 persons (2nd mission) - 10-16   February, 2010

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced degree in agricultural economics or agricultural engineering;
Experience:
  • In depth international experience in irrigation and drainage management;
  • In depth understanding of institutional arrangements for effective land reclamation programs in   international experience;
  • A minimum of 10 years of experience in irrigation and land reclamation, water resources management or agricultural engineering is required.
  • Experience in institutional and organizational development of financial institutions, especially in the area of land and water management in developing countries with arid climate and strong soil salinity problems;
  • Experience in development and implementation of training programs;
  • Good communication and presentation skills;
  • Good analytical and writing skills;
Language Requirements:
  • Proficiency in both written and oral English. Working knowledge of Russian and/or Uzbek languages will be an asset.
Others:
  • Understanding of development issues, basic gender concepts and gender issues in the country; knowledge of and experience in gender mainstreaming is an asset;
  • Understanding of National public institutional arrangements, Initiative and strong leadership skills;
  • Result-orientation;
  • Ability to use information and communication technology as a tool and resource;
  • Strong managerial and communication skills, good ability in partnering and networking and ability to work both independently and in team;
  • Excellent interpersonal and cross cultural communication skills.
Application Process:   
 
All interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP website at http://undp.uz  The UNDP will only accept applications submitted on-line via http://www.undp.uz 

Please ensure that before making on-line application, you have completed the UNDP Personal History Form (P11). The electronic version of the P11 can be downloaded from http://www.undp.uz (Job Opportunities Section). The completed  P11) further to be uploaded while applying on-line.  
 
The deadline for submission of application is COB 8 December, 2009. Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date (8 December 2009) will not be given consideration.
 
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified. 
 
 For more detailed information about UNDP Uzbekistan please visit our website at www.undp.uz Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The position is open for the International citizens only.