Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia advocates for change and provides knowledge experience and resources, which can help the country to identify solutions to global and national development challenges. The newly established Inclusive Development (ID) Cluster, one of the departments within UNDP Serbia, aims to contribute to reducing human poverty and promotes equitable growth so that the society can fully benefit in the overall country development. The cluster is organized around the key UNDP programming areas, contributing indirectly and directly to the rural development in Serbia.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management (MAFWM) of the Republic of Serbia and the Provincial Secretariat of Agriculture, Water Economy and Forestry (PSAWEF) of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina aim to promote sustainable rural development. Both are looking forward to further strengthening partnership with UNDP as a reliable partner in capacity building of local actors in rural areas and providing support to rural community based organizations.
In the new EU members and candidate countries rural development has been advancing in the last years. The rural development has been addressed through a number of successful policies and programmes of the governmental and non-governmental actors within the SEE region. UNDP recent work supported a range of studies that analyzed opportunities for diversification of rural economy, directly identifying the lack of capacities in the rural communities and still weak networking capacities.
The overall objective of the Strengthening of Rural Social Capital project is to contribute to the establishment of the LEADER approach that is linked to the community development in Vojvodina.
The project activities are aiming at the popularization of diversified strategies for the development of rural areas, which may impact an establishment of a more integrated and coordinated development of the rural communities. The lessons learned for the project implementation should contribute to the reducing of disparities between the levels of development of the different rural areas of the different regions and thus provide a significant contribution to the needed well-balanced development. The overall goal of the project is to increase the sustainable development of rural communities in the region through the social, economic and environmental trainings that will contribute to the strengthening of rural social capital. The key project activities will be to plan, co-operate and support the participation in the innovative training courses that will target the community development for the region. As the lead and key project activities, the trainings will bring in the experienced guest speakers/experts, international and national that will try to assist the communities to develop their own and practical solutions to the existing local problems of their rural communities.
The long-term impact of the project is beyond the existing funding period, as the established and specialized partnerships should continue to enable the sustainability of the rural development support activities.
The project duration is for a period of 12 months: from June 2008 until June 2009.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
Measurable outputs of the work assignment
Under the supervision of Rural Development Coordinator, and in coordination with the UNDP ID Cluster Team Leader and government counterpart the Local Action Group institutional expert will have to perform following tasks:
1) Provide expert guidance and advisory support related to establishment and promotion of Local Action Groups
- Identify current situation in project implementation AOR;
- Provide useful advices from own professional experiences in the establishment the LAGs.
2) Produce short presentation about all reached milestones from initial phase in establishment of Local Action based his/her personal experiences;
3) Prepare training promotional material which will provoke larger debate with raising awareness for the establishment of LAGs;
4) Other appropriate tasks arising from the above as requested and relevant.
- Performance Indicators for evaluation of results
- Successful stories provided and presented at the conference planned for mid- November 2008;
- Recommendations on future steps for the establishment Local Action Groups provided;
- Training material developed.
Competencies
Skills and Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Shares knowledge and experience in the area of rural development through extending the lessons of experience and best practice through networks and publications;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired best; practice in rural development is incorporated in the design and implementation of rural development programmes;
- Good knowledge of current development issues particularly those pertinent to UNDP’s Practice Areas. Ability to conceptualize issues and analyze data;
- Demonstrates strong IT skills;
- Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP Practice Areas.
Leadership and Self-Management
- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.
Required Skills and Experience
Qualifications and Experience
Education:
- University degree in development studies but not condition, rural development, agro-economy, or other relevant subject of socio-economic studies related to development of rural areas.
Experience:
- Professional experience in establishment of Local Action Groups, preferably from some of transitional economies of South East Europe;
- The ability to effectively share the lessons learned and to provide targeted and relevant project support;
- Recognized international know-how, experience of internationally recognized and registered methodologies, and expertise in the field of rural research.
Language Requirements:
- Very strong analytical, writing, communication and advocacy skill;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Excellent command of English.