Historique

Project:

UNDP plans to mount a programme formulation mission, comprising both national and international consultants with Representatives from UNDP HQ, to develop UNDP Nigeria Country Office Value Chain (VC) intervention programme. The programme will build on partnerships to promote inclusive value chain operations through advocacy and knowledge sharing, capacity development and awareness raising in value chain development-related activities in Nigeria. This will be based on the CO’s current conceptualization, interactions and comprehensive assessment reports/presentations.

Background:

In order to increase growth and reduce poverty in Nigeria, urgent measures are required to encourage diversification and increased productivity in employment intensive sectors of the non-oil economy. Nigeria has a large and diverse domestic market for agricultural produce, however, both the agriculture and agri-business sectors are poorly integrated, access to financial services is poor, post-harvest losses are high, and technologies that add-value via processing are not widely deployed. Overall, the linkages between agriculture and industry are weak, and the market does not function in an effective manner.

There exists a wide range of on-going VC project to rectify the challenges above, but with an apparent lack of national capacity to analyse and support these initiatives. Also commitment to collaborations among VC stakeholders appears weak and lack focus. There exists also little coordination among development partners and stakeholders working on value chain intervention projects; hence little impact on prioritising interventions nationally, limited coordination between interventions activities and policy reform programmes that could facilitate poverty reduction and general VC improvements to be achieved development in a relatively short period of time.

In line with UNDAF Outcomes B2 and B3 and with the CPAP outcome “developed or expanded VCs in agriculture and agro-industry including through innovative CSR to meet demand in domestic regional or international markets whilst boosting productivity, value addition, employment and incomes especially in rural and peri-urban areas”, UNDP plan to facilitate the development of the national capacity to conduct VC analysis and support business accordingly. It aims to support a consultative forum for pro-poor VC advocacy, creation and dissemination of knowledge as well as actual support to VC interventions and businesses. The initiative is aimed at building national, state and institutional capacity relevant to deepening VC intervention capacities using UNDP’s signature approaches of Growing Inclusive Markets (GIM) and Inclusive Market Development/Growing Sustainable Business (GSB) as well as other pro poor approaches. The planned initiative would also support a network of Nigerian organizations that cater for national as well as regional VC needs.

Context:

A number of elements are anticipated under this programme. The design team will confirm the demand for the programme elements during the mission through consultations and a business roundtable with the relevant stakeholders. The programme design is anticipated to address current gaps in research advocacy and networking on GSB/inclusive markets programming/making markets work for the poor/VCs and other bottom of the pyramid approaches to market development. It will support national capacity development in these areas in order to catalyse and promote systemic change in the operation of value chain markets and businesses in Nigeria and in West Africa. In order to have regional impact it will seek linkages and/or collaborative opportunities with both regional and global bodies and initiatives in this area.

• The mission will explore five possible key generic areas that cut across sectors and approaches. These include applied research; advocacy; outreach support; knowledge networks, training.
  Research and development - undertaking and publishing new evidence based research and market analysis on a range of issues related to pro-poor private sector development and pro-poor market development. Training for graduates, business leaders and policy makers, drawing on research and emerging international best practices 
• Advocacy and knowledge management - actively promoting policy reforms to promote pro-poor private sector development, pro-poor investments and new ‘bottom of the pyramid’ business opportunities.
• Outreach Support - Providing practical solutions to VC interventions and business problems related to integration of the poor into their core business
• Knowledge Networks - the programme will facilitate and actively promote networking in between practitioners; associations and academic institutions both within Nigeria, regionally and internationally to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration. 
• Capacity building and Training – the programme will build capacity of local business service providers, training institutes and business membership organizations to train graduates, business leaders, private sector operators and policy makers, drawing on the first bullet above and emerging international best practices
  The mission will define based on international good practice and UNDP’s experience, the best programme vehicle and management arrangement for this programme.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Scope of Work:

The mission team is required to obtain inputs from the fields on technical issues, organizational issues, do a contextual review and dynamics of VC operations in the country. The mission will work closely with different VC stakeholders, exchange information where it’s feasible. The project formulation should incorporate and reflect the findings of the assessment in the project design.

The mission will consult with relevant stakeholders and partners. The intention is to involve all stakeholders and partners in the formulation phase and ensure their effective contribution in project implementation. They will critically build on the concept note, assessment report and also on earlier experience with the lessons learned from UNDP (and other UN agencies) PSD interventions in order to draw a comprehensive and well-designed VC programme that addresses holistic interventions approach with clear targets and results to be achieved within a defined timeframe with adequate resources and inputs needed to implement the activities.

The formulation should include measurable targets and indicators on a yearly basis for monitoring and evaluation of progress. It should also indicate appropriate implementation arrangements with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all proposed partners to be involved, including the private sector, national counterparts, donor agencies, national and international implementing institutions, UNDP e.t.c. To achieve this end, the mission will in particular undertake the following tasks:

Specific Tasks:

1. Review existing documentation regarding Value Chain operations and interventions in Nigeria

There exist several VC reports from different donors and government projects. Different VC projects have produced many information products, monitoring and evaluation reports, as well as review reports.   The formulation team will be required to review documentation in order to contextualize the project and to provide sound analytical basis for the new UNDP programme.  This component will include both desk-based work in Abuja and field visits with a focus on status, intervention focus and emerging challenges from other VC projects with opportunities and recommendations for UNDP project formulation and intervention

2. Conduct focused discussions and consultations with stakeholders across the country and also communicate with international “centre of excellence” on models and approach

Hold focus group discussions and interviews with relevant agencies (stakeholders) and intervention Projects representatives to gain insight on VC Project performance, identify relevant issues relating to project design, implementation and outputs to assess existing project’s relevance and challenges in terms of delivery. This should also obtain a broader view of the aspirations and expectations of key practitioners on complementarities and possible areas of cooperation’s that can be best support their operations and promote economic development and poverty reduction.
Consultations will take place with stakeholders across the country and with other partners including the private sector, national institutions, other UN agencies, DFID, USAID and the WB who currently have value chain operations in the country. The various implementation unit for these VC operations and projects will be met to present the UNDP concept and intervention approach. Consultations will also be held with government authorities identified for possible partnership to facilitate intervention.

• Identify relations with other UNDP projects and make linkages where feasible. 
• Based on the consultation with the Nigeria CO and donors, develop a strong and realistic resource mobilization strategy 
• Communicate with existing international “centre of excellence” on models and guidance on establishing similar project in Nigeria.

3. Present and validate the programme concept to an audience of stakeholders, including donor agencies, UN agencies, potential project partners and government.

During the mission, the team will be required to present the new programme concept to an audience of stakeholders, including UNDP and other partners and interested stakeholders in a round table session to be held in Lagos and a stakeholder conference to be held in Abuja.

4. Produce a new programme document from the current UNDP template

• Building on a UNDP standard, develop project document including detailed first year work plans, budgets, management arrangement, project phases, baselines and targets, detailed TORs key project intervention activities  etc 
• Building on a UNDP standard, develop TOR for a Project Board, plus a detailed management arrangements including best fit implementation modalities
• Develop TOR and Request for Proposals as appropriate for key assignments to be implemented and services to be engaged as specified in the programme document to be produced
  The programme document should follow UNDP programme format, should be comprehensive and results oriented with clear objectives and results to be achieved and adequate resources and inputs to realize the outputs within defined time frames and budget. The management arrangement should be simple and cost effective. Also, the monitoring indicators should be feasible and measurable to monitor progress on yearly basis. The new draft prodoc should be completed and presented to UNDP – comments will be made on the draft and incorporated by the lead consultant. 

Points to be taken into consideration:

• Ensure the formulated programme intervention and activities complement and do not overlap with other donor VC initiatives and interventions at the micro, meso and macro levels of intervention 
• Explore the possibilities of linking and collaborating with evolving international research and advocacy outfit, drawing on international experiences and best practices
• Explore robust linkages with and replication of international “Centre of Excellence” focused on similar issues
• Build on existing local institutional structures and capacity
• Virtual approach to implementation and intervention activities should be given a critical focus to allow for good coverage and partnerships, sustainability and unlimited institutional participation 
• Ensure gender equality and women empowerment is undoubtedly addressed with clear goals and effective activities

Reporting:

The team led by an International consultant will work under the overall guidance of the UNDP Country Director (Programmes). The team will report to UNDP Deputy Country Director (Programmes) and on day to day basis to the Team Leader, Economic Governance and Private Sector Development. Technical input and guidance on UNDP’s approach to inclusive market development would be provided by UNDP HQ representative(s) on the mission (2 weeks), while the overall mission deliverables will be the responsibility of the 4 engaged experts (2 nationals and 1 international value chain programme design expert and 1 International Knowledge Center Design expert such as  Centre of Excellence expert). The team leader will manage the team, the division of labour and coordinate all team members to ensure effective and timely delivery of the work schedule.

Timelines:

The mission task will be accomplished over a period of 4 weeks from the date of signing the contract. The assignment is expected to commence in April 2010. The schedule for the execution of the mission is:

• 2 days preparatory home work for study of available documentation and statistics;
• 3 weeks mission in Nigeria (plus additional travel days) – Two weeks of which will include UNDP HQ representative(s);
• 1 week home/bureau work for finalization of Programme Document and Mission Report.

Specific Consultant Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership on the conceptualization of a Centre of Excellence including options in approaches 
• Provide the mission team with technical input and advice on approach, set up and establishment arrangement
• Provide and initiate firm up arrangement required for international partnerships and local institutional links for exploration
• Support in designing appropriate methodology/and approach to achieve mission objectives
• Support the team of consultants and mission in the planning and conduct of the mission activities, including field visits, discussions, meetings and workshops
• Conduct other elements of the mission as determined by the Team Leader
• Contribute to the timely preparation of the various required documents – reports, project documents e.t.c

Mission Deliverables

The consultant is required to submit the following reports:

• Inception Report submitted not later than 2 days after the start of the assignment. The report will outline understanding of the Mission’s Terms of Reference, overview of approach and methodology to achieve missions objectives, planned visits, data collection and as well as work plan, describing how work will be scheduled and providing milestones for completion of key mission activities.
• Mid-Mission Report: Draft mid-mission report submitted not later than 2weeks into the assignment. The report will describe work and activities carried out and proposed programme design arrangement with institutional partnership recommendations. The consultant will lead presention of the report to UNDP team and interested external stakeholder team. Based on feedback from the meeting, the consultant will provide a final mid-mission report reflecting amended mission workplan, within 2days of receiving feedback.
• Final Mission Report: draft mission report received a day before final debrief on completion of in-country (Nigeria) mission work. The report will describe the overall work carried out during the mission and results answering to the mission objectives stated above. The report will be in form of a mission aide-memoire of 15 pages. It will summarise the designed project and specify potential institutional partnerships and arrangement dynamics initiated during the mission, for the programme to leverage on. All documents consulted should be referenced in an annex and all persons met should be identified in an annex of the report. Based on feedback from the debrief meeting, the consultant will provide a final mission report reflecting feedback, within 2days of receiving feedback.
• Finalise Programme Document: Submission of a draft programme document, at the final mission debrief meeting, of not more than 50 pages that complies with UNDP guidelines. It should outline a comprehensive and well-designed VC programme that addresses holistically the initial conception approach. It should state clearly targets and results to be achieved within defined designed project timeframe, indicating adequate resources and inputs needed to implement the programme activities. The document should include sustainability plan, measurable targets and indicators for monitoring and evaluation purposes. It should also indicate appropriate implementation arrangements with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all proposed partners to be involved, including proposed programme staff, the private sector, national counterparts, donor agencies, national and international implementing institutions, UNDP, vendors e.t.c. Based on feedback from UNDP team, the consultant will provide a final programme document reflecting feedback, within 1week of receiving feedback and comments.

Compétences

Required Consultant Skills and Experience

• The international consultant must be experienced in seting up International “Centre of Excellence” or similar arrangements.
• He must possess strong knowledge on international value chain networks with demonstrated experience on coordination VC programme set-up.
• Experience in working on virtual institutional knowledge and research network set-up in at least two countries, preferably in any developing countries in Africa, Asia or South America is a must.
• Familiarity with UNDP programme/project management and programme document format or quick adaptation skill to adopt these principles is an added advantage.
  

Qualifications et expériences requises

The international expert must have:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent experience in Agric Economics, similar development studies or related field;
• At least 15 years of experience in VC programme/project formulation, project management, or related areas;
• Experience working with a private sector development, research or policy advice centre is a plus for the consultant.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English.