Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners. UNDP’s global focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of: (a) Democratic Governance; (b) Poverty Reduction; (c) Crisis Prevention and Recovery; (d) Environment and Energy and (e) HIV/AIDS. UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all its activities, UNDP encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

Within the aforementioned global context, UNDP Turkey works for Democratic Governance and Growth without Poverty. For more than 50 years the UNDP has worked in close partnership with the Turkish Government and numerous national and international institutions, including NGOs, academics and the business community.

UNDP Turkey aims to find practical solutions to Turkey's development challenges and manages projects together with the Turkish Government and other partners to address them. Since 1986 it has implemented over 80 programs across the country. In addition, the UNDP has played a major role in response to crises and disasters in Turkey and the surrounding region.

UNDP's strategy for 2006-2010, formulated with and agreed by the Turkish Government, highlights three core areas, through which UNDP will support the implementation of Turkey's development agenda through project implementation and policy advice. These are: 1) capacity building for democratic governance; 2) action and advocacy for poverty reduction; and 3) environment and sustainable development. In addition to these core areas, UNDP Turkey is emphasizing the role of women, private sector, capacity development and information and communication technology in its policies and programmes.

UNDP and GAP Regional Development Administration have recently launched two projects: a) Organic Agriculture Cluster in Southeast Anatolia and b) Utilization of Renewable Energy Resources and Increasing Energy Efficiency in Southeast Anatolia (Phase 1), the first of which is planned to be completed by the end of 2012, whereas the latter is planned to be completed by the end of 2010.

The overall objective of Organic Agriculture Cluster in Southeast Anatolia project, towards which the Project will contribute, is to improve the competitiveness of the Southeast Anatolia Region in a sustainable and socially equitable manner. This overall objective reflects the vision of the Competitiveness Agenda for Southeast Anatolia Region, and serves as a reference point for all initiatives (i.e. projects and programmes) to be implemented within the scope of the Agenda.

The purpose of the Project is to increase the competitiveness of the organic agriculture sector in the Region (especially in Sanliurfa) through activating the regional organic agriculture cluster and improving the local business environment by establishing an innovation and information centre, establishing best practices (pilot and demonstrative actions), and building local capacities and by promoting the region nationally and internationally.

The project duration is 4 years and will be implemented between 2009 and 2012 in the nine provinces of GAP Region. The target groups of the project are farmers, textile and food entrepreneurs, related official bodies and NGOs, universities and research institutions.

The project has five components and these components cover the key activities to achieve the results mentioned above. The components are:

1. Organic Farming Cluster Development Activities
2. Pilot Implementations and Demonstrations in the field of Organic Farming
3. Branding, Promoting and Visibility
4. Organic Farming Innovation and Information Center
5. Institutional Capacity Building

A locally-based project team will plan for, organize and oversee implementation of the specific activities of the project. The local project team will, initially be composed of a team leader and a organic farming coordinator, to be administratively and operationally supported by a project assistant, based in Sanliurfa. The locally-based project team will work in close cooperation and coordination with the GAP RDA based also in Sanliurfa. The project team will be operationally and technically backstopped by UNDP’s Ankara-based team (Programme Specialist and Advisor, Project Associate, and Advisor of the Organic Agriculture Cluster Project). The work of the local project team will be further supported with short-term experts who will specific tasks within project activities. The local team may be expanded in 2011, dependent on the needs of the Projects. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

The key functions (KF) of the organic farming coordinator will include: 1) Coordination and Management of Pilot Implementations and Demonstrations in the field of Organic Farming; and 2) Coordination and Management of Institutional Capacity Building activities.

The organic farming coordinator will perform the following activities to successfully perform his/her key functions:

Key Function – 1: 

• Coordination and Management of Pilot Implementations and Demonstrations in the field of Organic Farming

Expected Result – 1:

• Competitiveness of the organic farming sector in the Southeast increased

Tasks and Duties – 1: 

• Coordinate “GAP Organic Farming Crop Pattern” activity;
• Coordinate feasibility studies for possible pilot projects and demonstration areas;
• Facilitate identification of and report appropriate technologies in organic farming for the region;
• Study and report international success stories which could be an example for the project;
• Manage and guide the pilot projects and demonstration activities, monitoring the activities and reporting of the results;
• Guide and support farmers and SMEs regarding the legal aspects as well as production techniques of organic farming.

Key Function – 2:

• Coordination and Management of Institutional Capacity Building activities

Expected Result – 2:

• Institutional Capacities Strengthened

Tasks and Duties – 2:

• Manage the training programmes for the institutions which are involved with organic farming in the GAP Region (identification of training needs, designing the training programmes and technical visits, making sure of the quality of training delivery, evaluation of training results and reporting);
• Organize the technical missions at national and international level and report the results

The incumbent will report to the Team Leader, will work in close coordination and collaboration with the GAP RDA General Coordinator and fulfill additional tasks as required by GAP RDA General Coordinator and UNDP Programme Specialist and Advisor.

Other Considerations

Incumbent will be duty-stationed in Sanliurfa at an office to be provided by the GAP Regional Development Administration. 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards,
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP, and partner organizations,
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability,

Functional Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of project cycle management,
• Demonstrates strong management skills,
• Promotes team work, contributes towards building team consensus,
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Good teamwork and leadership skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets,
• Good knowledge of the Results Management
  

Required Skills and Experience

The incumbent should possess the following qualifications and experience:

General Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agricultural engineering, agricultural economy, or related field
• Excellent command of office software, such as  word processors, spreadsheets, databases
• Proficiency in Turkish

Assets

• Advanced degree(s) in  agricultural economy, agricultural engineering or related field,
• Specialized education and/or training on organic farming,
• Proficiency in English

Professional Experience and Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 10 (ten) years of professional experience

Assets

• More than 5 years of international experience,

Specific Experience and Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 2 (two) years of professional experience in organic farming
• In depth knowledge of the legal aspects of organic farming,
• In depth knowledge of organic farming certification process,
• In depth knowledge of certification companies, universities, international organizations and responsible department in Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Assets

• Proven hands-on experience in implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cluster development projects,

Notes:

• Internships (paid/unpaid) are not considered professional experience.
• Obligatory military service is not considered professional experience.
• Professional experience gained in an international setting is considered international experience.
• Experience gained prior to completion of undergraduate studies is not considered professional experience.