Background

Please do not apply on this web site. Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online via website www.undp.tj:

• In order to be considered in the long list of applicants please go to the Registration link, register your account and upload P11 Form. (If you already have a registered account, please use your login and password for further applying)
• Filled Personal History Form should be uploaded in your account. Please upload the exact P11 form instead of CV or Resume.
• Further, in the list of announced vacancies click on apply link beside the Vacancy post. You will be receiving a confirmation e-mail in short period to the address indicated in your account.

• Proposal:

• stating your interest and qualifications for the advertised position
• providing a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work

• Financial proposal
• Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Tajikistan is a landlocked country with mountains comprising 93% of the country’s territory. The difficult mountainous terrain coupled with extreme temperatures observed during the last years makes the country extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. Reducing vulnerability and strengthening capacities of various disadvantaged groups to challenges posed by the natural disasters and climate change requires an innovative approach. In the context of UNDP programming, the noted above challenges can be tackled through integration of poverty reduction and crises prevention clusters.

Despite Tajikistan‘s fast economic growth, the poverty rate remains as high as 42%. People living in the rural areas have limited access for income and employment opportunities. Therefore, these families mainly rely on labour migrants remittances – the prevailing coping strategy applied in rural areas. The volume of remittances received by the country in 2011 equaled 40% of country’s GDP and labour migration is considered as a key contributing factor in reducing poverty. The remittances are mainly used for consumption and a significantly reduce the food insecurity of the poor population segments. Despite the fact that volume of remittances are significant, this arrangement can only provide short term and hence an unsustainable, solution to reducing poverty.

Micro Loan Funds (MLF)

During the last 3 years, UNDP Communities Programme has worked closely with Disaster Risk Management Programme (DRMP), Health Programme, Energy and Environment Programme as well as different programmes and projects under the governance cluster. The integration within different practices to increase organizational effectiveness [better impact on the lives of target beneficiaries] and efficiency [delivering the same results with minimal operational costs]. Implementation of joint interventions has generated a number of important lessons which are now used to guide design of future programmes. One of the key lessons is that the entry point for integration should not be the ‚sector‘, e.g. disaster, health, etc., but the ‚target group‘.

In 2012, upon intensive consultations and building on the past experience and lessons learned, the Communities Programme (CP), Energy and Environment Programme (EEP) and Disaster Risk Management Programme (DRMP) agreed to enter into a cooperation to strengthen resilience to negative impact of natural disasters in communities in Sughd and Khatlon Provinces

Three grants in a total amount of USD 450,000 were provided to UNDP-established Micro Finance Institutions: one Micro Loan Funds (MLF) operating in Soughd region, one in Hissar District (Districts of Republican Subordination) and one MLF in Khatlon Province, to generate income. This income is transferred to a local DRR Fund to implement disaster risk reduction initiatives at community level. Identification and quality assurance of interventions is provided by a Fund Administration Council composed of representatives of the community, local Committee of Emergency Situation (CoES) offices, district Hukumats and UNDP representatives.).

A side benefit of this intervention is that it improves livelihoods of the most vulnerable population groups living within MLIs service areas, as the current MLIs’ credit portfolio will be increased, thus making more resources available for ‘business initiatives’ support.

Duties and Responsibilities

POST PROFILE, KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

UNDP DRMP is recruiting an Independent International Consultant to work with the three UNDP-established MLIs in Kulyab, Hissar and Ayni districts to enhance the capacity of risk management officers and relevant credit management personnel. The overall goal of this consultancy is to ensure the relevant credit management personnel of the three UNDP-supported MLIs are fully aware of the specific risks of natural disasters that could cause damage to MLIs’ credit capital and overall portfolio. Moreover, the consultant will be closely working with the relevant MLIF credit management officers to ensure the risk management strategies are established and integrated into MLI’s standard operating procedures.

THE SCOPE OF WORK:

• The International Consultant shall report to the UNDP DRM Programme Manager and will contribute to achieving the following Outputs:
• Screening of MLIs exposure to the risk of natural disasters and provision of practical guidance on their management;
• Identification of risks of natural disasters, which might negatively affect the credit portfolio of MILs and establish risk management strategies;
• Development of training module on “Disaster Risk Management in MLIs operations”;
• Conduct “Disaster Risk Management in MLIs operations” to the relevant personnel of MLIs.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

• Risk Management Plan targeting the disaster risk affecting the business continuity of each MLI covered by the assignment - 30 June 2013
• Risk Management Plan targeting the disaster risk affecting the credit portfolio of each MLI - 30 June 2013
• Training module on “Disaster Risk Management in MLIs” operations - 20 June 2013
• Final Consultancy Report - 20 July 2013

Competencies

Functional Competencies

• The Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse and wide range of people;
• Ability to translate strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitor them, making periodic adjustments as required;
• Demonstrates sensitivity, tact and diplomacy, and projects a positive image;
• Works capably in a highly dynamic and challenging environment and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced University degree in the area international relations/post-conflict development, political sciences, micro-financing, economics or related discipline (Criteria A – 10 points).
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• At least 5 years of relevant and diversified professional experience in crisis countries, with progressive levels of responsibilities (Criteria B – 15 points);
• Experience in risk management is essential (Criteria C – 20 points);
• Experience in management and reduction of disaster risk is an asset; Relevant experience in capacity building is an asset (Criteria D – 15 points).

Technical Skills:

• Knowledge of basic UN/UNDP operations and programmes;
• Knowledge of disaster management and microfinance systems in Central Asia is an asset;
• Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues;
• Excellent Knowledge of computer software: Microsoft Office applications and other relevant database software (Criteria E – 5 points).

• Excellent English language skills, knowledge of Russian and/or Tajik/Dari is an asset (Criteria F – 5 points).