UNDP Jobs - 77306- Senior International Expert on capacity building,

Senior International Expert on capacity building, coordination and technical support

Location :

Baku, Azerbaijan, AZERBAIJAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

12-Mar-2018

Application Deadline :

01-Mar-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

10 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

10 months/50 days of work in Azerbaijan ( 35 days in Baku, 15 days in regions)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Azerbaijan is considered to be part of Vavilov’s Asia Minor center of origin of cultivated plants.

In general, the wild relatives of cultivated crops in Azerbaijan are genetically diverse, locally adapted and represent a potential source of genes and alleles for adapting crops to the ever-changing environmental conditions and human needs of the country.

The project seeks to: (i) improve the protection of viable populations of indigenous wild relatives of crops and local landraces in their natural habitats; (ii) augment the conservation of indigenous wild relatives of crops and local landraces in plant gene banks to ensure an adequate source of genetic resources for plant breeding; and (iii) increase the production, and extent of use, of local landraces in agricultural small holdings and commercial farms.

The project will be implemented in three regions - Sheki, Goranboy, and Goychay. Within these three rayons, the project will further focus on selected crop wild relatives, cultivated native species and cultivated landraces of wheat, vegetable and forage crops.

The project has been structured into three complementary components.

The first component will seek to expand the state of knowledge of agro-biodiversity, enhance the conservation of this agro-biodiversity and increase the intensity and extent of use native crops in the agricultural sector in the three project regions.

The second component will seek to build the capacities of and improve the collaboration and cooperation between, agricultural institutions and small farmers in order to improve agricultural productivity and reduce land degradation using native crops (i.e. the targeted crop species) in the three project regions.

The third component will seek to strengthen incentives that encourage the planting of, and improve access to commercial markets for agricultural products derived from, the targeted native crop species across the three regions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Expert will supervise the activities of the project teams responsible for the preparation of the working plans and implementation for pilot regions, review the reports submitted by the experts and commenting, if needed. Advise on technical elements and provide best international practices on agro-biodiversity policy. The International Expert will be also responsible for the assistance to the project team in preparation of detailed annual work plans with clear planning, timing, budget allocation and division of responsibilities, provision of the yearly assistance with the Project Implementation Report to GEF, assistance in monitoring and reporting against the Tracking Tools, review, supervise and prepare if necessary TORs for international consultants to be recruited under the project and also prepare the major procurement cases documents.

Scope of Work

Senior International Expert will provide his/her services in 2 main directions:

Review the reports submitted by project recruited consultants and provide suggestions;
Supervise and support the project team responsible for the project management and implementation;
Advise on technical elements and provide best international practices on agro-biodiversity policy;
To assist the project team in preparation of detailed annual work plans with clear planning, timing, budget allocation and division of responsibilities;
Provision of the yearly assistance with the Project Implementation Report to GEF Assistance in monitoring and reporting against the Tracking Tools (Capacity Development Scorecard; CC for SO-5; LD-PMAT;
Review and when necessary prepare the TORs for international consultants;
Supervise quality control functions over the outputs of local/international consultants;
Prepare TORs and implementation schedules for major project procurement cases (tenders, request for proposals on services).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision, and values;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies:

Showing the will to learn and develop professional skills;
Consistently work with energy and positive, constructive attitude;
Focus on result for the client and respond positively to feedback.

To be self-sufficient and conduct himself in the highest professional manner in working relations.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications and Competencies

Graduate degree (Ph.D.) in related field: law/environmental law, pasture land management, environmental sciences (25 points);
At least 5 years of experience in the field of environmental law, pasture land management, combating desertification and land degradation (30 points);
Experience in the management and coordination of large-scale GEF funded projects (25 points);
Methodology/ Approach to the work. (20 points);
Good knowledge on international system of management of eco-systems, knowing of area of combating desertification and land degradation.

Technical skills

Fluent in written and oral communication in English, including the ability to draft and edit project documents;

Excellent computer skills, in particular, mastery of all applications of the MS Office package.

The evaluation based on lowest price and technically compliant offer. The minimum passing score is 70 points.

Lump-sum contract:

The contract will be a lump-sum result-based contract. The rates indicated by the consultants in their responses, along with their technical expertise will serve as a basis for the selection. The UNDP also reserves the right to negotiate the total rates with the selected candidates. The total amount will take into account the negotiated rate for the whole consultancy period.

Payment will be done in four installments and based on completion of deliverables.

1 installment – 20% advance payment, after signature of the contract (March, 2018)
2 instalment – 30% - deliverable 1, 2 (May, 2018)
3 instalment – 30% - deliverable 3, 4 (September, 2018)
4 instalment – 20% - deliverable 2 (December, 2018)

Please note that financial proposal should be done as a lump sum in consideration of supposed travels (including accommodation, ticket, and DSA). The breakdown is necessary. Daily allowance for Baku/Azerbaijan is USD 179, however, the outside of Baku it is USD 92. Supposed travels: 2 or 3 times a year, the total number of days in the country: 50. 15 days out of 50 will be in Project area (Sheki, Goychay, Goranboy) outside of Baku.

Please note that only economy class is applied to international consultant travel.

This system accepts only one attachment, so please send both technical and financial proposals as one attachment.