The Darfur Community Based Reintegration and Stabilization programme aims to contribute to long term peace and security in Darfur through socio-economic reintegration of former fighters. At the same time, it also contributes to community livelihoods stabilization through employment creation, income generation and peacebuilding. Reportedly, women and youth experience are disproportionately affected by the limited employment opportunities due to lack of skills, access to productive resources such as land, startup capital and others.

In view of those challenges, this programme adopts a two prong approach improving livelihoods opportunities for unemployed youth and vulnerable women. Firstly, it provides livelihoods trainings complemented with in kind start-up capital to groups, promote internal group savings and revolving loans, and linking groups to formal microcredit services. Secondly, uses community infrastructure rehabilitation as entry point for short term employment creation for unemployed youth and women.  Selected participants are mobilized into self-help groups, provide with livelihoods training, and are encouraged to save part of their daily earnings to be used as startup capital for long term income generation. They groups are then registered as cooperatives, trained in micro credit and business development services. They groups serve both as economic entities as well as entry points to promote social cohesion and reconciliation between different ethnic groups.

Finally, one of the key achievements of the programme during the past 2 years is the formation of over 30 cooperatives by ex-combatants jointly with civilians. Most of the cooperatives are at advanced stages of development with high a potential for sustainability.  However, all will continue to require capacity development support to ensure their sustainability.

Scope of Work: Work to be conducted is divided into the following

Part 1:       Self Help Group Mobilization and Development (Geneina Town) 

 The consultant will work closely with the construction company in the implementation of the undermentioned livelihoods stabilization activities in Geneina town:

i)          Community Sensitization, Group Mobilization and Development

• Sensitization and awareness raising of community members on project objectives;

• Mobilize selected men and women to form self –groups/cooperatives;

• Facilitate formation of an Association that brings together all groups ;

• Prepare data base profiling all participants/groups including: name, marital status etc.

  ii)         Savings Mobilization and Registration of Self Help Groups

• Sensitize participants about the objectives of the savings requirement;

• Agree on savings amount to be deducted from wage and payment arrangements;

• Organize regular meetings with groups to assess status of savings and future plans;

• Facilitate registration of groups as legal entities as requested by the group themselves.

  iii)        Livelihoods Trainings and Linkages to Microcredit

• Conduct capacity needs assessments to determine training needs of Self-Help groups, provide trainings in business plan preparations including profits and loss;
• Facilitate the preparation of business proposals for UNDP grants and micro credit;

• Identifying microfinance opportunities and assist the groups to apply for loans;

• Providing information on training courses available at the State or locality level;

• Facilitate, where possible, marketing of participants’ products, e.g. through trade fairs; link participants with business communities, networking, information sharing etc.

UNDP Matching Funds: UNDP will provide matching funds equivalent to the amount of savings mobilized by the group at the end of the project. For example, if the total amount of saving mobilized by the group is SDG 5000, UNDP will provide the equal amount of SDG 5000 to boast up the start capital to SDG 10 000. The consultant will support in the implementation of their business for given period of time to ensure their viability and provide UNDP with an exit strategy. UNDP matching grant will be kind such as equipment and not in Cash.

MOU: A MOU should be signed between the construction company with the groups indicating amount of savings to be deducted from the wages. It must also indicate commitment of UNDP to provide in kind matching fund contribution equivalent to the amount of savings. Importantly, it should mention that participants will be receive all their savings back with no matching grant if they decide not to be part of second phase after the completion of the project.  

Part 2: Community Livelihoods Stabilization Projects

The consultant will work closely and support NGOs partners in the implementation of stabilization projects in Shangle Toobi and Tura (North Darfur) Bulbul (South Darfur) and Mornei (West Darfur).

• Mobilization of youth, vulnerable women and other groups into self-help groups/cooperatives and build capacities for access to micro credit services etc.
• Capacity needs assessments of Self-Help groups for participation in value chains.
• Identify training, advisory and other service providers on value chains development and establish linkages with ex-combatant associations/cooperatives.
• Promote accumulation of internal Savings by Self Help Groups/Cooperatives.
• Facilitate microfinance access for producers and marketing groups.
• Work closely with Self Help Groups/Associations/Cooperatives in monitoring their income generations and business ventures, identify weaknesses and recommendations.

Part 3: Capacity Development of Existing Cooperatives (North, South and West Darfur)

The consultant should provide capacity development support to 30 or more cooperatives that were established since 2016 jointly by ex-combatants and civilians. These include:

• Develop  leadership and organizational capacity of potentially sustainable cooperatives
• Develop strategies for enhancing the financial sustainability of existing cooperatives.

• Explore opportunities for strategic partnership and linkages with Private Sector

• Conduct capacity needs assessments to identify additional areas of UNDP support

Develop a UNDP exit strategy in terms of support while ensuring sustainability

1. Scope of Work: Work to be conducted is divided into the following

   Part 1: Self Help Group Mobilization and Development (Geneina Town) 

    The consultant will work closely with the construction company in the implementation of the undermentioned livelihoods stabilization activities in Geneina town:

   i)   Community Sensitization, Group Mobilization and Development

• Sensitization and awareness raising of community members on project objectives

• Mobilize selected men and women to form self –groups/cooperatives

• Facilitate formation of an Association that brings together all groups 

• Prepare data base profiling all participants/groups including: name, marital status etc.

  ii) Savings Mobilization and Registration of Self Help Groups

• Sensitize participants about the objectives of the savings requirement.

• Agree on savings amount to be deducted from wage and payment arrangements.

• Organize regular meetings with groups to assess status of savings and future plans.

• Facilitate registration of groups as legal entities as requested by the group themselves.

  iii)  Livelihoods Trainings and Linkages to Microcredit

• Conduct capacity needs assessments to determine training needs of Self-Help groups, provide trainings in business plan preparations including profits and loss.
• Facilitate the preparation of business proposals for UNDP grants and micro credit.

• Identifying microfinance opportunities and assist the groups to apply for loans

• Providing information on training courses available at the State or locality level

• Facilitate, where possible, marketing of participants’ products, e.g. through trade fairs; link participants with business communities, networking, information sharing etc.

UNDP Matching Funds: UNDP will provide matching funds equivalent to the amount of savings mobilized by the group at the end of the project. For example, if the total amount of saving mobilized by the group is SDG 5000, UNDP will provide the equal amount of SDG 5000 to boast up the start capital to SDG 10 000. The consultant will support in the implementation of their business for given period of time to ensure their viability and provide UNDP with an exit strategy. UNDP matching grant will be kind such as equipment and not in Cash.

MOU: A MOU should be signed between the construction company with the groups indicating amount of savings to be deducted from the wages. It must also indicate commitment of UNDP to provide in kind matching fund contribution equivalent to the amount of savings. Importantly, it should mention that participants will be receive all their savings back with no matching grant if they decide not to be part of second phase after the completion of the project.  

Part 2:  Community Livelihoods Stabilization Projects

The consultant will work closely and support NGOs partners in the implementation of stabilization projects in Shangle Toobi and Tura (North Darfur) Bulbul (South Darfur) and Mornei (West Darfur).

• Mobilization of youth, vulnerable women and other groups into self-help groups/cooperatives and build capacities for access to micro credit services etc;
• Capacity needs assessments of Self-Help groups for participation in value chains;
• Identify training, advisory and other service providers on value chains development and establish linkages with ex-combatant associations/cooperatives;
• Promote accumulation of internal Savings by Self Help Groups/Cooperatives;
• Facilitate microfinance access for producers and marketing groups;
• Work closely with Self Help Groups/Associations/Cooperatives in monitoring their income generations and business ventures, identify weaknesses and recommendations;

Part 3: Capacity Development of Existing Cooperatives (North, South and West Darfur)

The consultant should provide capacity development support to 30 or more cooperatives that were established since 2016 jointly by ex-combatants and civilians. These include:

• Develop  leadership and organizational capacity of potentially sustainable cooperatives;
• Develop strategies for enhancing the financial sustainability of existing cooperatives;

• Explore opportunities for strategic partnership and linkages with Private Sector;

• Conduct capacity needs assessments to identify additional areas of UNDP support;

Develop a UNDP exit strategy in terms of support while ensuring sustainability.

1. Corporate Competencies Functional Competencies:

• Corporate Competencies
  • 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;
  • Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

• Functional Competencies:
  • Demonstrated experience in capacity building of ex-combatants for income generation and self-employment as well as micro credit and business development.
  • Demonstrated experience in capacity development of cooperatives in strategic planning and business plan preparation and resource mobilization.
  • Ability to analyze and build strategic partnerships with multiple stakeholders
  • Demonstrated livelihoods trainings, facilitation and coordination skills. 
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions about economic reintegration and livelihoods support with ex-combatants and other partners.

1. Qualifications and Experiences

2. A degree in social sciences or related subjects. A post graduate degree will be an advantage.

3. At least 7 years field experience in livelihoods, cooperatives and value chains development with proven work experience with UNDP DDR programme in Darfur and Sudan will be added advantage.

4. Proven record of preparing group livelihoods business plans, analytical reports, and presentation to multi-stakeholders etc.

5. Excellent written and spoken in English and Arabic.

6. Good command of basic computer skills.

7. Experience working with Government and private sector in Darfur will be an added advantage.

8. Familiarity with the UNDP System will be ad added advantage.