UNDP Jobs - 89225- Business Coach

Business Coach

Location :

Tbilisi, with frequent travel to Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplistskaro, Kazbegi, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro, GEORGIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Jan-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Up to 78 days, during January - August 2020

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

The EU signed an Association Agreement (AA) with Georgia in June 2014. This aims to deepen political and economic relations between the parties and to gradually integrate Georgia into the EU’s internal market. This entails, as one element, creating a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between the EU and Georgia. Under Article 333 of the Association Agreement (Cooperation between the Parties in the field of agriculture and rural development), there is provision for ‘facilitating the mutual understanding of agricultural and rural development policies. This was the basis for the formulation of a the Ajara Rural Development Strategy (2016-2020) which benefits from funding under the European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD).

Within the framework of the third phase of ENPARD (ENPARD III), UNDP Georgia is implementing the project “Improving Rural Development in Georgia” (IRDG), lasting until December 2022. Its main purpose is to promote economic diversification for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth and development and creating employment and livelihoods in rural Georgia.

In its eight target municipalities - Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplistskaro, Kazbegi, Keda Khulo, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro- IRDG will attempt to instill a process from exogenous on the path to endogenous municipal development, among others, by emphasizing its principle of portfolio-based interventions and identifying seedbeds of regional growth poles or clusters. It will then develop these in close cooperation with other actors. Innovative ideas and business model innovations will be included in the selection. To achieve this objective, direct financial support (matching grants) and incentives will be provided through the Agricultural and Rural Development Management Agency (ARDA) of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) and through other channels.

Grants for business diversification are 50%, from 20,000 GEL up to 170,000 GEL co-financing volume, and for renewable energy/energy efficiency investments in business also 50%, from GEL 2,500 to GEL 30,000. Special grants for innovative start-ups and young people can be 60% and 80% co-financing, from GEL 2,500 to GEL 40,000. The application process follows two stages: In the first stage, applicants must submit a business model (business model canvas by Osterwalder) about their idea, which will be continuously evaluated. If approved, they then must submit a full business plan, which will be evaluated quarterly on a competitive base. Residents from all parts of Georgia will be invited to participate in the matching grants scheme, as long as the impact is predominantly made in one or more of the eight targeted municipalities. The goal is to receive many proposals of good quality, especially from women, youth, disabled, IDPs and other minorities.

To improve the quality of grant applications and the business performance of grant recipients, it was decided to offer group coaching services to interested individuals and entrepreneurs. These coaching services shall predominantly be group-based, backed by virtual coaching (e.g. email). Though group coaching sessions are open to all, preferably, women, youth, disabled and other minorities will be invited to participate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Group coaching as well as individual coaching services shall be provided on a demand driven base in the six municipalities of Akhalkalaki, Borjomi, Dedoplistskaro, Kazbegi, Lagodekhi and Tetritskaro (services for the municipalities located in Ajara A/R will be provided by a separate entity). The logistics and the invitation and selection of participants of group coaching sessions will be prepared by the local branches of ARDA, the Information and Communication Centers (ICCs) located in every municipality. The services expected by the consultant have two principal objectives:

Support applicants in the preparation of quality business models.
Support applicants in the preparation of quality business plans.
Support grant recipients in advancing their business.
Provide individual virtual coaching sessions to participants selected by the project.

To achieve the stated objectives, the following tasks shall be performed:

TASK 1: Workplan and methodology. Outline the approach to be used for each of the above objectives. This methodology will comprise essentials for the group composition, number of participants (minimum, maximum), frequency, duration per coaching session, requirements for the locations of coaching sessions and the coaching methodology used. The approach and methodology need to take explicit care of requirements of the project’s specific target groups: women, youth, disabled and otherwise excluded people.

TASK 2: Provide group coaching sessions based on a request, but at least

Business model development: One group coaching session every 6 weeks per municipality (about 3h and 12 participants per session).
Business plan development: Additionally, one group coaching session every 6 weeks per municipality (about 3h and 12 participants per session).
Business improvement: Additionally, one group coaching session every 6 weeks per municipality (about 3h and 12 participants per session, expected to be from 1.4.2020 onwards).

TASK 3: Provide up to 60 virtual one-to-one coaching sessions (e.g. by email or similar) to individuals (under 25 years of age).

TASK 4: Provide an intermediate and a final report consisting of:

Description of the methodology used and its suitability;
Participant profiles (e.g., age, sex, location, type of activity)
Key topics and problems per each group coaching sessions;
Key topics and problems of individual coachings;
Improvements/changes observed in coaching participants (if repeated) from session to session;
Lessons learned and concrete recommendations for improvement.

Note: At no moment shall the consultant replace the applicant’s efforts by writing or dictating business models or business plans. It must be taken care that the applicant will be the major contributor to those submissions and their full owner.

UNDP/IRDG will sporadically and on a random base evaluate the results achieved.

Deliverables and payments modality

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following main deliverables:

Deliverable 1: due by 24 January 2020; 10% of the consultancy fee

Workplan and methodology as described in TASK 1 under scope: a) Up to 12 group coaching sessions for business model development (2 per municipality)

Deliverable 2: due by 10 May 2020; 40% of the consultancy fee

Up to 12 group coaching sessions for business plan development (2 per municipality)
Up to 24 individual coaching sessions (about 2h per session (Level of effort))
Intermediate report

Deliverable 3: due by 10 August 2020; 50% of the consultancy fee

Up to 12 group coaching sessions for business model development (2 per municipality)
Up to 12 group coaching sessions for business plan development (2 per municipality)
Up to 12 group coaching sessions for business improvement (2 per municipality)
Up to 36 individual coaching sessions (about 2h per session (Level of effort))
Final report

The timely and high-quality submission of the deliverables is a pre-condition of the payments. The official language of communication and reporting for the present contract is English. Unless two or more group coaching session will be implemented back to back it is assumed that the coach will be able to travel to the municipality and return the same day.

Competencies

Core competencies

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional competencies

Shares knowledge and experience.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to undertake analytical work.
Proven ability to communicate and emphasize.

Leadership and Self-Management:

Focuses on result for the client and responses positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

At least Bachelor’s in economics, social sciences or other related discipline; Coaching certification acknowledged by the International Coach Federation (minimum qualification requirement: 5 points)

Experience

Proven record of at least 20 successfully conducted group coaching sessions for businesses in Georgia (minimum qualification requirement: 15 points)
Minimum 3 years practical business management or business finance related work experience (minimum qualification requirement: 8 points)
Work experience in Georgian rural areas or in community mobilization/ facilitation (6 points)
Work experience in business development training and/or other individual or group coaching (6 points)

Language requirements

Fluency in Georgian and English (both written and oral)

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis: Individual consultants will be evaluated against combination of technical and financial criteria. Technical evaluation stage encompasses desk review and interview of applications. Experts not meeting any of minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of candidates for further technical evaluation.

Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Technical criteria composed of desk review (40 points) and interview (30 points). Offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores of the desk review (i.e. 40 x 70% = 28 points as a result of a desk review of applications will be invited for the interview. Those offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores for interviews (i.e. 30x 70% = 21 points) will be considered as short-listed offerors and requested to provide financial proposals.

Financial Proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum. Payments are based upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposalIn order, to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.