Background

The Government of Uttarakhand has to reduce poverty by building strong institutions of the poor particularly the women under the DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission) the flagship program of Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. The current Technical Support project to the Department of Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand is conceived to provide Sustainable Livelihood Approach that focusses on securing adequate and decent livelihoods that contribute to the wellbeing of people not only through income security but also by creating strong coping mechanisms that mitigate the vulnerabilities that the poor face. The programme consists of a comprehensive set of capacity building initiatives to strengthen the community institutions coupled with a range of support services to ensure the viability of the economic activities undertaken by the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations to include access to credit and financial services, business incubation and productivity enhancement services, business and financial management skills, livelihood or enterprise support, market linkage, etc.

The state governments are mandated to set up dedicated Mission Management Units at the state, district and village/community level for the effective implementation of the NRLM scheme.  The mission provides regular hand-holding support to SHG/federations for a period of 5-7 years.  At the end of a fully implementation cycle the SHGs/federations are well prepared to become resource institutions at the community level for providing evidence and support to other social initiatives.  The programme focuses on agenda of inclusion of the poorest of the poor through transformation of the groups of rural women into empowered, self-reliant community organizations consisting of four stages of development (i) social mobilization, community institution and capacity building; (ii) financial inclusion; (iii) livelihood promotion/skill building; and (iv) convergence as clearly defined in the NRLM scheme document. 

In order to operationalize the Project, UNDP is currently in the process of recruiting District Thematic Experts to support the nodal agency (State Government). The experts would be placed with the NRLM office/ Rural Development Department in each of 13 districts in Uttarakhand.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions: The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results will have an impact on poor and marginalized sections of the community and help in reducing poverty.

• To  help DMM to ensure coordination in respective specialized field. this broadly includes:
  1. Resource Management for Training to Community.
  2. Facilitating for livelihood activity management and market linkages.
  3. Facilitation in preparing the Micro Credit plan and consolidating the same.
  4.  Handholding the block unit on VO strengthening.
  5. Support in implementation of all NRLM components like IBCB/FI/Livelihoods/Marketing and skill development

• To extend desired cooperation to District Mission Manager (DMM) in the implementation of NRLM at District level
• All works related to implementation of all components of NRLM IBCB/FI/Livelihood/Marketing/and Skill Development
• All other such works related to NRLM which shall be assigned by appropriate authority from time to time
• Regular Reporting as per the set protocols to CEO/COO/ACEO/functional head/s at SMMU
• Streamlining linkages with financial institutions,
• Developing Capacity Building Plans for Bank Sakhis
• Developing Capacity Building Plans for Bank officials
• Developing, in coordination with BMMs Bank Credit Linkage Plan for SHGs
• Coordinating with BMMs for achievement of Bank Credit Linkage Plan
• Supervising the compliance of decisions taken at the BLBC
• Preparing, in coordination with BMMs schedule for SHG Bank Account opening days at various Bank branches (once a month)
• Financial management and conflict resolution to block units.
• Timely reporting, review and supervision of task.
• To send Monthly Report on Financial Inclusion Format to SMMU by 1st of every month.
• Work towards ensuring reach of affordable cost- effective reliable financial services to the SHGs/their federations. These financial services include –

1. Financial literacy
2. Bank account
3. Savings
4. Credit
5. Insurance
6. Remittance
7. Pension, and,
8. Counseling on financial services.

To be willing to work in any district assigned by the CEO/COO and to undertake travel as and when required

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Should have exposure to social mobilization processes. tools and techniques.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Excellent analytical skills particularly with social processes.
• Good communication and drafting skills

Management and Leadership

• Ability to work in a team and train staff on the job on social mobilization tools

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Essential Competencies:

• Demonstrated willingness to work on poverty issues and the affected community
• Suitable orientation to work with the deprived sections in the rural areas, vulnerability and livelihoods
• Specific domain understanding

Desirable Skills

• Management &Leadership skills
• Mentoring &Mobilization skills
• Communication, Training, Presentation &Language skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• PG Degree /Diploma in Forestry/Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Social Science/Social Work/Rural Management and related fields from a recognised University/Institute.

Experience:

• work experience of 2+ years in related field

Language:

• Proficiency in Hindi & English-both speaking and writing
•  Proficiency  in computer skills

Duration of the Work:

• The contract will be awarded for one year initially. Working days will be as per the State Government policy.

Travel:

• Travel within the state and districts would be required.

Schedule of Payments:

• Consolidated Annual Consultancy Fee (Remuneration) of Rs 4,20,000/- (@Rs. 35,000/- per month) payable in equal monthly instalments, upon submission of monthly progress report certified by the reporting officer.

Institutional Arrangement:

• Contract will be administered by UNDP on behalf of the State Government of Uttarakhand;
• The consultant would report to CEO/COO SRLM , Government of Uttarakhand;
• All the logistic support related official travel will be borne by the Government of Uttarakhand as per their prevailing rules;
• Consultant will be entitled for 2 days leave per month (non-encashable).
• The incumbent will arrange to procure his/her own laptop. A monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 will be provided seperately for the laptop along with the remuneration. 

Documentation required:

• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Preliminary shortlisting would be done based on the following criteria:

• Educational Qualification 20 Marks;
• Relevant Experience 35 Marks;
• Suitability for the assignment 15 Marks.

Those who obtain a minimum of 70% of total 70 marks above will be eligible to appear for the interview. 

Interview for the shortlisted candidates would be either conducted face to face in Dehradun or by telephone / over skype. If face to face interviews are conducted, travel costs will be borne by the shortlisted Consultants. The contract shall be awarded on a merit basis. 

Note - Please ensure that all the documents to be uploaded should be combined in a single PDF file before uploading as

the system has provision of uploading only one document.

For any clarifications, please write to: ic.india@undp.org