UNDP Jobs - 74688- Expert on Capacity Building of Local Action Groups

Expert on Capacity Building of Local Action Groups (LAGs)

Location :

Home based, with up to 8 travel missions to Sukhumi, GEORGIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Jan-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 63 days during 7 months with up to 8 mission to Sukhumi

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 main objective of the Joint EU-UNDP Rural Development Programme is to establish flexible, strategic mechanisms to build critical organizational and human resource capacities across Abkhazia’s 7 districts. This initiative will coordinate development initiatives across districts, engage and empower local rural communities and organizations to contribute to designing and implementing district-specific rural development strategies, and enable a bottom-up response to various local challenges, issues, and priorities.

The project strives to achieve 3 outputs:

Establish a “Center for Agriculture and Rural Development” (CARD) to coordinate rural development initiatives across all 7 districts of Abkhazia and provide technical, consultative and referral support and coordination services to beneficiaries and rural communities.
Establish 3 Local Action Groups (LAGs) through mobilizing stakeholder support, identifying potential group leaders and building their capacities; create meeting spaces; empower local populations to articulate their needs and rural development opportunities and to prepare district-specific development strategies and projects.
Establish policy and technical basis for the development of a forest health program comprising: prevention of the introduction of new forest pests, early detection of new invasive species; control and management of established forest pests.

This project is implemented within the framework of the ENPARD. It’s is a European Union Programme, which aims to promote inclusive growth and stability in the neighbourhood (including e.g. Moldova, Armenia). It recognizes the potential importance of agriculture in terms of food security, sustainable production and rural employment. Within the ENPARD framework, this project will take stock of best practices and lessons learned across Europe over the past decade, in particular the LEADER concept adopted by EU countries. For the Abkhazia component, ENPARD II is aiming to support small-scale agricultural development and the diversification of the rural economy, with a view to improving living conditions and access to basic services in rural areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Assessment of capacities of LAGs;
Capacity training of LAG leaders and members, as well as partner NGOs;
Support in designing 3 district-specific strategic plans for rural development in Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira districts.

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, and in coordination with the Programme Officer and Community Coordinator Specialist, the Expert on Local Action Groups (LAGs capacity building will provide services of capacity building and mentoring to Local action groups in Gudauta, Ochamchira and Gagra districts. It is expected that as a result of incumbent’s work the Local Action Groups will be fully prepared to discuss, adopt and implement local development strategies. The assignment envisages that the Expert on Local Action Groups will support the design of the structure of the LAGs (leaders, members, internal rules of operation), identify their strategic development priorities while also establishing a mechanism through which sustainable rural development strategies and initiatives may be developed and implemented at the local level. The major tasks and responsibilities of the incumbent shall include, but not be limited to:

Carry out initial assessment of LAGs in Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira districts (brief overview and understanding of skills and capacities of leaders, members, training needs etc.)
Holding meetings with LAG members about project goals and approaches (as well as other meetings, as required);
Provide customized training programs based on the assessment of the technical and management needs of the LAG and an assessment of the skills and qualifications of the LAG management group (leaders) and members;

The methodology and process approach to be used should be based on the following principles:

Interactive approach: active involvement by the participants throughout the consultancy;
Enabling participants to share their feedback and enquiries;
Responding to the clients’ needs.

The training topics will be defined after the initial assessment. Preliminarily trainings topics will include: Rural Development Strategy Awareness Training, Training in Community-Led Local Development in Practice: The relationship between strategy, partnership and area; Training in Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills; Training on development of the Local Development Strategy; Training on Effective Communication; Project Proposal Writing Training Course. The detailed plan of each training will be discussed with and approved by the Programme manager.

Carry out other trainings which address to any skills gaps to ensure a sustainable approach to both organizational and operational management of LAGs. Particular focus should be given to building up competencies in local development planning and implementation;
Support capacity building of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which carry out daily community mobilization work within the Project
Supporting the design of prioritization documents (district specific rural development plans/community-led strategic plans);
Provide advisory services to the project to ensure that strategic planning processes is participatory and inclusive, ensuring that voices of all key stakeholders are heard in the decision-making process. Strategic planning should consider specific needs of women in rural areas, and should focus both on economic diversification of territories, as well agriculture;
Support UNDP in the effective implementation of all project activities related to establishment, coordination and development of LAGs (Local Action Groups) in targeted districts (Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira);
Collaborate with CARD experts in developing and providing services for beneficiaries (LAG members etc.).

It is essential that the expert possesses in-depth understanding and experience with the LEADER approach applied in the European Union. The incumbent need to be able to flexibly translate LEADER approach to Abkhazia context.

Deliverables:

Carrying out a basic assessment of capacities of LAGs (management and members) (during first mission to Abkhazia);
No less than 21 capacity building events (7 per each of 3 targeted LAGs) conducted. This will be achieved through 7 missions/visits to Abkhazia – each visit will include a capacity building event for all targeted Local Action Groups (e.g. LAG structure and decision-making process, participatory local economic development – principles and advantages, strategic planning skills (e.g. SWOT analysis, SMART goals, results-based planning etc.). The each visit is 5 working days;
3 district specific strategic plans for rural development in Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira districts supported – work from home, as well as additional working days and possible additional visit to Abkhazia.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies:

He/she should have strong communication and analytical skills;
Proven strong professional abilities and knowledge in local economic development and institution building and service delivery;
Ability of interpretation, development and analyses of related documentation;
Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines;
A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
IT literacy;
Ability to collect field data
Ability to produce analytical reports/assessments in written;
Good communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least Master’s Degree or equivalent in Agriculture Sciences, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Administration/Public or Development Policy, Business Administration or related fields (minimum requirement: Master's degree - 7 points; Ph.D. - additional 3 points).

Experience:

At least 7 years of professional experience in rural development and its related issues, agriculture and non-agriculture sectors development (minimum requirement: 7 years - 14 points (depending on intensity of experience; international exposure etc.); 7 - 10 years - additional 3 points (depending on nature of expertise, relevance, international nature of work etc.); more than 10 years – additional 3 points);
At least 5 years of experience in capacity building by providing a variety of trainings on local development, with specific focus on capacity building for community-led local development strategies. Proven record of application of LEADER approach to rural context (minimum requirement: 5 years - 14 points; more than 5 years – additional 6 points);
Demonstrated success in providing technical advice on the rural development related issues in the context of multiple stakeholders;
Experience of working with Government and or international organizations and international NGOs preferably on rural development policy related issues.

Language Requirements:

Excellent command of English. Working knowledge of the Russian language is a strong asset.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative scoring analysis, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Technical evaluation stage encompasses desk review of offers and interviews. Offerors not meeting any of minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of offerors for further technical evaluation. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review and interview) equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores as a result of desk review (i.e. 50 x 70% = 35 points) will be considered as short-listed Offerors, and will be invited to the interview. Those offerors passing 70% threshold of maximum obtainable scores as a result of the technical evaluation (desk review and interview), i.e. obtain minimum 49 points will be shortlisted and requested to provide financial proposal.

Financial Proposal:

Short-listed Offerors will be requested to provide financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, DSA, etc.).

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP will not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.The financial proposal shall be based on lump-sum amount (with indication of specific sub-components of the payment, including daily fee, travel costs, living allowance etc.). The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all cost components required to perform the deliverables identified in TOR.

Payment will be made in three installments upon satisfactory completion and submission of the respective deliverable and approval by the Programme manager.

The first installment will be provided after the experts finalizes the brief assessment and conducts 2 out of 7 trainings.
The second installment will be paid after total 5 trainings are implemented.
The final installment will be paid after all 7 trainings are carried out and district-specific strategic plans are finalized.

Description of deliverables, timelines and corresponding percentage of payment due per output:

Analysis of the project document and preparatory conversation with Programme Manager (from home); draft of initial structure of the Assessment Report: 1 day
7 visits – 5 days each to provide capacity building trainings for LAG leaders and members; 35 working days. Up to additional 10 days of work (during abovementioned 7 visits) to conduct brief assessment of capacities of LAGs, as well as to respond to contingent needs of LAGs and UNDP (e.g. on-site work with LAGs on the design of development strategies). It is envisaged that LAG members will receive one training per month. It is envisaged that during the first trip (which will be preliminarily for 8-10 working days), additional two days will be dedicated to developing the tailored draft capacity building programme – 2 working days.
Support to design of local development strategy by 3 LAGs in Gagra, Gudauta and Ochamchira – 15 working days – (preliminarily 10 days of work from home, with one possible visit to Abkhazia for 5 days).

Accordingly, the financial proposal should be submitted for the 63 days of fee-paid expert work (and envisaged estimated up to 52 days of stay in Abkhazia; the living allowance is paid only for days the consultant stayed in Abkhazia). The financial proposal should consider up to 8 trips to Abkhazia (the final payment will be made on the basis of trips carried out).