Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners that can bring about results.

In Guinea-Bissau, failure to implement decentralization as foreseen by the Constitution, antiquated management systems, nepotism in the selection of senior civil servants, and dwindling resources, have rendered the public service ineffective. This leaves the State unable to provide high-quality services to citizens, especially at regional and sector levels, where the presence of the state is very week.

The UNDP program in Guinea Bissau aims to create the conditions for decentralization in the country building on lessons learned from other experiences, through the implementation of a Local Economic Development program. The main objective of this program is to assist the government to implement a participatory and inclusive local development planning processes, providing technical, institutional and financial support to enhance quality service delivery, and support local economic development promotion. The proposed approach on Local development in Guinea Bissau seeks to improve food and income security of targeted populations, especially youth and women affected by poverty and exclusion.

Guinea-Bissau is a small country with an immense potential for wealth creation and poverty eradication given its natural endowment. However, its economy is highly concentrated on the agricultural sector and, in this sector, there is a considerable dependence on the cashew cultivation, which represents 17% of the GDP and 95% of the country’s exportation.

The labor market in Guinea-Bissau, by its turn, does not offer diversified opportunities. The State represents the biggest formal employer, whilst the economic active population is distributed in general terms among a small private sector, informal jobs on the commerce sector or subsistence activities. Besides strengthening State capacity, this process aims to stimulate the growth of new economic opportunities at the local level through entrepreneurship, associativism and so on.

If we create an enabling environment where people are able to pursue their aspirations, it is possible to witness a dynamic that has very positive spillover effects for the whole society. As long as the proper support is provided, talents that are present at the local level can be stimulated in order to contribute to the community in a wide range of possibilities: improvement of existing associations or companies, creation of new enterprises, innovative and adapted solution to local problems, and so on.

It is important to highlight that some economic activities were already identified as potential levers for local development in the Region of Cacheu, such as: agriculture, fishing, tourism, beekeeping and cultural goods. In what refers to agriculture and the primary sector, the main contributor to Guinea-Bissau’s GDP, the following products can have a positive impact on wealth and jobs generation, as well as food security: rice, peanuts, cashew, palm wine, lime and beans. This consultancy will have access to all information raised during the diagnostic phase and must take it into account when elaborating their own deliverables.

The need to provide the proper support is reinforced if we analyze the positive impact that marginalized groups could have on society. Women, youth and people with disabilities do not fully participate in decision-making processes and their skills should find the right channels to promote social change that they have reasons to value. This aspect is recognized on the cadre of the Agenda 2063 from African Union. Adopted in 2015, this document includes as one of its priorities employment generation, especially the youth and females.

Guinea-Bissau is also signatory of the Sustainable Development Goals, whose 8th Goal is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all and the respective target 8.3 encourages the promotion of development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The above international commitments further reinforce the attention that entrepreneurship and employment generation at the local level deserves.  Therefore, for a country like Guinea-Bissau that has most of its population living in rural areas, with their livelihoods dependent on agriculture and forestry, any local economic development program strategy should tackle issues such as economic diversification and empowerment of vulnerable groups. This will allow the program to design realistic local development plan and economic value that takes these factors into account.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the CTA, the consultancy team will be responsible for:

Expected Deliverables:

The international consultant is expected to deliver the following products:

• Inception Report outlining how the consultant will undertake the assignment and the respective work plan, and suggestion for ToRs adjustment if need be
• The comprehensive diagnostic study on entrepreneurship in the Region of Cacheu region that includes economic activities such as agriculture, beekeeping, fishing, tourism, cultural goods, among others – in collaboration with the national consultant
• Comprehensive assessment on the feasibility of the implementation of a Business Incubator and its expected potential in generating jobs, associativism and promoting local development
• Budget and business plan for the Business Incubator
• Strategy and action plan for the implementation of a Business Incubator
• Restitution/validation workshops for the results held at the Sector and Regional levels – in collaboration with the national consultant

The national consultant is expected to deliver the following products:

• Inception Report outlining how the consultant will undertake the assignment and the respective work plan, and suggestion for ToRs adjustment if need be
• The comprehensive diagnostic study on entrepreneurship in the Region of Cacheu region that includes economic activities such as agriculture, beekeeping, fishing, tourism, cultural goods, among others – in collaboration with the international consultant
• Directory of local companies and organizations involved in the identified economic activities
• Identification of partners capable of supporting the Business Incubator in different aspects: managerial and entrepreneurial skills, provision of facilities and utilities
• Restitution/validation workshops for the results held at the Sector and Regional levels – in collaboration with the international consultant

In order to deliver the above products, the consultant is expected to perform the following activities:

• Review the studies and actions already carried out on entrepreneurship in Guinea-Bissau (e.g. Desafio GB)
• Review the diagnostic carried out during the implementation of the LED process in the Region of Cacheu
• Diagnose the existing companies and organizations that may benefit from a Business Incubator
• Identify organizations capable of being potential partners of the Business Incubator on different domains (managerial and entrepreneurial skills, provision of facilities and utilities)
• Identify needs for promotion, capacity building related to entrepreneurship
• Consider all the economic activities deemed to have a positive impact in local development (agriculture, beekeeping, fishing, tourism, cultural goods, among others) and collect all the data from their relevant stakeholders, such as Local Administration, local businesses and associations, World Bank, and so on
• Analysis of women's, youth and people with disabilities’ involvement in entrepreneurship; Focus on fostering entrepreneurial and associative skills of marginalized groups: women, youth and people with disabilities and identify gender specific issues, needs and barriers faced by female and male entrepreneurs in developing their businesses (legal, socio-economic and cultural constraints, lack of access to resources, education, technology, finance, etc).
• Propose the strategic elements that will enable the implementation of a Business Incubator in the Region of Cacheu
• Develop a strategy and an action plan for the implementation of a Business Incubator including innovative or adapted technologies and operations tools for the proposed Business Incubator
• Present a budget and business plan for the Business Incubator - Resourcing: model the potential financial and resourcing requirements for the incubator (including implications for incubator reach, impact, and potential for catalyzing funding)
• Identify key risks and mitigation approaches, i.e. political and corruption risks and operational risks due to the country situation?
• Hold participatory and inclusive workshops at the regional level with the main stakeholders for gathering data and validation purposes
• Working closely with the LED international consultant, Regional Focal Point and Regional Delegate of Planning to ensure a participatory approach of consultation and validation of results

Competencies

Competencies: 

Organizational Competencies:

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

Functional:

• Proven experience in terms of strategy work related to the design and feasibility of incubators and/or blended finance facilities with a focus on social enterprises, sustainable agribusinesses,renewable energies etc
• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products,
• Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of the Development or knowledge management field.

Project and Resource Management:

• Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs.
• Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.
• Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Partnership building and team work:

• Demonstrated well developed people management skills.
• Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff.
• Excellent negotiating and networking skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment.
• Provides constructive coaching and feedback.

Communications and Advocacy:

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly.
• Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences.
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly.
• Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.      

Required Skills and Experience

International consultant

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Business and Administration, Economy, Sociology, Development Studies or another related field
• Graduate Degree in Business and Administration, Economy, Sociology, Development Studies or another related field

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of national/international professional experience in the practice area with policy or program
• Experience working in the field of Knowledge Management and/or organizational management highly desirable
• Work experience from a developing country highly desirable
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages as well as web-based management systems
• Excellent writing, research, analysis and presentation skills
• Any preference in knowledge or expertise in the following areas (please be specific):
• Local development
• African continent
• Programme implementation vs. policy level

National consultant

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Business and Administration, Economy, Sociology, Development Studies or another related field

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of national/international professional experience in the practice area with policy or program
• Experience working in the field of Knowledge Management and/or organizational management highly desirable.
• Work experience from a developing country highly desirable
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages as well as web-based  management systems
• Excellent writing, research, analysis and presentation skills
• Any preference in knowledge or expertise in the following areas (please be specific):
• Local development
• African continent
• Programme implementation vs. policy level.

Language Requirement:

• Excellent knowledge of Portuguese is a requirement. Good knowledge of English and/or French will be an advantage.

Financial Proposal* - specifying a daily rate in USD and, if applicable, a lump sum for round-trip travel costs to join duty station/repatriation travel.

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. rent of dwelling, fee, health insurance, vaccination, visa costs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged costs (except of the unforeseen travel costs for missions, if any) must be included in the financial proposal. Unforeseen travel costs for missions, if any, will be paid separately according to UNDP rules and regulations.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the shortlisted candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

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.

Additional Questions: (Three more questions are allowed other than the two mandatory questions below)

• Explain why you think you are the most suitable candidate for this work? (Mandatory)
• Please provide your consultancy daily fee in USD (Mandatory)

For terms of reference, go to:  http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=49999.