Consultant – Baseline Study at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.

Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant – Baseline Study on Investing in Rural Agro-Based Communal Storage and Processing Facilities

Location: Nigeria
Additional Category: Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: International Consultant
Languages Required: English
Starting Date: 06-Apr-2021 (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
Duration of Initial Contract: 45 working days within seven (7) months
Expected Duration of Assignment: 45 working days within seven (7) months

Background

• The role of agriculture in the attainment of food security, foreign exchange earnings, industrial inputs provision, employment generation and poverty alleviation cannot be over emphasized. The agricultural sector contributed about 22.12% to the Nigeria gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019, and served as a source of income for 70% of the population (NBS, 2019) with a significant number of rural residents depending on agriculture as a major occupation.
• However, the economic potentials of the agriculture sector are severely undermined by post-harvest losses and low/poor processing level for agricultural produce. Post-harvest losses occur during harvesting handling, packaging, pressing and storage of agricultural produce, largely due to the lack of modern storage and processing facilities in the country. Survey carried out on post-harvest food losses in some communities in Nigeria revealed that as much as 20 – 30% of total grain production and 30 – 50% of root and tubers, with a substantial amount lost during storage.
• Thus, investments in the provision of modern storage and processing facilities in rural communities where these produces are cultivated would help minimize post – harvest losses and spark numerous economic benefits arising from the improved storage and processing of local agricultural produce. Moreover, investing in agricultural value chain through investment in modern communal storage and processing facilities in the rural community is one of the most effective ways of promoting agricultural productivity, empowering rural dwellers, and reducing hunger and poverty

Objective:

• The objective of the overall project is to foster communal infrastructure investment, with focus on the provision of modern storage and processing facilities in rural areas for expanding agricultural value chain. This is aimed at achieving food security, enhancing job-creation and poverty alleviation for the rural poor (especially economically active youth and women), and developing the rural economy for inclusive growth.

Target:

• Rural-based women, men and youths who are economically active and involved in production of perishable goods (both food and cash crops) e.g., tomatoes, potatoes, banana, plantain, onions, vegetables, pepper, fruits – pawpaw, mangoes, oranges, etc.) as well as other agricultural produce that need value addition.

Coverage:

• The 36 states in Nigeria with focus on 20 rural communities in each state, giving a total of 720 rural communities in Nigeria.

Appropriate Channel / Structure of use:

• Apex Cooperatives with branches and networks in the 36 states and 774 local governments such as Cooperative Financing Agency of Nigeria (CFAN) and Nigerian Women Cooperative Alliance (NIWCOFA). Others include NIRSAL Microfinance Bank and the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc., for fund disbursement and utilization monitoring.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

• As the first stage of this project, a baseline study will be conducted. This will entail an assessment of agricultural activities, structure and organization of farmers and labour, status of existing storage and processing facilities, communal infrastructure needs of farming communities, challenges in the storage and processing of agricultural produce in farming communities across the 36 states plus the federal capital territory (FCT) and its local government areas.
• The consultant, under the leadership of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country team will carry out the baseline study. The consultant will develop a methodology that will include but will not be limited to the development of questionnaires to be administered virtually and/or physically, site visits, interviews and desk reviews. Major stakeholders including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Development Finance Officers, as well as state focal persons will be identified to collectively provide support to refine methodology, validate data collection templates, and conduct data collection. Also, relevant Federal Ministries and agencies will be contacted for information including ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development; Industry, Trade and Investment; Science and Technology; Environment; National Food Safety Management Committee under National Policy on Food Safety and Implementation Strategy (NPFSIS). The consultant will conduct the analysis of data collected and develop a report to be submitted for validation.
• The report will be validated by UNDP project team as well as the CBN Development Finance Department (DFD).

Responsibilities:

• The consultant will work under the guidance of the Nigeria United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country office and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Development Finance Department (DFD) in conducting the baseline study. Activities include but are not limited to the following:

Strategy Planning and Data Collection:

• Prepare and submit strategy outline for the Baseline Study on Investing in Rural Agro-Based Communal Storage and Processing Facilities in Nigeria for approval.
• Identify other Ministries and institutions involved in food storage/safety activities as well as liaise with them for useful information and data.
• Identify possible conflict of proposed project with the enabling laws and powers of other institutions involved in food storage activities as well as recommendations on how to foster co-operation amongst all stakeholders concerned with food safety/storage.
• Identify existing communal agro-based storage and processing facilities across the country.
• Develop, distribute and retrieve questionnaires or survey instrument to stakeholders on any existing storage and processing facilities in the rural areas.
• Involve the UNDP and DFDs in the branches of CBN across the country to carry out some aspects of the assignments, whenever the need arises.

 Data Analysis:

• Highlight the status, challenges and milestones of communal agro-based storage and processing facilities in the 36 States plus FCT and 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
• Identify challenges for scaling up storage facilities including access to capital, construction risks and practices, and fluctuations in prices and exchange rates, among others.
• Enumerate targeted focal commodities, scope and coverage as well as the legal status, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders to be engaged with in the process.
• Identify the type and number of storage and processing facilities as well as other equipment and structural facilities needed per community.
• Identify the cost implications of the needed storage and processing facilities as well as other equipment and structural facilities.
• Prepare and submit draft Baseline Study Report to CBN and UNDP.
• Address comments and submit final Baseline Study Report to the Management of CBN and UNDP.

Others:

• Attend meetings and workshops related to the project.
• Present the findings of the analysis at stakeholder consultative meetings.
• Any other ad-hoc duties that may be assigned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with regards to the assignment.

Expected Output and Deliverables
The following are the expected outputs of this assignment:

• Approved Strategy outline for Baseline Study
• Questionnaires or survey instrument (for different stakeholders)
• Results of Questionnaires or survey instrument (for different stakeholders)
• Draft Baseline Study Report
• Final Baseline Study Report

Terms of Payment

Deliverable 1:

• Approved Strategy outline and survey instruments for Baseline Study
• Amount paid: 25% of the fee
• Tentative time of payment: 30 April 2021

Deliverable 2:

• Results of Questionnaires or survey instrument
• Amount paid: 25% of the fee
• Tentative time of payment :31 June 2021

Deliverable 3:

• Draft Baseline Study Report
• Amount paid: 25% of the fee
• Tentative time of payment: 30 September 2021.

Deliverable 4:

• Final Baseline Study Report
• Amount paid: 25% of the fee
• Tentative time of payment: 31 October 2021

Cost of internal travel within Nigeria for site visits, if and when necessary, will be considered and accommodated by UNDP.

Duty Station

• The consultancy will be based in Nigeria (home-based). The consultant should be available for travel within Nigeria and for virtual meetings.

Institutional Arrangement:

• The consultant will work under the overall leadership/oversight of the UNDP Nigeria Country Office and a close working relationship with the Central Bank of Nigeria and its Development Finance Department throughout the assignment period. The point of contact is Senior Economic Advisor, UNDP.

Price Proposal:

• The consultant will be paid a lumpsum fee based on the stated deliverables.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

• Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
• 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;
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.

Competencies
Core Competencies:

• Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision, and values
• Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age differences
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty
• Self-starter, proven ability to work independently and in an entrepreneurial setting.
• Strong motivation and ability to work and deliver under pressure and short deadlines.
• Good interpersonal skills and able to coordinate well with UNDP partner agencies.
• Proficiency in Excel.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in and outside UNDP; and
• Respectful of the mandates and roles of different partners, particularly government supported institutions and is able to build and sustain productive and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues and partners across organizations, while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: being able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, being able to work independently, being pro-active and taking initiatives

Required Skills and Experience
Educational Qualification:

• The consultant must possess a minimum of Masters degree in economics, development economics or related field. A PhD is preferable.

Work Experience:

• The consultant will possess minimum of 10years work experience in agriculture-related work area, including storage and processing;
• Experience in development/public policy;
• Experience in research and data analysis;
• Experience in report writing of similar projects;
• Demonstrate or provide evidence of conducting similar work;
• Good knowledge of development of economic and policy frameworks, development cooperation and risk management;
• Good drafting, substantive editing and reviewing ability of policy/research documents;
• Previous work experience with UNDP/ World Bank, IMF, European Union and other development agency is an asset.

Language:

• Excellent written and spoken English is required.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Educational Qualifications (20 Marks)
• Professional Qualifications and Certifications (30 Marks)
• Experience implementing similar assignment in the past (50 Marks)

Upon assessment, only candidates with a total score of 70 marks or above out of 100 marks would be considered to be suitable for the position and will be contacted for the next stage of the selection process.

Application Closing Date
29th April, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online