Closing date: Sunday, 5 September 2021

Individual Consultant - Climate Smart Agriculture Expert

Location : Harare, ZIMBABWE

Application Deadline : 05-Sep-21

(Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

15-Sep-2021

Duration of Initial Contract : 120 working days over 1 year

Expected Duration of Assignment : 120 working days over 1 year

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

BACKGROUND / PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Zimbabwe received funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the project entitled "Building climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural livelihoods in southern Zimbabwe" The objective of the proposed project is to strengthen resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities, particularly women, in southern Zimbabwe in the face of increasing climate risks and impacts. The project will contribute to the following GCF Fund-level impacts for adaptation: 1.0 "Increased resilience and enhanced livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, communities and regions" and 2.0 "Increased resilience of health and well-being, and food and water security" for vulnerable smallholder communities in southern Zimbabwe.

The project outcome will strengthen the adaptive capacities of vulnerable smallholder farmers, especially women, to climate change induced impacts on their agro-ecosystems and livelihoods. Implemented through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement (MoLAFWRR) in partnership with UNDP for 7 years from June 2020 to May 2027, the project intervention builds the climate resilience of vulnerable agriculture livelihoods initially with 6,900 dryland and 630 irrigation lead farmers in 15 districts across three provinces of Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland South through the following strategic components:

Increasing access to water for climate-resilient agriculture through climate-resilient irrigation systems and efficient water resource management;

Increasing access to climate-resilient inputs and practices, as well as stronger market linkages;

Improving access to weather, climate, and hydrological information for climate-resilient agriculture.

The project aims to enhance the water security for smallholder farmers in light of evolving climate risks by enabling revitalization and climate-proofing of irrigation schemes and improving water use efficiency and enhancing soil moisture management on rain-fed lands. It will strengthen the capacities of vulnerable smallholder farmers through Farmer Field Schools and peer-to-peer support to scale up climate-resilient agriculture, with access to resilient inputs, markets, and actionable climate information.

Against this background, the project seeks the support of a part time qualified and self-motivated national Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) expert. The expert with experience and/or knowledge of climate adaptation options in efficient water resources management for both small holder irrigation and dry land farmers will guide the project team in championing interventions that will increase productivity and enhance climate change resilience. The CSA expert will support the adaptive capacity of the small holder farmers in light of the evolving climate risks through improving water use efficiency, enhancing soil moisture management on both irrigated & rain-fed lands including use of renewable energy technologies.

He or she will support smallholder farmers with market strategies for adopting climate adaptation inputs and practices, including crop diversification, improved dryland agricultural practices, and climate-resilient crop and livestock breeds facilitated through the project established multi-stakeholder Innovation Platforms.

The CSA expert will build and co-ordinate ongoing public and private sector support to climate-resilient smallholder production, value chain co-ordination and market access. Such collaboration will include Farmer Field Schools (technical assistance for agencies and farmers), production contracts (farmers, suppliers, buyers, micro-credit providers), and participatory innovative development of climate smart production practices through small holder farmers, agencies and research institutions.

The Climate Smart Expert will therefore guide all climate smart practices including capacity building of farmers and relevant institutions, development of value chains and promotion of climate smart innovations in close collaboration with existing Government and other partners` climate smart initiatives.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main objective of this assignment is to provide technical climate smart agriculture expert support in the management of the small holder climate resilient irrigation and rain fed farmlands on field-based technology investments for climate resilient water management. Such support includes building and co-ordinating ongoing public and private sector support to climate-resilient smallholder production, value chain co-ordination and market access through Farmer Field Schools, innovation platforms, Irrigation Management Committees, and small holder farmers constitutions establishment and enhancement.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

The CSA expert will be responsible for the development/refining, deployment and monitoring of value chain based climate smart packages, overall co-ordination , management and capacity building of climate smart agricultural practices across the project`s three outputs as well as dealing with climate risks and climate proofing value chains from production through to marketing, capturing lessons learnt from complementary sectors and facilitation of multi-sectoral initiatives and investments to adapt to climate change. His/her tasks will be divided into the core areas defined under scope of work below, will work with 6,900 lead farmers, 21 Irrigation Management Committees, 251 Farmer Field Schools and 5 innovation platforms, in close collaboration with the PMU, AGRITEX, Department of Irrigation and project identified research institutions.

The consultant's work will also incorporate cross cutting issues such as social and environmental safeguards and climate related gender sensitive issues in liaison with the project resilience advisor, irrigation and safeguards experts, gender specialist, and the project Responsible Parties.

Broad functions to be performed by the CSA Expert include:

Peer review, deploy and testing of a draft climate smart farmer field school training manual with specified standards in consultation with the Project Management Unit (PMU) and Agritex;

Develop value chain-based CSA packages, deploy and monitor their implementation in the project selected districts;

Capacity building of the Responsible Partners and small holder farmers on scaling up climate resilient agricultural production and diversification through increased access to climate resilient inputs, practices, and markets;

Upgrading data collection sharing platforms and protocols for knowledge management on climate resilient agricultural systems

Produce quarterly CSA practice implementation status reports;

Participate in national dialogues on CSA to share knowledge and best practice from the project

More specifically:

Providing effective expert support in all stages of climate smart agriculture practices and packages deployment for both the irrigation and dry land small holder farmers working with the Department of Irrigation and AGRITEX.

Conduct a capacity needs assessment and develop a capacity development strategy to address knowledge and technical gaps for the adoption of climate smart initiatives;

Provide technical assistance in the peer review of a draft Farmer Field School manual with minimum standard requirements for CSA practices and business development for the irrigation and dry land small holder farmers;

Facilitate participatory training workshops and on-site assistance by lead farmers to facilitate farmer to farmer learning to scale up implementation of climate resilient water resource management;

Facilitate the procurement process and installation by farmers of technologies to implement climate resilient water resource management in rainfed farmlands;

Develop and conduct training on water resource efficient management to the irrigation committees.

Technical assistance in scaling up climate resilient agricultural production and diversification through increased access to climate resilient inputs, practices and markets.

Develop value chain based CSA packages for deployment, demonstration and training in the project selected districts;

Assist in the organisation and operationalisation of 251 Farmer field schools for promotion of climate resilient agriculture in 15 districts in consultation with the Department of Agritex;

Conduct field-based training of rain fed and irrigation lead farmers in 251 Farmer field schools in rainwater harvesting, soil moisture management techniques and water efficiency practices;

Perform field monitoring /on-site visits, upon implementation of the CRA practices in line with the training manual;

Prepare Terms of References (ToR) for recruitment or engagement of an innovation platform consultant to support the establishment of transformative multistakeholder innovation platforms for diversified climate resilient agriculture and markets.

Enhancement of institutional co-ordination and knowledge management capacities for climate resilient agricultural production in the face of climate hazards.

Upgrade data collection & sharing platforms and protocols for knowledge management on climate resilient agricultural system and livelihoods across knowledge centres in participating agricultural colleges and research centers in liaison with the innovation platforms consultant;

Support the generation, codification and exchange of knowledge across agricultural colleges and research centres for climate resilient agriculture;

Document all good CRA practices for upscaling;

Support in sharing knowledge in sectoral or national platforms.

Technical support to enhance diversification of climate resilient agriculture and markets

Develop crop specific production and market strategies for use by all relevant value chain actors for climate resilient production and market access;

Promote agricultural value chains and link farmers to markets;

Provide technical assistance to facilitate and formalise public-private partnerships across value chain actors to upscale climate resilient agricultural markets.

Cross cutting issues

Closely work with the project Technical working group for consensus in the implementation of identified and agreed CRA practices;

Liaise closely with respective Responsible Partners providing technical guidance on CRA practices managed by each of the Responsible Partners under the project to assigned sector staff;

Liaise closely with the procurement specialist, gender specialist, environmental & social safeguard expert, irrigation expert, Project Resilience advisor and innovation platforms consultant to ensure smooth implementation of all climate resilient agricultural practices;

Prepare quarterly status reports for projects climate smart milestones under implementation.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

While deliverables for subsequent years will be negotiated according to performance and the agreed work programme of climate smart practices implementation and evolution, deliverables for year 1 are defined below. A total of 120 days will be allocated each year.

Year 1 deliverables within 120 days are as follows:

Inception report covering the approach, methodology and clear work schedule;

Tags access to water adaptive capacity agricultural production business development capacity development climate change climate change adaptation climate resilience climate risk climate smart crop diversification data collection dryland environmental sciences ethics farmer field school fisheries green climate fund knowledge management livestock local communities market access needs assessment participatory poverty reduction procurement project management project manager public private partnerships renewable energy research centres resettlement soil moisture state government sustainable development transparency value chain water management water resources water security

Develop project identified value chain-based climate smart packages for deployment, demonstration and monitoring of the irrigation and dryland lead farmers;

Peer review, deploy and test the draft climate smart farmer field school training manual including the CSA packages through conducting field-based training of lead rain fed farmers in 230 FFS on climate resilient agriculture practices. (3 sessions over a year for each province);

5 climate smart Innovation platform strategies developed;

Formalized climate resilient crop and livestock public-private partnerships in line with the identified value chains;

Status reports for projects climate smart milestones on a quarterly basis.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND OTHER CONDITIONS

The consultant must send a lump sum financial offer based on daily fee.? The consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term "all-inclusive" implies that all costs (professional fees, travel, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the national consultant in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal.

Travel costs and

daily allowance costs should be identified separately.

Payments will be made based on the agreed fixed contract price and released upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating deliverables achieved and days worked to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor. The Individual Consultant shall receive his/her lump sum service fees upon certification of the completed tasks satisfactorily, as per the following payment schedule:

5% payment upon submission and approval of Inception report with a detailed methodology and action plan. Due by September 2021;

20% payment upon completion of development of Value chain-based climate smart packages. Due by October 2021;

30% payment after Farmer field school draft training manual peer reviewed, training manual and CSA package deployment, testing and monitoring. Due by February 2022;

20% payment upon completion of development of 5 climate smart Innovation platform strategies. Due by April 2022;

15% payment after Crop and Livestock public-private partnerships are formalised. Due by July 2022;

10% upon submission of Quarterly Status reports and at least 1 knowledge product from project climate smart practice milestones. To be paid in the last quarter of the contract.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRAGEMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT OF THIS CONSULTANCY

The principal responsibility for managing this assignment lies with the UNDP Country Office, Zimbabwe. UNDP will mobilise internal technical expertise, including from regional team as needed, to support the consultant's work. UNDP will support the consultant's engagement with stakeholders, arrange for meetings, field visits and coordinate with stakeholders and Government officials.

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Head of PRECC and day to day supervision from the Project Manager, the Individual Consultant will oversee providing engineering expert support in the management of all irrigation and processing works financed under the project.

TIMEFRAME

The consultancy is expected to run from September 2021 to 30 August ?2022 during which the consultant is expected to provide 120 days of services.?

IMPACT OF THE RESULTS

The purpose of the consultant is to provide a specialised technical support to AGRITEX Department, in upscaling Climate Smart Agriculture practices and in planning, implementing and monitoring of the Zimbabwe Green Climate Fund project. Expected impacts are increase in productivity and enhanced climate change resilience on agriculture livelihoods.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Excellent drafting, documentation and communication skills in English;

Knowledge of Climate Change and project management skills;

Proven record on similar documentation work at the National level.

Corporate Competencies

Promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity;

Support creativity and innovation;

Help create an enabling environment for open communication;

Share knowledge and support a culture of learning;

Demonstrate fairness and transparency.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: An Advanced /Master's degree in Agriculture, Climate Change, Environmental Sciences or other closely related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years of implementing climate smart agriculture practices for both the irrigation and dryland small holder farmer;

Experience with climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector;

Experience working with government institutions and local communities;

Excellent communication and analytical skills;

Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and Climate Change Adaptation;

Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams;

Good understanding of national and state government priorities, policies and planning process in climate change in Zimbabwe;

Project cycle experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset.

Language:

An excellent command of English and local language is required.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified individuals shoould submit the following to demonstrate their interest and qualifications:

Personal CV or P11 Form, 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;

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in the link below;

Technical Proposal demonstrating full understanding of the TORs, approach and methodology to the task and workplan.

Please note that all the documents below must be submitted as one PDF file.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight; [70%];

Financial Criteria weight; [30%].

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable 100 points in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.