International Consultant - Value Chain Development Analyst (Vegetables)

South Sudan is endowed with vast natural resources including oil, fertile land, forests, fruit and oil producing trees. However, food security and poverty remain critical problems, with the majority of the poor living in female headed households. Okra, cowpeas, green-gram, pumpkin, Bambara nut and also widely grown in homesteads. Vegetables such as tomatoes and onions are grown near cities to supply urban markets. The population of South Sudan is predominantly rural (83%) and dependent on subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry (i.e. goats and poultry rearing) as their main source of livelihood. The women are the major agricultural food producers and perform most agricultural tasks. However, most of them are still involved in subsistence and small scale farming, characterized by traditional cultivation practices; low levels of mechanization and technology; and lack of access to agricultural inputs (i.e. improved seeds, fertiliser and pesticide) and appropriate tools, which often translate into low productivity. Furthermore, due to the poor road infrastructure and the lack of transport and local market opportunities, they depend on men to sell their produce. Very often the little money gained from sale of their produce is taken away by men who decide how money is spent and does not necessarily trickle down to benefit all household members. Given these constraints, women’s economic security is threatened and they are unable to capitalize on the immense cash crop agricultural potential of South Sudan that is currently a net importer of agricultural food (i.e. cereals, vegetables and fruits), primarily from Kenya and Uganda. Empowering women in this economic sector will be key to supporting South Sudan’s economic diversification strategy away from oil.  In South Sudan, adult women’s illiteracy rate is 84%, partly due to the practice of early marriage that has impacted negatively on women’s education, leaving them with little choice but to work in the informal low value petty trade sector (i.e. fruits, vegetables, cereals, consumer items and clothes), in small shops, tea stands and restaurants. Their low skill levels prevent them from accessing the limited job opportunities created by the emerging private sector in the services industry where most positions are dominated by Ugandan, Kenyan, Ethiopian and other immigrant workers. About UN Women: The United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) was created in July 2010 by General Assembly resolution A/Res/64/289 to assist countries and the UN system itself to progress more effectively and efficiently toward the goal of achieving gender equality, women’s empowerment and upholding women’s rights. UN Women’s vision is a world where societies are free of gender-based discrimination, where women and men have equal opportunities, where the comprehensive development of women and girls is ensured so that they can continue to be active agents of change, where gender equality and women’s empowerment are achieved and where women’s rights are upheld in all efforts to further development, human rights, peace and security. UN Women’s South Sudan has developed a Strategic Note for the period 2012-2013 and which are aligned with the South Sudan Development Plan and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) (2011-2013). Targeted gender equality and women’s empowerment interventions will be undertaken to increase development effectiveness. To this end, UN Women will support a “package approach” to consolidate response particularly at state level. The package approach will combine for example, functional literacy with economic empowerment and capacity building; or functional literacy and economic empowerment for peace building and ending violence against women.   The integration of gender equality is intended to ensure not only that mainstreaming takes place in all areas of operations and programming, but that real progress is made in supporting South Sudan in reducing gender inequalities and improving the lives of women. Initially, the package approach will be undertaken in three states of Western Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Lakes and Warrap as a pilot with a few to scaling up in the future The three strategic priority areas for UN Women South Sudan elaborated in the Strategic Note and Country Programme Document are as follows: Women’s leadership and participation in gender-responsive governance Women’s access economic empowerment and opportunities Improved Security and protection of women and girls. UN Women’s economic empowerment programme seeks to increased Women’s access economic empowerment and opportunities. The Women’s economic security is critical for the eradication of poverty and achieving sustainable development because when women have ownership and control over productive resources and access to productive work, they can ensure a better livelihood for their families and communities.  Under this programme, focus will be placed on Gender responsive infrastructure (agricultural inputs, services and markets) enhance women’s economic sustainable livelihoods. UN Women has identified agriculture, the dominant economic activity for women, as a strategic entry point. Using a value chain approach, increased agricultural production will be linked to agro-processing of selected products (vegetables, fruits, lulu and cassava) while linking producers to markets both local and regional. Women and youth in agriculture will be supported to access to services (inputs, farmer kits, technical training, financial, market information) and opportunities (functional literacy and numeracy, entrepreneurial and business skills) that will enhance their livelihoods and empower them to transform from subsistence to commercial production. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Co-operatives, and Rural Development (MAFCRD): The mandate of the MAFCRD is to develop and implement policies, objectives strategies and development of the Agricultural sector in the areas of food security, agriculture, forestry, rural development and co-operatives. The ministry is also mandated to promote and enhance the formation of cooperative societies and community based organisations as vehicles of community empowerment and poverty eradication. The vision of the ministry is to secure food for all the people of South Sudan to enjoy improved quality of life environmental and economic prosperity by 2015. The Agricultural Policy Framework spells out the Ministry’s policy position for the improved management of the agricultural sector which is defined to include food and nonfood crops, as well as Forestry, Co-operatives and Rural development. It spells out guidelines on various issues including gender equality and empowerment of women in agriculture. It mandates the Government to facilitate the implementation of gender equality programmes in the agricultural sector by: Contributing to eradication of gender-based differences in social and economic activities, access to resources and decision making; Empower women to access credit, land, technology and market information Within the framework of the ZEAT, UN Women is working with the MAFCRD to implement a project aimed at increasing rural women farmers’ access to services and opportunities that will facilitate their engagement in agribusiness targeting five states-Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes and Warrap. Based on a meeting between UN Women and the MAFCRD, vegetables, cassava, fruits and lulu were selected as the products for which the value chain approach will be used for increased production, agro-processing and linkage to markets.  UN Women is therefore seeking the services of an international consultant to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed value chain approach to vegetable production. The consultant will be expected to assess opportunities, identify challenges and constraints and provide recommendations on appropriate strategies for project implementation. JUSTIFICATION Food losses in the developing world are estimated to be 50% of the fruits and vegetables grown. Fruits and vegetables require appropriate technologies for preservation and storage. In order to mitigate risks of losses that may arise during project implementation, it is imperative that UN Women examines the practical viability for the proposed value chain approach to increased vegetable production in South Sudan. There is therefore a need for specialized technical expertise to support the support the assessment of the economic, operational and technical viability of the vegetable component of the project in consideration of gender relations within the communities. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY  The objective of the consultancy is to conduct a feasibility study of the MAFCRD project supported by UN Women to determine its practical viability potential of the vegetable production component of the project from a gender perspective. The consultant will be required to examine the technical, operational and economic viability of the project, examine the resources (human and financial) required for project implementation and make appropriate recommendations

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Duties and Tasks: Under the supervision of the UN Women Programme Analyst, Economic Empowerment and Rights, the consultant will be expected to conduct a feasibility study of the MAFCRD project supported by UN Women which will include the following tasks: The consultant will be required to examine each link in the value chain assessing the human resource availability (skills, capabilities, competences and numbers), technology suitability, usability and scalability, and infrastructure availability, capacity and suitability. He or she will be required to examine: Input sourcing and procurement: The consultant will be expected to examine the availability of the required inputs in appropriate quantities and quality; the transportation of inputs from production location to facilities/locations for processing. He/She will be required to visit the three states to conduct a baseline survey among the beneficiary to determine land sizes, current and potential scale of production of selected vegetables; and examine farming practices. Operations and production: The consultant provide insights into the advantages and disadvantages of  current methods of production, technologies being utilized-number of employees, skills required to effectively operate equipment and assess impact on operational efficiency. Warehousing, Storage and delivery: The consultant will be expected to assess sources of warehousing and storage from building to renting, to leasing and provide the project with realistic alternatives for consideration; the infrastructure to support the movement of products to warehouses; methods and facilities for preservation of these vegetables. Sales and marketing: The consultant will be expected to examine the demand and supply conditions of the vegetables; Conduct a market assessment within and outside the states, identify potential markets and identify key constraints to marketing in the value chain and make appropriate recommendations; Make an assessment of appropriate technology/channels for providing market information to farmers, and develop a database for market information analysis. Gender analysis. The consultant will be required to conduct a gender analysis within each link in the value chain from input sourcing, operations and production warehousing storage and delivery; sales and marketing. This analysis should also include gender relations in the homes and communities and how this affects the value chain; the position of men and women within the homes; the nature of work performed by men and women; who dominates which link in the value chain and why; what technologies are appropriate for women; social and cultural factors that may hinder women from obtaining benefits from the work they performed.

Competencies

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES Planning and Organising: Ability to plan work assignments, establish priorities and meet strict assignment deadlines with limited resources. Coordination and Monitoring. Ability to build strong relationships with clients and focus on impact and results; Demonstrated aptitude to build effective partnerships with  a diverse group of stakeholders; Capacity to coordinate monitoring activities, to mentor programme/project staff/national counterparts and provide guidance and support; Communications and Language Compelling (verbal and written) communication skills including ability to prepare reports, formulate and defend sound recommendations and articulate opinions concisely conveying maximum necessary information. Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills in English. Arabic is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

EDUCATION:  An advanced University degree (Masters level) in Agriculture, business management, commerce, and/or development science. EXPERIENCE:  Minimum seven years of experience providing hand-on support to small holder farmers and other downstream value chain actors in the area of market and trade development  Minimum five years of proven ability to design and implement programmes that create market opportunities for small holder farmers, small scale processors, and other value chain actors Experience with value chain analysis and development for vegetables. Experience in poverty reduction initiatives through livelihood development for rural communities. Demonstrable knowledge on pro-poor value chain development and participatory methods. Ability to achieve pro-poor, gender sensitive and socially inclusive working results Demonstrated ability to work and develop capacity of local government counterparts Sub-Saharan African Experience is strongly preferred.  LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: Proficiency in written and spoken English.

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.

http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=37904