Background
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The Government of Tanzania in collaboration with UNDP/GEF recently launched a project focusing on the sustainable management of the Miombo forests of Western Tanzania which are threatened by deforestation and degradation driven by various factors. The project is being implemented through the Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Tabora. Among the drivers of deforestation and degradation include settlers, land clearance and burning for agriculture, saw millers, tobacco industry, charcoal producers, and to some extent climate change. The overall Goal of the project is that “Sustainable Forest Management secures ecosystem and biodiversity values while providing a buffer to the Congolian Rain forest, ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods. The objective of the project is “To enable miombo dependent communities to adopt productive practices that are favorable to biodiversity conservation and reduce carbon emissions from land use change and improve livelihoods”. The project’s immediate focus is over an area of 133,400 hectares covering 4 wards (Usinge, Imalamakoye, Mbola, Inyonga) in Urambo, Uyui and Mlele districts.
The project implementation started in July 2013 and will run over a period of five years. The RAS Tabora is the Lead Implementing partner taking the overall responsibility of the project and will work in close collaboration with RAS Katavi, VPO-DOE and UNDP. Given the scope of the project, the RAS office will facilitate engagement of a number of partners with specific responsibilities either at sector level, academic/research Institution or NGOs. Actual field activities will be coordinated by the RAS team based in Tabora in collaboration with the Regional Administrative Secretary for Rukwa/Katavi.
The current TOR seeks to engage an Enterprise Development expert who will actively promote innovation and technology for pro-poor entrepreneurship including innovation strategies. He/she will raise awareness and create pro-poor entrepreneurial opportunities by improving access to Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) and agribusiness value chains, in order to alleviate poverty and improve the development opportunities in poor, and especially rural, communities.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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- Conduct capacity needs assessment and design a capacity building programme to ensure that agriculturalists and local entrepreneurs and their local institutions have the basic capacity needed to engage with the financial service providers.
- Develop a systematic database on the entrepreneurial activities as they relate to the overall scope of the project and the identified needs.
- Initiate implementation of the approved Capacity Building Programme as documented in the needs assessment report
- Lead the process for identifying, mobilizing local communities, formation and operationalization of primary societies including SMEs and IGA groups; and identify business ideas for immediate implementation
- Identify and promote income-generating activities within the value chain in the project areas as planned in the project logframe for demonstration by selected SMEs and IGA groups.
- Supervise the provision of market information and trading platform for Non Timber Forest Products and Agricultural products and demonstrate the link with the private sector
- Promote and support compliance with the certification requirements for NTFP production, processing and sale in partnership with local authorities.
- Facilitate in forging business partnerships between CBOs/Farmer’s Groups/Cooperatives, local financial institutions and private entrepreneurs—key feature of these partnerships should be premised on business linkages between involved partners.
- Follow-up with the local entrepreneurs and private business groups, once they have become functional with the project support, to ensure sustainability of their businesses and income streams;
- Supervise the undertaking of market surveys (nationally, locally, regionally and internationally) to identify regular and niche markets for specialized products from Miombo woodlands.
- Participate in the development and implementation of the overall project work plan, especially the elements dealing with the income-generating activities (IGA).
- Ensure baseline information on the entrepreneurial (SME&IGAs) activities in the project area is documented and systematically reported for the entire project period keeping sustainability beyond the project in mind
- Assist the National Project Coordinator in the preparation of periodic Project Implementation Reports and Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), technical reports for submission to RAS, UNDP/GEF and Project Steering Committee as required;
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Competencies
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- Strong research and analysis skills;
- Proven ability to plan, organize and effectively implement activities;
- Proven skills for negotiation, diplomacy, lobbying and advocacy;
- Ability to coordinate and work in teams, as well as in complex environments;
- Strong communication and advocacy skills;
- Understanding of UNDP/GEF functioning and reporting procedures;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
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Required Skills and Experience
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Education:
- At least Masters Degree in entrepreneurship and enterprise Development, business development and economics.
Experience:
- Experience in research, business design, planning, implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation;
- Experience in rural credit or micro-financing is an added advantage;
- Proven knowledge and experience in institution building in the natural resources and environment sector;
- A minimum of five (5) years of post-graduate professional experience relevant in enterprise development;
- Knowledge in the use of computer software packages for word-processing, excel, power point, databases and spreadsheets, and the internet;
- Experience in documentation and writing project success stories, lessons learned and best practices;
- Proven experience in participatory processes, and in facilitating dialogue between Government, development partners, private sector and civil society.
Language:
- Fluent in written and spoken English as well as in Kiswahili language with excellent report writing capabilities.
Other:
- Willingness to travel and work in remote areas of the project
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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.
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