Community Development Specialist/Planner

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

The Fostering Participatory Development in Bordering Settlements of Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor Regions- Sustainable communities Project focuses on reducing the asymmetries of territorial development of Armenia targeting sustainable development and economic integration of bordering areas in Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor regions. The project will reach out to the vulnerable groups of 34 bordering settlements with a total population of 41981 in two regions through reducing socioeconomic vulnerabilities and facilitating involvement of low-income population in income-generating and production activities, as well as providing access to improved livelihood as a result of rehabilitated community infrastructure.

The Project aims at promoting participatory development in target areas facilitating engagement of local population in decision-making at local level and need-based design of local development agenda. The Project pursues the following objectives:

• Objective 1: To foster local participation in development planning and monitoring for bottom-up community development.
• Objective 2: To increase economic activity in the settlements through efficient local production and processing.
• Objective 3: To innovate for improved local production and management.

The Project builds its efforts on the best of already tried and tested models, particularly taking to the next level the mechanisms and models designed and piloted within the scope of Russia-funded “Integrated Support to Rural Development: Building Resilient communities” Project.

The intervention logic hinges on strong partnership and synergised efforts between UNDP and WFP, when the combined expertise and comparative advantages of two agencies will contribute to increased local production and income raise for the most vulnerable groups which will boost economic security in the localities and take to poverty reduction in the target communities. The underpinning principles of the project are participation, inclusive growth, local development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under direct supervision of the Project Manager and overall guidance of the UNDP Socio-Economic Senior Adviser the incumbent will be responsible for:

• Analysis of economic development potential and possibilities of the communities and the district where the Project operates providing economic inputs during the elaboration of community and district development plans;
• Conducting feasibility studies for revealing economic development options for the communities /district involved in the Project;
• Facilitating elaboration of community development plans for the communities included in the Project through active engagement of the community residents, authorities, specialized working groups, and any interested groups in the discussion process;
• Drafting the individual strategic plans for community development and finalizing them with community authorities and the Project;
• Facilitating elaboration of sub-regional/district strategic development plans through active engagement of all communities involved;
• Drafting the sub-regional/district strategic development plans and finalizing them with community and regional authorities and the Project;
• Identification of non-farming activities (agro-products processing, production units, etc.) aimed at the economic revitalization and development of the communities;
• Elaboration of business plans for local business initiatives;
• Research on the available possibilities for micro-financing and application of relevant arrangements;
• Providing assistance to the communities with establishment and operation of Community Development Funds;
• Identification of poor households and vulnerable groups to be assisted through income generation activities and public works projects;
• Elaboration of various income generation mechanisms and schemes for the communities involved in the Project (revolving funds, group savings, etc.) and facilitation of their further application;
• Facilitating creation, registration and operation of various local organizations – Farmers’ Associations, Cooperatives, Women’s Organizations, etc.;
• Intensive work with the communities included into the Project to ensure their full participation in the design, implementation and monitoring of the community and sub-regional development plans;
• Capacity building of the communities through organizations of various trainings and workshops on community governance, budgeting, planning, and other issues of interest for the communities;
• Introducing performance budgeting to the communities where the Project operates;
• Ensuring strong linkage between individual community development plans and community budgets;
• Provision of overall economic expertise to Project activities;
• Ensuring smooth operation of Project activities at the community level;
• Liaising between the communities and the Project;

Payment Method and deliverables

Incumbent will submit monthly report on performed tasks with required monthly deliverables in line with the main scope of works of this assignment and will be paid on a monthly basis for the number of days worked (up to 20 days per month).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting;
• Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems.

Technical Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of rural development issues in Armenia;
• Excellent knowledge of participatory planning and budgeting methodologies, including performance budgeting;
• Excellent knowledge of functioning of local self-government in the country;
• Good knowledge of local legislation and procedures for creation and registration of local organizations;
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to think creatively, establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different social and cultural background and set good rapport with population in rural areas;
• Hands on experience in community engagement techniques, including the latest tools such as applied user research;
• Good communication skills and teamwork;
• Willingness to travel extensively to the regions where Project operates;
• Excellent presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in economics, management, business administration, social science or other relevant area.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in local community sector for development activities at the national or international level
• Experience in working with local governments and non-government organizations;

Languages:

• Fluency in Armenian, working knowledge of English, knowledge of Russian is preferred.

Computer skills:

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING METHODOLOGY:

Applications will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications, experience and financial proposal.The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR and received the highest cumulative (technical and financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 30 points.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION.

• Financial Proposal and Availability form: OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP ( all-inclusive daily fee option is applicable for this assignment)
• CV shall include Education/Qualification, Processional Certification, Employment Records /Experience

General Conditions of Contract is available here: GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).