IC-010-21 Agricultural Producer Marketing Groups Specialist

Contract

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Background

An extensive review of Agriculture supply chain issues, undertaken in 2018 by the FAO identified the fact that rural poverty amongst farming families was extensive across all agricultural communities in Kurdistan. Farming families in all regions indicated better organisation through producer groups would strengthen their commercial positions through better access to markets and cheaper materials.

The objective of this project is to facilitate the development of the strategies, plans, and policies required to establish Producer organisations in Kurdistan. Such groups will provide a suitable environment to attract investments and help promote increased economic development in their regions. The Producer groups will empower local farming communities by promoting, facilitating and developing food production, ensuring that inward investment is directed into priority sectors identified locally and creating job opportunities for the rural communities.

The KRG Economic Reform Roadmap 2016 recognizes the importance of domestic direct investment in contributing to growth and employment, especially given the relative lack of capital, technical know-how, and technology in the Kurdistan region. Key investment-related priorities in the KRI include development of a regional investment policy. The supply chain study clearly demonstrated that the establishment of agricultural co-operative centres (that can be genuine one-stop shops for would-be farmer entrepreneurs) would facilitate the development of local food production, food processing and agri-tourism sectors.

The FAO report (2018) clearly identified that the absence of collective bargaining by food producers is a major and current barrier to rural development. With no control over their supply chains, farmers are price takers.

Collective farms (Soviet Union style) which had been attempted in Kurdistan were not Co-Operatives; nor were they ever intended to be such. Therefore, given that there is currently no equivalent structure for Co-operatives in Kurdistan; it is important to determine what steps are required to establish such organisations. Producer organisations are community owned commercial companies; and as such they require legislation, regulation, policies, strategies, institution structures etc. in order for them to flourish.

For this initiative, KRG Ministry of Agriculture and Water (MAW) seeks deeper expertise in the relevant area (supply chain management through producer organisations) in developing its agriculture, food processing and agri-tourism sectors. For support with this ambition, MAW has approached the UNDP Funding Facility for Economic Reform – KRG (FFER-KRG) to provide them with the necessary technical assistance.

As an initial response, UNDP FFER-KRG is recruiting a supply chain Policy Specialist with co-operative experience to support KRG BOI to undertake an Agricultural Reform Mapping (ARM) process. This ARM process will first thoroughly study the state of KRI’s Co-Operative potential and policy. It will then assess the type(s) of rules, regulations, incentive schemes and promotional techniques that can be reformed or instituted to best help KRG MoAW to facilitate the establishment of Producer organisations in KRI. Next, it will identify and set priorities for change, and finally it will create an action plan with concrete timelines.

The envisioned development map for Producer Organisation establishment will focus on the overall environment, and set the stage for farmers, government agencies and businesses to seek and discover the many potential benefits that come from working through co-operatives. It is envisioned that the Supply chain Policy Specialist can collate both expertise and experience within industry and government to support the establishment of Co-operatives across the KRG.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conducting an assessment of the current situation of the agriculture sector and obstacles for the establishment of the farmers associations in the KRI. Reference should be made to the current laws, regulations, reports, data and other resource documents that regulate the agriculture sector and provide information about issues and recommendations for its development.
2. Preparing a report on best practices in the establishment and performance of the farmers associations and confronting them with the previous and current practices in the KRI.
3. Developing a platform and undertaking consultation meetings with Government institutions that should include the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the KRG, other relevant government agencies and institutions and non-government entities. Included in the platform should be:
   1. Relevance of the exiting legal and institutional framework and changes needed for the establishment and operation of farmers associations.
   2. Necessary incentives for the promotion and facilitation of farmers associations.
   3. Necessary capacities and skill needed for the management and Government support of the farmers associations;
   4. Land ownership and management issues.
   5. Provision of extension services.
   6. Data publication and other statistics
4. Developing Agricultural Cooperative in KRI that includes policies and recommendations on the necessary legal and institutional framework that regulates and promotes the establishment of the farmers associations. They should be presented in a format that describes key policies which should be implemented by involved Government agencies and recommendations that should be the provisions of the new laws and regulations needed for the establishment and promotion of farmers associations.
5. Preparing and delivering a consensus building workshop with key government and private sector stakeholders to discuss and help reach consensus on the proposed Co-operative Establishment Map.
6. Developing an action plan for the implementation of policy and technical recommendations including responsible Government agencies.
7. Reviewing, improving and incorporation of the outputs from all activities into a consolidated document for the promotion and establishment of the farmers associations.

Competencies

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• High analytical skills oriented towards problem-solve;
• Leadership and self-management;
• Focus on results and respond positively to feedback;
• Consistently approach work with energy and a positive attitude;
• Demonstrate openness for approaches to manage complexity;
• Team spirit and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP and the UN; and
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Required Skills and Experience

A. Education and Professional Qualifications Required:

• An advanced degree in Agriculture or rural development.

B. Experience Required: At least 9 years relevant working experience in each of the following areas:

• Agriculture policy development; that deal with the establishment of co-operatives and management issues.
• Expertise in conducting situation analyses and needs assessments related to agriculture policy in developing countries.
• Experience in facilitating dialogue among key stakeholders at a high political level to formulate, validate and adopt policies and policy statements.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate consultative meetings and to make presentations of technical findings to a wide audience.

C. Languages Required:

• Fluent in English written and oral and Knowledge of Arabic/Kurdish is a distinct asset.

The detailed terms of reference and the Letter of Confirming Interest and Availability are uploaded in documents section, furthermore is available in the following link :

https://procurement-notices.undp.org/search.cfm