Individual Local Consultant / Food and Agriculture income Ge

Location :Occupied Palestinian territory (Ramallah, with travel to  Jordan Valley )
Application Deadline :    31-Oct-2011
Additional Category    Women’s Economic Security and Rights
Type of Contract :SSA
Post Level :    Individual Local consultant
Languages Required :Arabic and English  
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)    14-Nov-2011
Duration of Initial Contract :    3 months
Expected Duration of Assignment :    3 months

   
 

Background
UN Women has been engaged on the economic front since the inception of its “Sabaya Programme” where economic security is considered an essential area of intervention to ensure linkages between meeting immediate needs and setting the ground for longer term development objectives. UN Women oPt is engaged in three programmes that tackle women’s economic and social empowerment: Establishing, Rehabilitation and Activation of eight women Centers in Gaza Strip and West Bank, Women- run School Canteens programme and the Livelihood protection and Sustainable empowerment of vulnerable, Rural and refugee Communities in the Jordan Valley” the project is funded through the Human Security Trust Fund, this is a joint programme executed by FOA, UNESCO, UNRWA and UN Women. The programme primarily aims to improve the life and dignity of Palestinian women, men, girls and boys in the JV. Utilizing the expertise of the participating agencies in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the programme in order to maximize its collective impact, in  addition to consulting with the beneficiaries and the relevant ministries, local authorities and community based organizations and other UN agencies to ensure that the strength of the stakeholders are tapped in, synergies are maximized, specific needs of women and youth are addressed, all stakeholders own the programme and are accountable.
UN Women will activate 4 Women Community Based Centers from the traditional Adobe in Area A and B distributed to cover major four clusters in the Jordan Valley. The Northern Cluster Bardalah, Bin el Baida and Kardallah, the Mid-West Cluster Al Nassariyah, Al Aqrabaniyah, Beit Hassan, AlNawaji, Ein Shibli  and Froush Beit Dajan, Mid- East Cluster, Marj Na’jeh, AlZbeidat, MarjAlgazal and AlJiftlik, and the South cluster Fasayel, Al Auja, Al Nweimeh, Adyouk Alfouka and Jericho. UN Women will be working under objective 3 of the proposal which spells: To support vulnerable families and internally displaced persons in ensuring adequate housing using local resources and improved skills, as well as preserve cultural heritage and stimulate the local economy through tourism and creative industries.
In reference to the above objective, UN Women under activity 1:3 will enhance the capacities and build income generating opportunities for poor marginalized women, with relation to Food production and /or agriculture in the four areas in the Jordan valley mentioned above.

Duties and Responsibilities
UN Women is looking to hire a consultant to conduct a Feasibility study that identify four economically feasible schemes in food or and agriculture by assessing women’s capacities and needs in the four mentioned above locations. The consultant will be working under the overall supervision of UN Women oPt Head office and the direct supervision of the women’s Economic Security and Rights Unit project Manager and the cooperation of UN Women field worker. The consultant will report regularly to UN Women.
The feasibility study is an assessment of women’s capacities and needs, and capabilities of the production for food and or agriculture products that are marketable.  Highlighting that, the four schemes are of income generating nature that fits the economic, culture and social context of the Jordan Valley, which in turn, networks of women can be mobilized and women CBO’s can better cater to new and emerging needs of women in the Jordan valley communities, and women in the 4 communities will have improved access to economic and education services.  Sabya Model approach will be adopted throughout the programme by supporting community based organizations rather than individual women. The economically feasible schemes are to ensure long-term sustainable income generating schemes for women from the Jordan Valley’s and feeds in the agricultural context in the Jordan Valley.
The feasibility study will assess women’s capacities and needs, by organizing needs assessment meetings with the women from the four targeted locations which will highlight women’s needs, capacities and capabilities and will identify schemes of marketable income generating nature fitting the agricultural context of the JordanValley.
By the end of the assignment UN Women expects the impending Consultant to present to UN Women a study highlighting concrete recommendations for developing a profitable and marketable business agricultural model for women CBOs in the food production and or agriculture in the Jordan Valley that is marketable in Palestine and a future vision for out of country marketing.

The local consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties and responsibilities:
-Conduct a food and agriculture Feasibility Study at the four above mentioned clusters,utilizing a gender  sensitive and human rights-based approach throughout the study, with particular attention to economic rights;
-Meet regularly and as requested with UN Women project team for coordination and feedback;
-Prepare a detailed work plan at the beginning of the assignment, to be discussed and approved by UN Women project Team prior to implementation.
-Report to UN Women if any challenges encountered and possible changes to be undertaken,   ideas for follow-up and suggestions for any necessary amendments.
-Conduct field visits to the targeted locations to assess the opportunities for developing economic income generating scheme in food and or agriculture that is profitable, marketable and sustainable for the four clusters.  
-Organize needs assessment meetings with the women at the four above clusters, ensuring at least fifteen women attendees in each meeting.
-Organize needs assessment meetings with village councils, donors and NGO’s involved in activities implemented in the Jordan valley.
-Assess and identify the needs and capacities of the women in the four clusters mentioned above in regard to food and or agriculture production;
-Assess the possibilities of production for food and or agriculture with the women in the four clusters
-Provide a final narrative and financial economic study with the results of the food and or agriculture feasibility study identifying each cluster needs and capacities.
-Produce four feasibility studies with recommendations in writing at the end of the economic study taking into consideration the variance in locations.
-Consultation with MDGs UN Women program team (Culture and development) to assess replicicapility of the economic security initiative implemented through the culture program;
-Prepare and lead, as agreed upon with UN Women project Team, a presentation to the programme stakeholders.  
-Perform any other duty required to undertake the assignment, as discussed and agreed upon jointly with UN Women.

Time frame:
The assignment is expected to start in 14 November, 2011 and to be finalized in three month time.

Key deliverables (all deliverables will be produced in edited English):
a-Work plan for the assignment duration
b-Present to UN Women a main findings  report highlighting concrete recommendations for      developing a profitable business model in food and or agricultural production for women CBOs;
c-Submission of the main findings of the four economic studies for the four clusters in Arabic and English.
d-Presentation session of the report to all stakeholders;

Core values /Guiding Principles:
Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;
Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity. 

Core competencies:
-Ethics and Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;
-Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
-Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring: Initiative-taking;    coaching and mentoring ability;
-Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
-Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
-Self-management and Emotional intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control.
-Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements: Managing conflict;
-Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of other.

Functional competencies:
-Substantial previous experience in economics and feasibility studies for  development;
-Experience in gender development and Human Rights;
-Understanding the social, cultural and geographical context of the location to be studied;
-Strong communication skills;
-Results oriented, flexible and problem solving skills. 
-To demonstrate ability to communicate with women from all walks of life;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Bachelor Degree in Economics and or agriculture from an accredited University: Master Degree is desirable and an experience in Gender mainstreaming is a plus.

Experience:
-Minimum 8 years practical experience in economic and feasibility studies for bachelor degree holder and 4 years for Master Degree
-Previous experience in women income generating schemes
-Good understanding of Gender mainstreaming; proven ability to apply a gender and rights-based approach.
-Strong understanding in economics and/or agriculture and food production technical specifications.
-Ability to communicate with women from all walks of life
-Strong understanding of the economic conditions of Women in Palestine in general and the Jordan Valley in Specific.
-Previous experience in the UN system will be considered an asset.

Language Requirements:
-Very good communication and drafting skills and fluent in English (comprehension, written, and spoken).
-Communication skills in Arabic and colloquial is a plus;

Submission of application: Interested candidates must submit application, including complete and up to date CV, and returned to [email protected] as per deadline indicated.
UN Women will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.