SADPII Project – Request For Expression of Interest: Recruitment of Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) Coordinator

REOI –
Individual Consultants

1st Edition

December 2020
Foreword

This REOI is based on the 1st edition of the IFAD-issued standard procurement document for REOI advertisement – individual consultants to be used in projects financed by IFAD, available at www.ifad.org/project-procurement.
IFAD does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy or translation, if applicable, or any other aspect in connection with the content of this document.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(Individual Consultants: Recruitment of Agricultural Risk Management Coordinator)
LESOTHO
GAFSP

Assignment title: Recruitment of Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) Coordinator (sub-component 2.4)
Reference no. (as per procurement plan): LSO-2000002563-0041-NP-RECRUITMENT
The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition under SADPII Project has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) towards the cost of GAFSP and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the recruitment of consulting services provided by an individual consultant as part of the post of recruitment of Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) Coordinator (sub-component 2.4).
The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD’s approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD’s rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with GAFSP.
The consulting services (“the services”) include [Engagement of Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) Coordinator (sub-component 2.4), for 22 months
This request for expressions of interest (REOI) follows the general procurement notice that appeared on the IFAD website on 3rd July 2024, on UNDB on 3rd July 2024, and on Lesotho local newspapers on 3rd July 2024.
The attention of interested consultants is drawn to IFAD’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy and the Revised IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption its Activities and Operations . The latter sets forth IFAD’s provisions on prohibited practices. IFAD further strives to ensure a safe working environment free of harassment, including sexual harassment, and free of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in its activities and operations as detailed in its IFAD Policy to Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Interested consultants shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. Consultants with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. Consultants are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, or b) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client’s board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of the REOI, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. Consultants have an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations.
The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition Lesotho under SADPII Project now invites eligible Individual consultants (“consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV). A consultant will be selected in accordance with the individual consultant selection (ICS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www.ifad.org/project-procurement. Interviews will be conducted as part of the selection process.
The shortlisting criteria are: Qualifications, Specific and General experience as stipulated in the TORs
Any request for clarification on this REOI should be sent via e-mail to the address below procurement@sadpii.org.ls no later than 12th July 2024, 16:00hrs and Harare Pretoria time zone. The client will provide responses to all clarification requests by 17th July 2024, 16:00hrs and Harare Pretoria time zone.
Expressions of interest in the form of curriculum vitae (CV) must be hand-delivered in written form to the address below by 23rd July 2024, 16:00hrs.
Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition SADPII Project
Attn: Project Director
P.O. Box 24
Livestock Offices Moshoeshoe II, Maseru
100,
Lesotho
Tel: +266 22312578
E-mail: Jobs@sadpii.org.ls
I. TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. For Individual Consultant Position Project: Lesotho Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP)2 – Augmented with additional financing from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
   a. Position title: Agricultural Management Coordinator (Officer-level position)
   b. Reporting to: Project Director
   c. Duty Station: Maseru

II. BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT

2. The Government of Lesotho, under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (MAFSN) is implementing the second phase of the Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP)2 with financial support from the World Bank, Government of Japan and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). SADP2 has been established to support increased adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) technologies in Lesotho’s agriculture, enhanced commercialization, and improved dietary diversity among targeted beneficiaries. The project covers ten districts – Maseru, Leribe, Botha-Bothe, Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, Berea Mafeteng, Mohale’sHoek, Quthing and Qacha’sNek. SADP is coordinated by the Project Management unit (PMU) based in Maseru. The project has four components:
   a. Component 1. Promoting Climate Smart Agricultural Practices and Advisory Services. This component aims at strengthening the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to adjust and modify their production systems to minimize the potential future impacts from climate variability.
   b. Component 2. Improving Agricultural Commercialization and Nutrition. This component will build on Component 1 by addressing financial constraints in the agricultural sector so that the training and advisory services provided under Component 1 is complemented with much needed financing to help the farming community undertake productive and profitable investments.
   c. Component 3. Project Management, Coordination and Monitoring and Evaluation It is responsible for: implementation and coordination, financial management and procurement, communication, visibility and awareness programs, environmental management and safeguards, and monitoring and evaluation.
   d. Component 4. Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC). This is a zero allocation to partially cover emergency response via implementation of key activities by the appropriate agencies to respond to the emergency.
3. Additional financing has been secured from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) Grant. GAFSP objective is to enhance resilience of small-scale agriculture and food systems through increased commercialization and system change. This is aligned with the objectives of SADP2. Key innovations advanced in the additional financing include the development of an enhanced agricultural input programme leveraging ICT and a broad-based agricultural insurance scheme that would deepen the resilience of farmers and empower them to better deal with shocks. These two innovations have been captured under a new sub-component (2.4) of SADP2 and will require robust technical support. A partnering agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) Lesotho will further support the implementation of the above initiatives. In order to effectively operationalize the grant, the PMU seeks to hire an additional team member to support the implementation of the activities under the sub-component 2.4.

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

4. Reporting to the project Director, the Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) Coordinator will be responsible for supporting the PMU in planning, coordinating, and executing the project’s interventions under the sub-component 2.4 in line with the grant design and in adherence to quality and efficiency standards as prescribed by the Government and IFAD Financing Agreement.
5. The main objective of this position is to support the PMU in delivering on the GAFSP-financed innovations, namely the smart agricultural input programme and the broad-based agricultural insurance scheme, and the management of a strategic partnership with WFP Lesotho.

IV. SCOPE OF SERVICES

6. Under the immediate supervision of the project Director, the ARM Coordinator will further perform the following scope of services:
   a. Lead on the delivery of the intervention planned under the sub-component 2.4, facilitate internal coordination and act as the focal person with external stakeholders for any activities falling under the sub-component 2.4;
   b. Facilitate liaison with the main donors and other important stakeholders on issues pertaining the sub-component 2.4;
   c. Lead on the management of the partnership with WFP Lesotho pertaining the sub-component 2.4, review performance and regular report on progress;
   d. Support WFP Lesotho in the development and implementation of an e-voucher platform aiming at improving the efficiency and impact of the Ministry’s agricultural input programme;
   e. Support WFP Lesotho in the conceptualization and piloting of a broad-based agricultural risk insurance scheme to support farmer’s resilience in line with sectoral plans;
   f. In close collaboration with IFAD and the WB, Support from WFP Lesotho in the establishment of a national technical working group on agricultural risk financing;
   g. With the administrative support from WFP, act as the chair the regular working session of the dedicated task force set up for the development of the input programme and the agricultural insurance scheme;
   h. Support the M&E unit’s tracking of SADP 2 progress on the Project’s Results Framework during project implementation.
   i. In conjunction with the M&E unit and the project director, coordinator policy-engagement effort aiming at establishing an enabling environment for the adoption and up-scaling of the sub-component’s innovations;
   j. Participate in and support M&E missions being undertaken by the SADP2.
   k. Undertake any other relevant activities instructed by the Project Director in a timely manner.
7. Work in close collaboration with the other component’s heads and the relevant service units, such as procurement, finance and monitoring and evaluation in the planning of activities, budget management and in supporting data generation and evidence building for policy engagement.

V. CONTRACT DURATION AND CONDITION

8. Contract duration is 20 months from date of signature, subject to a satisfactory performance during the probationary period of three (3) months of the incumbent and subject to business continuity and availability of funds.
9. The assignment is planned to start by July 2024.

VI. FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT

10. The Client shall render the Officer with all such facilities as may be reasonably required to enable the Officer to discharge his/her duties that is:
    a. office space;
    b. laptop/computer;
    c. landline telephone; and
    d. transport related to the assignment delivery.

VII. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

11. The following technical qualifications and skills are expected to be met for the position:
    a. A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Economics, Project Management, Business Administration, or any other related field;
    b. A postgraduate qualification in agricultural development planning will be an added advantage;
    c. A minimum of 5 years’ experience working with Programme/Project Management in the agricultural sector, relating to agricultural projects/initiatives, and/or project cycle management;
    d. Work experience in government or donor funded projects and other relevant institutions will be an added advantage;
    e. Demonstrated good oral and written communication skills and concise reporting ability;
    f. Excellent capability of working independently, whilst being fluent in English and Sesotho; and
    g. A high level of computer literacy is required; demonstrating experience and familiarity with Microsoft Office packages.
12. In addition to the above technical requirement, the candidate should demonstrate:
    h. Ability to interact with multiple staff in the relevant stakeholders, PMU and donors, and respond in a timely manner to contribute to each partners attainment of the project’s development objectives;
    i. Strong organisational skills focusing on details and effectiveness in analysing and resolving operational issues.
    j. Should have strong and proactive interpersonal communications skills, experience in team leadership and participatory management.
    k. Strong organisational skills and ability to work in a team-oriented, dynamic, and diverse environment.
    l. Proven track record in working effectively within multidisciplinary teams, recognizes the value of sharing ideas, knowledge, and information with others, and takes personal responsibility for doing so.
    m. Demonstrated ability to adapt to challenges and changes in the workplace.
13. The successful candidate must be willing to work for extended periods without direct supervision, and travel to all ten (10) districts of Lesotho.

VIII. CLIENT ASSIGNMENT MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

14. The ARM coordinator is subject to an annual performance review. The performance evaluation shall be based on the work program/ plan prepared at the beginning of each rated period;
15. The SADP2 Project Director is responsible for the coordination of activities acceptance and approval of the reports;
16. The short-listed candidates will be requested to participate in personal interviews and submit the names and contact details of personal referees who can attest to their abilities;
17. A pre-employment screening and background check will be done on all short-listed candidates.