ADS JSR Coordination Expert

Winrock International KISAN II Project

Details / requirements:

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

ADS JOINT SECTOR REVIEW (JSR) Coordination Expert

POSITION TITLE: ADS JSR Coordination Expert

LOCATION: Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperative, Kathmandu, Nepal            

UNIT:  Agriculture

DURATION:  12 months, June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2019

REPORTS TO: Enabling Environment Director

BACKGROUND:

The Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN) II Project is a USAID funded five-year second phase of the USAID Feed the Future (FTF) initiative in Nepal. The aim of KISAN II is to increase resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of income growth in the FTF zone of influence.  The US$ 32.70 million project is implemented by Winrock International in collaboration with five other Nepali and US based organizations: Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy, Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED), Development Project Service Center (DEPROSC), Digital Green, Siddhartha Inc, and Overseas Strategic Consulting (OSC). 

KISAN II aims to work with private sector firms, input suppliers, Millers, and private sector change agents etc.; whoever are playing a catalyst role in agriculture productivity, competitive market systems, a stronger enabling environment to agriculture sector business growth and literacy skills. KISAN II will work in the 20 districts in the West, Mid-West and Far-West Regions (FTF Zone of Influence I), and four earthquake -affected districts in the Central Region (FTF Zone of Influence 2).

INTRODUCTION

The Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) is the Government of Nepal’s (GON) plan for agriculture-led development with a vision for “A self-reliant, sustainable, competitive, and inclusive agricultural sector that drives economic growth and contributes to improved livelihoods and food and nutrition security.” In order to achieve its vision, the ADS will accelerate agricultural sector growth through four strategic components related to governance, productivity, profitable commercialization, and competitiveness while promoting inclusiveness (both social and geographic), sustainability (both natural resources and economic), development of private sector and cooperative sector, and connectivity to market infrastructure (eg agricultural roads, collection centers, packing houses, market centers), information infrastructure and ICT, and power infrastructure (e.g. rural electrification, renewable and alternative energy sources).

In the context of ADS, it is critical that collective action processes are clearly defined within an agreed joint operational framework to ensure that each stakeholder effectively play their role to assist in making others successful in the achievement of the ADS objectives. The principle of mutual accountability requires that each stakeholder is responsible for their role to ensure that the whole team moves towards the attainment of the desired development objectives. To establish high commitment and trust among the stakeholders and develop mutual accountability is a situation where the GON, donors and involved stakeholders are all accountable to each other for development results, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives (MoALMC), the then MoALMC, has endorsed the formation of an Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) Joint Sector Review (JSR) Committee within the Ministry on November 2017.

Regular JSRs will occur under the framework of National ADS Implementation Committee (NADSIC), which will serve as forums for performance assessment and policy guidance, allow a broad spectrum of stakeholders to get insights into, and influence policy and priorities in the sector development. JSRs will provide appropriate platforms for putting a plan into practice. JSRs will also provide opportunities for generating evidence-based data on ADS performance, guided by the M&E framework and drawing lessons and good practices.

The mandate for commissioning a JSR lies within the MoALMC. The JSR will have to be conducted two times in a year. This will be followed by bi-monthly follow up meetings of the Technical Core Group at the Ministry to highlight achievements, discuss issues hampering progress, and resolving emerging issues.  It is important to ensure that the JSR process involves the participation of appropriate stakeholders from the outset and that there is completeness and comprehensiveness in consideration of the key performance areas under review. This will contribute to increase ownership of the findings of the review especially by the MoALMC and all major stakeholders, which in turn will boost the likelihood of implementing the recommendations of the review. The principle of mutual accountability and ownership are pertinent to a successful JSR process, ensuring that the MoALMC, donors and non-state actors are actively involved and are accountable to one another – in pursuit of sector development results defined in the agreed results framework.

ADS JSR provides programming guidance and a decision support tool for the implementation of the ADS framework. Furthermore, it will help determine and evaluate observed results of sector performance and their comparison with the intended results. Additionally, it will regularly bring MoALMC and donors together and provide a forum for dialogue and coordination between the Government of Nepal (GoN) and Development Partners (DP) on the implementation of the Agriculture Development Strategy. It will also bring MoALMC and donors together to discuss their activities and raise issues and concerns that will affect the successful implementation of their activities and ensure to achieve its targets. Therefore, a JSR will seek to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the “operationalization” of the ADS while informing who is working what in line with the agreed upon ADS framework. Thus, the JSRs will enhance mutual accountability and harmonization of resources in ADS implementation through joint priority setting, domestic and external resource mobilization, result-orientated management, monitoring of progress and achievements.

The ADS-JSR Committee will be supported by the ADS Implementation Support Unit (ADS-ISU) for facilitation and secretariat tasks.  It was felt that ADS-ISU needs to be technically capacitated to achieve these objectives, so the first meeting of ADS JSR Committee decided to recruit Coordination Expert basically to reinforce this ADS Implementation Support unit.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of the assignment is to support the ADS JSR process. As the ADS-JSR Committee will be supported by the ADS-ISU for facilitation and secretariat tasks, one of the major tasks of this position will be to reinforce this ADS Implementation Support Unit for this purpose.

BASIC FUNCTIONS

  • The Coordination Expert serves as the principal technical expert to effectively implement the JSR committee processes.
  • The Coordination Expert works closely with MoALMC in coordination with development partners to review the GON’s annual planning and review processes.
  • The JSRs ultimately are a government-led national initiative hence the Coordination Expert helps MoALMC to internalize this process until it is fully budgeted and implemented by the Ministry.
  •  The Coordination Expert should ensure that the JSR process involves the participation of appropriate stakeholders from the outset and that there is completeness and comprehensiveness in consideration of the key performance areas under review.
  • The expert will also closely coordinate with donor representatives in the JSR Committee.
  •  The principle of mutual accountability and ownership are pertinent to a successful JSR process, therefore, the Coordination Expert ensures that the MoALMC, donors and non-state actors are actively involved and are accountable to one another – in pursuit of sector development results defined in the agreed results framework.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The assignment will be for a 12-month period from its effective date with a probation period of three months. The annual contract will be extendable based on the need of the service, satisfactory performance, and funding available.

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

The Coordination Expert will be provided a workspace within MoALDC and will be embedded with the ADS Implementation Unit to enhance the Unit in developing and implementing the JSR process. The Coordination Expert will be responsible for local transportation, purchasing medical and/or personnel accident insurance coverage for the Contract period. KISAN II will provide a computer, printer, and furniture (if required).

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Coordination Expert will be contracted by and report on contractual issues to the Enabling Environment Director of KISAN II. However, the Coordination Expert will be embedded in the MoALDC for the purpose of coordination and support of the JSR Committee and the Technical Core Group Committee. Therefore, the Coordination Expert will report to the chair and co-chair of these Committees on the content of his/her work. At the first, Technical Core Group Committee meeting, following the appointment of the Coordination Expert, will decide his/her point of contact at the ministry. Coordination Expert will work under the guidance of his/her primary point of contact at the Ministry on a day-to-day basis to ensure he/she fulfills all the duties and responsibilities required of this position. In addition, the Coordination Expert will provide periodic written and verbal updates, as required, to the COP of KISAN II and to the donor co-chair of the Technical Core Group. The Coordination Expert will have no direct supervision responsibility. However, she/he may be required to lead ad hoc teams.

TASKS AND ACTIVITIES

  1. The incumbent is responsible for supporting the implementation of the JSR process.
  2. Plan, organize, and facilitate meetings of the JSR Committee and bimonthly joint planning and review meetings of the Technical Core Group.
  3. Develop a mechanism to gather information from on-going and planned investments under the ADS.
  4. Assist MoALMC in preparing and communicating to JSR documents on ADS implementation and planning for discussion.
  5. Develop a road map for harmonization and alignment of resources and priorities between GON and Donors for ADS Implementation.
  6. Coordinate mobilization of Technical Assistance (TA) for ADS Implementation
  7. Identify appropriate indicators and targets for subsequent JSR meeting.
  8. Mentor JSR-ADS Unit staff to plan, organize and facilitate JSR meetings.

DELIVERABLES

  1. JSR and the bi-monthly Technical Core Group Committee meetings convened. Agenda for JSR and bi-monthly Technical Committee meetings developed. A mechanism to capture information from on-going and planned investments under the ADS developed.
  2. A road map for harmonization and alignment of resources and priorities between GON and Donors for ADS Implementation developed.
  3. Sufficient documentation on ADS implementation and /or Planning are made available in time to JSR members, allowing for a meaningful and productive discussion.
  4. Appropriate indicators and targets for subsequent JSR meeting identified.
  5. Implementation of recommended activities from the JSR planning and review meeting and bimonthly Technical committee meetings completed.
  6. Report on JSR and bi-monthly Technical meetings
  7. Attend monthly Food Security Donor Group meeting and report progress from Technical Committee and JSR event
  8. Periodic written and verbal updates, as required, to the COP of KISAN II and to the donor co-chair of the Technical Core Group.

Contractual Amount

Based on previous experience and salary history.

Payment Schedule

Will be paid monthly

TIMING

Soon as possible

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree in agricultural Economics, policy and/or relevant field with 15+ years of experience in the agriculture sector, and ideally with experience of agriculture sector policy and strategy formulation in Nepal;
  • Extensive experience working and collaborating with donors and the Government of Nepal, in particular in the Agriculture sector;
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Experience leading/coaching a diverse team on institutional and sectoral transformation at national and provincial level
  • Strong English and Nepali speaking and writing skills.

Other: High level of English and of Nepali is required.

Disclaimer: This position is contingent upon donor approval.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can post their cover letter and CV to Jobs.KISAN@winrock.org within 18th May, 2018. Applicants should reference “ADS JSR Coordination Expert KISAN II” in the subject line. Applications received after the stipulated date will not be entertained.

Overview

Category Development and Project
Openings 1
Experience Please check vacancy details.
Education Post Graduate / Masters in related field.
Posted Date 08 May, 2018
Apply Before 18 May, 2018
City Kathmandu