Capacity Development in Agriculture Consultant

Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations
Terms of Reference for Consultant
Minimum number of year of relevant experience required: 12yrs

Name:
Job Title:	Capacity Development in Agriculture Consultant (Formulation phase) (Job ID: FORM-CDA)
Division/Department:				Research and Extension Unit, DDNR
Programme/Project Number:						Project Funding
Location:	Home based
Expected Start Date of Assignment:							16 February 2015	Duration:	95 working days (on actually employed basis) NTE 31 July 2015
Reports to:		Name:			Ms Karin Nichterlein			Title:	Agricultural Research Officer, DDNR
General Description of task(s) and objectives to be achieved
Within the framework of the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP), FAO is working with TAP partner organizations, and their bodies, the TAP Global Task Force and the TAP Capacity Development (CD) Expert Group, to foster greater coherence of capacity development in tropical agriculture and strengthening interaction for more harmonized action. The CD Expert Group brings together experts for the development of a common Framework on Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems. It will consist of a resourced core group of three experts and a wider group of experts from TAP Partners providing in-kind contributions. The three core experts require specialized knowledge in one the following areas each: Capacity Development (CD) for Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Experts in the wider group are expected to contribute specialized knowledge in one or more of these areas. Their work will build on existing knowledge and resources including on materials compiled and reviewed during the preparation phase in 2014. The critical task for the CD for AIS and M&E experts is to develop the CD Framework for AIS ensuring that it is anchored in good development effectiveness[1] and good capacity development practice[2], that it is based on a thorough environmental scan and that it is useful for all TAP Partners as well as governments and other stakeholders, while the ICT expert will develop the concept of the information management and knowledge sharing system TAPipedia.   The expert will be responsible for the overall delivery of the CD Framework for AIS and, more specifically, for the definitions, guidelines and needs assessment, M&E, and impact assessment tools in the Framework. The expert should ensure that the Framework keeps a focus on CD for AIS, that all dimension of CD (individuals, organizations, enabling environment) as well as technical and functional capacities are addressed and that the definitions, guidelines and needs assessment tools are consistent with the proposed M&E approach. An innovation system is a network of actors (public and private), who together with the institutions and policies that influence their innovative behaviour and performance, bring new / improved products, processes and forms of organization into social and economic use. The interactions among the various actors in the system and the organizational and institutional context within which they operate are important considerations when developing capacity for innovation. CD should be recognized as a process, which requires an understanding of the evolution of capacity needs. The consideration of functional capacities is particularly important in this regard, since they refer to capacities needed to uptake and sustain changes, e.g. strategic management, leadership, stakeholder analysis, partnerships, incentives for collaboration.   The assignment requires close communication with the parties involved in the development of the CD Framework for AIS: the TAP Partners that are part of the wider CD Expert Group, the TAP Global Task Force, the TAP Secretariat.   Under the overall supervision of the Chief, of the Research and Extension Unit, and in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Officer the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:   Tasks: Seek feedback on review of existing guidelines, approaches, tools and methodologies related to needs assessment, M&E, impact assessment  and intervention design of CD for AIS from core M&E and ICT experts and wider CD Expert Group and identify good practices and gaps; Report the outcome of the final review to the Global Task Force with clear indications on what resources can be reused, adjusted or enhanced and with good reasons if the development of new resources for the CD for AIS framework is required; Based on the review and as part of the CD Framework for AIS, compile/adapt/develop definitions, a toolbox and guidelines (process) for the assessment of CD needs and the design of CD interventions, giving special emphasis to self-assessment and participatory methods; Collaborate closely with the M&E expert to ensure consistency and complementarity of guidelines, tools; Build up and sustain close working relationships with the involved parties (defined above) in order to ensure ownership and a shared understanding of expected results; Coordinate contributions in relation to the CD Framework by the M&E expert (for M&E and impact assessment) as well as by the experts of TAP Partners belonging to the wider CD Expert Group; Report progress to the Global Task Force and keep the wider CD Expert Group informed and seek their feedback; Prepare the final draft of the CD Framework for AIS document (guidelines and toolbox) integrating contributions by the M&E expert and the wider CD Expert Group; Share the final draft of the CD Framework for AIS document with the Global Task Force, seek feedback and integrate it in the final version.
key performance indicators
Expected Outputs:										Required Completion Date:
Deliverables: Consolidated feedback from M&E and ICT experts and wider CD Expert Group incorporated into review report Draft CD Framework for AIS document including definitions, a toolbox and guidelines (process) for the assessment of CD needs, M&E and impact assessment and the design of CD interventions, giving special emphasis to self-assessment and participatory methods; integrating contributions by M&E expert shared for feedback with wider CD Expert Group Draft CD Framework discussed with CD Expert Group (workshop), feedback incorporated in draft CD framework and shared with CD Global Task Force Feedback from CD Global Task Force addressed in CD Framework										14 March  2015     14 June 2015       30 June 2015   30 July 2015
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Advanced university degree of equivalent in agriculture, agricultural education, rural extension, rural development with specific experience in capacity development
Technical competencies and Experience Requirements   The consultant should have at least twelve years’ experience in enhanced capacity development (CD) practices covering three dimensions of capacity development  (including needs assessment and design of CD interventions, preferably with understanding of monitoring capacity development); solid understanding of agricultural innovation systems acquired through training or research practice; working experience in capacity development for innovation systems; leadership qualities, cross-cultural communication and team management skills; demonstrated ability to interact with other team members; strong analytical and excellent writing skills.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested applicants are required to create an online Personal Profile Form (PPF) in FAO iRecruitment. To create the PPF, please follow the instructions available at:http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/   Indicating the job ID given above, the PPF should be sent via e-mail to: tropagplatform@fao.org   Deadline for application: 14 September 2014   Applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

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[1] See http://www.aideffectiveness.org/

[2] See http://www.fao.org/capacitydevelopment/en/