Thursday, August 12, 2010

RECRUITMENT NOTICES

PRO-POOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR AGROFORESTRY DEVELOPMENT BAC KAN PROVINCE

TERMS OF REFERENCE
International APIF Consultant (TA)

Development of the
Agribusiness Promotion Investment Fund (APIF) Manual

Background
The project implementation strategy is to institutionalise a more business-like governance approach and strengthen the capacity of the government agencies involved through the development of government processes, and to provide coaching and mentoring to the implementing agency and management partners that would (i) streamline and fast-track greater private sector participation in effective use of sloping lands and upland valley floors; (ii) improve the development and transfer of appropriate technology and farm management practices for upland farming systems through participatory research and pluralistic service delivery systems; and (iii) pilot sustainable and profitable systems for sloping land management.
On this light, the project will establish a USD2.0 million Agribusiness Promotion Investment Fund (APIF) to finance up to 49% of the tax inclusive public good costs associated with pro-poor agribusiness investment in Bac Kan province. The objective of the APIF is to incentivise the participation of private sector players in the development of Bac Kan to accelerate the shift from subsistence, shifting agriculture practices to commodity based, semi-commercial farming systems. This shift is a pre-requisite for market development including supply/value chain improvement.
As stated in the loan agreement: “ For the APIF, only businesses registered for not less than two years shall be eligible for financing under the APIF. The APIF shall operate on a reimbursable basis, refunding up to 49% of preapproved costs expended in accordance with approved APIF investment proposals and paid upon provision of satisfactory physical and financial evidence of the expenditure, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant grant agreement. Grants for investments under this subcomponent shall not exceed USD 100 000. APIF grants shall be awarded through a competitive process and investment proposals shall be evaluated, inter alia, against the following criteria:
 commercial viability of the proposal (financial and technical);
 number of poor household beneficiaries and the level of benefit;
 cost effectiveness of the public investment;
 likelihood of flow on benefits to other enterprises and the wider community;
 environmental impact;
 enterprise record of corporate responsibility; and
 arrangements for maintenance of publicly funded infrastructure.

The APIF would award competitive grants for investments in public (for common use by a client group and not necessarily “state owned”) infrastructure and services that would enable and enhance private sector investments in disadvantaged areas of Bac Kan province. Grants will be designed to (i) reduce transaction costs; (ii) shrink business risk (iii) meet exceptional start-up costs (e.g. costs associated with partnering with large numbers of poor smallholders) and (iii) finance commercially important public or common-use infrastructure or services associated with agri-business enterprise investment partnering or benefiting poor male and female farmers to enable better engagement in supply chains in Bac Kan province. The grants would be on a reimbursable cost-sharing basis, with the project providing 49% of the total grant cost.
Proposed investments would have to demonstrate the commercial viability of the proposed venture, of which the infrastructure or services investment is a link. The allocation of funds would be carried out through an objective allocation procedure. Applications for funding from the APIF sub-component would come from a variety of sources. Applicants would include farmers’ common interest groups, formal producers’ associations, village authorities and local entrepreneurs/businesses. The written application would consist of information and data required by the BISC and the APIF Steering Committee to make a decision.
In 2010, an international APIF Consultant will provide technical support to design the APIF Operations Manual developed by the PMU and include sections on an information and awareness campaign, prequalification requirements and procedures, application procedures, technical feasibility and financial justification, selection criteria and procedures, financial management arrangements,

Job Responsibilities and Tasks:
Specifically, the international APIF consultant will assist the PMU to understand similar fund arrangements, as found in Vietnam and elsewhere:
a) Help the PMU to understand possible options for
(i) Governance structure and Selection Committee for APIF that includes, (i) mandate/authority (ii) function, roles and responsibilities, (iii) underlying principles that guide decision making,
(ii) Management Structure that includes: (i) mandate, (ii) functions, roles and responsibilities and job descriptions, (iii) relationships with private sector companies,
(iii) Pre-qualification requirements and procedures for applicants, application procedures, application formats for technical feasibility and financial justification,
(iv) Selection criteria for applications: (i) eligibility to access and definition of entities eligible, (ii) eligible activities and specific activities that are ineligible,
(v) Proposal evaluation criteria and procedures/locations for evaluation of project proposals,
(vi) Decision making procedures including (i) application of openness and transparency, (ii) announcement of successful/unsuccessful applicants, (iii) decision making flow charts,
(vii) Contractual arrangements including (i) frequency of applications, (ii) contract form and formats, (iii) maximum values, (iv) budget guidelines, (v) contract negotiation procedures, (vi) milestones appraisal, payment schedules, approval to pay and payment methods, (vii) time periods, (viii) signing authorities, (ix) contract depositories, (x) acquittals/audits where necessary, (xi) risk management for non- or poor performance.
(viii) Develop Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies and Procedures including, (i) project database and tracking, (ii) monitoring and reporting procedures, (iii) independent impact evaluation criteria and implementation of contracts, (iv) aggregating project impacts to the program level, (v) reporting formats and evaluation.

Specific responsibilities include:
a) Together with the national consultant, prepare a APIF Operations Manual;
b) To develope a manual for APIF operational and guide the development of BISC and prepare and test guidelines for public-private financing of agribusiness investment.

In Addition the Consultant will:
c) Coordinate with the PMU and the national agribusiness specialist and BISC advisors to add value and ensure consistency
between processes in CDF and development of the pluralistic service delivery system.
d) Provide on-going coaching and mentoring to the PMU, District Coordinators and DARD staff in
the operations of agribusiness investment.

Expected Outputs:
First Input: (2010) (2 person-months) -ASAP
1) Outline Draft APIF’s Operational Manual
2) Pilot of public-private financing of agribusiness investment and pilot completion Report
3) TNA for roadshow participants
4) Strategies for facilitation of SMEs

Second Input: (2011, 1 person-month)
1) Final Draft of APIF’s operational Manual
2) Progress report on establishment of SMEs agribusiness investment, Public-Private Partnerships Fund financing and support, Recommendations for changes and focus strategy.

Third Input (2012, 1 person-month)
1) Review of APIF Operational Manual, lessons learned, recommendations for improvement and sustainability.
Qualifications and Experience Required:
• Post-graduate degree in agriculture or related topics;
• Strong experience in development and management of funding facilities, including operations manuals;
• Good local experience, either in Bac Kan, neighbouring provinces, or in provinces with similar production and poverty characteristics
• Good understanding of the local administrative and management systems and the communication networks involved at the district and commune levels;
• Strong mentoring, facilitation and communication skills gained from in working with senior level managers, private enterprises or in other loan/donor funded projects;
• Sensitivity to cultural and gender differences;
• Demonstrated computer skills in MS Office and specifications for relevant database development,
• A good command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of local ethnic minority languages would be an advantage.

Contact: Mr. Trieu Duc Thong
BISC Advisor, 3PAD project,
Email: thongtrieu@gmail.com
Phone: (+84) 948228288

RECRUITMENT NOTICES

PRO-POOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR AGROFORESTRY DEVELOPMENT BAC KAN PROVINCE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

International Eco-tourism Specialist

Background

The development objective of the project is to achieve sustainable and equitable poverty reduction and improved livelihoods of the rural poor in Bac Kan Province. The expected outcomes include: (i) improved governance culture, asset ownership and use and market incentives for private sector led pro-poor growth; (ii) deliver sustainable improvement in the livelihood of the rural poor through linking investments in infrastructure, human capacity development, improved technology and farm business management practices and effective service delivery systems; and, (iii) socially, ecologically and economically sustainable sloping land conservation and protection systems including payments for ecosystem services (ES) established.

Through Component 1, Sustainable and Equitable Forest Land Management, forest land use planning and allocation would be addressed, creating a framework for agro-forestry planning, regulation and equitable allocation in Bac Kan to be implemented. The project would promote the sustainable utilization of production and protection forest land ensuring that income and benefits from forestry resources are accrued by poor households and women. Component 2, Generating Income Opportunities for the Rural Poor, would promote improved services and technologies provided through pluralistic, pro-poor demand driven transfer mechanisms. Before new high-value chains can be created or existing chains upgraded, farmers need to have a more commercial approach to their farming operation, enabling them to engage with chain partners in a business-like way for their mutual benefit. Under Component 2, public-private partnerships and community managed investment funds would enhance pro poor agro-forestry investment. Under Component 3, Innovative Environmental Opportunities, forage based conservation, Sustainable Land Use management, bio-energy development options will be assessed and promoted. Options for Payment for Ecosystem/Environment Services (PES) are to be assessed and tested through pilot projects including Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD), catchment protection for erosion control and water resource management. As the development of eco-tourism presents opportunities, under component 3, pro-poor ecotourism will be promoted

A village based eco-tourism industry, which is attracting more adventurous international tourists, is emerging, particularly in Ba Be district. Guesthouse owners are active in promoting eco-tourism and have expressed an interest in establishing a House of Stilts Association and introducing community monitored regulations to better protect their environment. The project would accelerate the emergence of pro-poor eco-tourism in the Ba Be area through support for the development of ecotourism associations, promotion of private enterprise investment in tourism development (by the BISC), capacity building of tourism service providers and, through the Agribusiness Promotion Investment Fund, the development of public goods (forest walking tracks, information houses and website, vocational training courses, etc) in support of ecotourism development. The ecotourism program will be evaluated at end-PY3 and, if successful, will be expanded to other project districts at that time.

In 2010, an international Eco-tourism Specialist will provide technical support to develop the Eco-tourism Management for PMU and district authorities including preparation for ToT.

Job Responsibilities and Tasks:

Specific responsibilities include:

a) Literature review of current policies, legislation, strengths and weaknesses of relevant plans (incl. land use plans) and other relevant literature in the tourism/eco-tourism sector

b) Assessment of the arrival statistics and municipal support services (incl. infrastructure) in selected tourism facilities within the Ba Be national Park and other potential areas.

c) Gathering information to prepare an inventory of tourism assets including coordinate data of the sites

d) Assistance for assessing tourism assets in terms of attraction value and municipal support services.

e) Assisting with the development of recommendations on measures and monitoring for sustainable tourism planning within the Ba Be national Park

f) Assessing key issues or threats to sustainable tourism in the Ba Be national Park

g) Field visits into protected areas and nature sites with tourism value and related information collection for the assessment of attraction value, municipal services and tourism impacts

h) advising on tourism planning, positioning, marketing (design of marketing tools), staff training, and project design/implementation in general

In Addition the international ecotourism specialist will:

h) Coordinate with the PMU and the national agribusiness specialist and BISC advisors to add value and ensure consistency between processes in CDF and development of the pluralistic service delivery system.

i) Coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Bac Kan province to provide the planning and development of ecotourism sector in Bac Kan

k) Provide on-going coaching and mentoring to the PMU, District Coordinators, DCST and DARD staff in the operations of ecotourism management and investment.

Expected Outputs:

First Input: (2010) (1 person-month)

1) Report on the potential for development of ecotourism sector in Bac Kan province

2) Draft outline for ecotourism development strategy

3) TNA for roadshow participants

4) Strategies for facilitation of SMEs in investment in ecotourism sector in Bac Kan province focusing on Ba Be national park.

Second Input: (2011) (1 person- month)

1) Review and has strong recommendations on the mission report.

2) Field visit in Ba Be national Park and other areas.

3) Coaching for key personnel and finalise the mission report.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

· Post-graduate degree in agriculture, (eco) tourism or related topics;

· Strong experience in development and management of ecotourism sector and rural area.

· Good local experience, either in Bac Kan, neighbouring provinces, or in provinces with similar production and poverty characteristics

· Good understanding of the local administrative and management systems and the communication networks involved at the district and commune levels;

· Strong mentoring, facilitation and communication skills gained from in working with senior level managers, private enterprises or in other department;

· Sensitivity to cultural and gender differences;

· Demonstrated computer skills in MS Office and specifications for relevant database development,

· A good command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of local ethnic minority languages would be an advantage.

Developed by: Trieu Duc Thong,

BISC Advisor

Email: Thongtrieu@gmail.com

About Me

Thị xã Bắc Kạn, Tỉnh Bắc Kạn, Vietnam
Advisor for Business Investment Support Centre (BISC)- Bac Kan town, Bac Kan province. FAX: (+84)(281)3811889 Cell: (+84)948228288 Email: Thongtrieu@gmail.com