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