Programme Management Advisor (Agriculture Market and Food System) At UNOPS

Background Information – Job-specific

The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund established in Myanmar in 2009 to address food insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar. LIFT’s designated outcomes are improvements in income, resilience, nutrition, and pro-poor policy developments. So far, LIFT has reached more than 7.2 million people, or roughly 20% of Myanmar’s population; and is active in almost half the country’s townships. LIFT is currently implementing the 2019-2023 strategy and for more details visit www.lift-fund.org. https://www.lift-fund.org/ .(https://www.lift-fund.org/)

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

LIFT Support to agricultural markets aims at the productivity of smallholder agricultural production systems through different approaches including investments in (i) effective extension service delivery; (ii) access to affordable and efficient use of agricultural inputs and services; and (iii) the adoption of sustainable practices (sustainable agricultural intensification to support climate smart agriculture i.e. promotes the efficient use of natural resources (land, water, soils) imparts increased resilience to climate change and future shocks and (iv) increasing access to financial services.

The current LIFT Agriculture, Markets and Food Systems Programme (AMFSP) approach aims to transform smallholder agricultural livelihoods and vulnerable rural households to viable, prosperous enterprises with targeted approaches / interventions that address the three differentiated livelihood strategies to ‘step up’, ‘step out’ and ‘hang in’. Through the creation of enabling environments (i.e. functional input/output markets; the creation of job opportunities along the value chain).

LIFT’s work on agriculture, inclusive markets and food systems continues to reduce risk and increase the resilience of smallholder farming households and vulnerable/landless entrepreneurs, thereby enabling them to increase their incomes and address their nutritional requirements. LIFT is explicitly seeking to address women’s empowerment and gender equality through its Agriculture, Markets and Food Systems Programme. Women often face difficulties accessing finance, market information, extension services and entering higher growth markets. The ownership and control of land and property is also a significant challenge for women in rural areas. Evidence indicates that women’s empowerment in agriculture impacts on improved nutrition outcomes.

LIFT is seeking specialists with different technical expertises to support its work in Agriculture Market and Food System, in particular on programme strategic and framework planning and identification, technical support, and project evaluation. This support will be managed within the overall guidance of the Fund Board and Fund Director, working closely with LIFT’s agriculture markets and food system programme personnel and LIFT’s implementing partners.

Programme Management Advisors may carry out any of the following expertise tasks, based on needs expressed through task notes( Terms of Reference):

• Agribusiness and Value Chain Specialist
• Economist – Agricultural Economist
• Input ( seed and fertilizer) and output marketing
• Smallholder agriculture support- Extensions support
• Private sector development
• Mechanization of smallholder agriculture
• Post Harvest management
• Knowledge Development Specialist
• Natural Resources (Land and Water) Specialist
• Environmental and Climate Specialist
• Credit and Finance Specialist
• Policy and Institutional Development Specialist
• Programme/Project Support Specialist
• Project monitoring and evaluation

Under the direct supervision of Senior Programme Manager (Agriculture And Rural Finance) and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Programme Management Advisors shall support LIFT to with any or all of the following tasks:

• Lead, participate in or provide technical and operational backstopping to LIFT Agriculture Market and Food System teams involved in the formulation and implementation of projects.
• Conduct midterm review or end of project evaluation of projects involving interactions with smallholder farmers, NGOs supporting them, Associations, value chain actors, private sector actors, civil society organizations and government representatives, and advise on the development of inclusive agriculture markets and sustainable value chains;
• Provide technical advice to project or Agriculture Market and Food System team in topics related to the development of value chain institutions (sector associations, inter-professional associations, working groups, agencies, etc) to address demand and supply constraints in selected value chains;
• Provide technical input in adaptation, scale up of digital application to improve efficiency in the agriculture value chains( aggregation and bulk, payments, access to informations, extension service support, capacity building of value actors to use digital platforms, farm management practises etc)
• Lead or participate in identification / selection , formulation of projects/ strategies based LIFT focus areas include nutrition sensitive agriculture farmer extension, sustainable use of natural resources (land, water and other resources), climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• Provide advice in overall planning and monitoring of activities, learning and knowledge management.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

Methodology and Deliverables

The retainer will receive a task note (TOR) each time a requirement is identified. The Task note (TOR) will specify the dates, duration and deliverables.

Education

• A Master’s degree in Agriculture or a subject relevant to the ToR is required.
• Additional two years of professional experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered equivalent.

Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in project implementation, programme strategy developing, programme formulation and project evaluation is required.
• Experience living and working in less developed countries is an advantage.
• Experience in subject areas of agriculture, including agriculture economists, livestock production systems, veterinary policies, livestock trade policies, conservation agriculture, agricultural advisory services, mechanization, seed production, aquaculture, climate smart agriculture, nutrition sensitive agriculture, Conflict and post-conflict, Climate change adaptation, Gender is preferred.
• Experience of working with stakeholders such as private sectors including agriculture companies, local authorities, national government, civil society and the interaction among stakeholders with dialogue, advocacy, governance would be an asset.
• In-depth understanding of the Myanmar context is an advantage.
• Experience of working in Myanmar and/or South East Asia is an advantage.
• Knowledge of robust M&E systems according to latest techniques, measures and standards is preferred.
• Experience in design and execution of field surveys in rural socio-economics studies with both quantitative and qualitative methods is an asset.
• Experience in data management, processing, statistics and analysis is desirable.
• Experience in designing, drafting, editing, presenting and disseminating knowledge products is preferred.

Language

• Excellent skills in both written and spoken English are essential.
• Knowledge of Myanmar language is an advantage.