Mali: Consultant, National Expert Specializing in Innovations and the Private Sector

Mar 7, 2021 | UNDP
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The Mopti region has attracted considerable attention in recent years from government and international actors engaged in the development and stability of the country. Since 2015, this region has become a hotbed of insecurity where the jihadist threat, military operations, inter-community violence and conflicts between herders and farmers converge. As the State does not demonstrate effective authority and does not exercise a monopoly of force in this region, chronic insecurity reigns there and compromises the prospects for peace, socio-economic development and respect for the Rule of law. Violence between pastoralist and farming communities in the Mopti region is mainly due to competition for land and water resources. Land is needed to maintain economic livelihoods amid climate change, changing demographics, outside ideological influences, an ongoing jihadist insurgency, and political manipulation by local elites. Rising tensions between farmers and pastoralists exacerbate a fragile security environment in central Mali.

It is urgent to articulate immediate recovery interventions and long-term sustainable development in accordance with the Strategic Framework for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development (CREDD 2019-2023) of the Government of Mali for the sustainable management of natural resources, the strengthening of the resilience of communities and vulnerable groups, the consolidation of peace and social cohesion to cope with external shocks.

Faced with land degradation and the negative impacts of climate change on the ecosystem, conflicts in the Mopti region are aggravated by competition for natural resources between farmers and pastoralists, weak governance, the fragility of State, inequality and widespread insecurity with the emergence of self-defense militias.

Historically, in the Mopti region, conflicts between farmers and pastoralists are traditionally resolved by local customary mechanisms and traditional agreements (Djowro) for the management of pastures (bourgouttières) and agricultural land. Increasingly, however, the system for regulating access to pasture has collapsed or traditional authorities are restricting access. There is currently an acute competition between groups of pastoralists and between pastoralists, rice farmers and fishermen. As pastoralism conditions have deteriorated in the surrounding areas (on the plateaus and in the dry areas of the Seeno, Gurma and Mema rivers), pastoralists are now more numerous to move to the interior delta during the dry season which cannot no longer bear it.  

In order to reverse the degradation of natural resources, the deterioration of traditional management mechanisms and to mitigate the effects of climate change, inter-community conflicts and violent extremism, the government of Mali, with the help of its partners, the UNDP and the GEF, propose to develop a project on the sustainable management of natural resources (land, water, fish, pastures), reconstruction and strengthening of livelihoods for the consolidation of peace and social cohesion. 

It is within this framework (PPG), the UNDP is looking for a national consultant (NC) to assist an international consultant (IC) in supporting the Government of Mali to prepare a project document (ProDoc) in order to access funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through UNDP.

Main Objectives of the Mission

The objective for the gender specialist is to support the PPG team leader to integrate an approach ensuring gender equality in the activities of the project "Climate security and sustainable management of natural resources in the central regions of Mali for the consolidation of peace ”.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of responsibilities / Scope of work:

The Private Sector and Innovation Specialist will lead the integration of the private sector into the project document and ensure that the project has a clear strategy and action plan for private sector participation, taking take into account the local socio-economic context and the support needs of vulnerable populations, young people and women. It will provide quality assurance on the collection of project baseline data on livelihoods development, value chain analysis, private sector engagement and innovation promotion, and prepare the necessary documentation. which will be part of the project file. He / she will work under the direction of the PPG team leader and with the support of the national consultants.

Deliverables:

  • Inception report with methodology and updated timeline 30% 3 days
  • Draft project innovation strategy and private sector engagement and report on preparatory studies and technical reviews 50% 15 days
  • Final strategy for project innovation and private sector engagement and report on contributions to project document and annexes 20% 7 days
  • Total: 100% 25 days

Preparatory technical studies and reviews: Prepare contributions and support required analyzes / studies as agreed with the team leader, including:

  • Baseline / situation analysis on areas related to private sector engagement, value chain and livelihood development, taking into account the security situation in Mopti, for the large-scale project. This analysis will include a full elaboration of the obstacles identified by the PPG team, a full description of the objectives and activities of components 1 to 3 for aspects related to the private sector; This analysis will take into account the analyzes of national consultants in the fields of agriculture, adaptation to climate change, support for gender equality, conflicts, indigenous and vulnerable communities.
  • Support analysis and stakeholder consultations and ensure they are comprehensive and comprehensive, including targeting private sector companies, producers 'and entrepreneurs' unions, quasi-government companies active in sectors and chains of value relevant to the project and project areas;
  • Examine and synthesize the best practices in terms of private sector involvement and innovations applicable in Mali and in the context of the project, in particular given the security situation.
  • Support the completion of any additional studies deemed necessary for the preparation of the project document and all other end products.

Development of a private sector and innovation strategy for the project:

  • In consultation with the AcceleratorLab in Mali and on the basis of the baseline and stakeholder analyzes, help the team leader to define the overall project strategy in order to integrate private sector actors (large and / or small) .
  • In consultation with the AcceleratorLab in Mali and on the basis of the activities proposed for the project, strengthen the strategy through the introduction of an innovative approach.
  • Develop a simple strategy and action plan for the implementation of private sector participation in the project, including the private sector expertise required for the project during its implementation, to be included in the project budget.
  • Identify potential co-funding and support obtaining letters.

Formulation of the project document, request for approval and mandatory annexes as well as project specific annexes: Prepare contributions and support the required analyzes / studies, as agreed with the PPG team leader.

Validation workshop:

  • Contribute to the validation workshop; and
  • Support any necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, if applicable.

Final products :

  • Project innovation strategy and private sector engagement plan, with a budget

Monitoring / Reporting Requirements:

The national consultant:

  • will work with a team of international and national consultants and under the guidance of the international consultant - PPG team leader
  • Engage regularly with Supervisor, other team members and UNDP Country Office via email and Zoom / Teams / Skype as needed
  • is bound by the duties of neutrality, confidentiality and reserve implied by his position as a consultant to UNDP.

The deliverables will be approved by UNDP Mali.

  • Assignment Start Date: March 15, 2020
  • Duration of the assignment / or end date (if applicable): 25 days until October 2021
  • Administrative arrangements: The national consultant will provide his workstation (laptop, Internet, telephone, scanner / printer, etc.) The national consultant will be based at home, with missions in Mopti; Travel expenses and any DSA incurred will be reimbursed by UNDP Mali.

Travel cost:

All contemplated travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to the duty station / repatriation trips. In general, UNDP should not accept higher travel costs than an economy class ticket. If the IC wishes to travel in a higher class, it must do so using its own resources.

In the event of unforeseen travel, payment of travel costs, including tickets, accommodation and terminal fees, must be agreed between the relevant business unit and the individual consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Competencies

Other capacities and aptitudes:

The national consultant should demonstrate proven capacities in terms of animation, teamwork and great adaptability. He will also have to:

  • Demonstrates integrity by shaping the values ​​and ethical standards of the United Nations;
  • Promote the vision, mission and strategic objectives of UNDP;
  • Demonstrates sensitivity and adaptability in matters of culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
  • Treat all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as to work collaboratively with a team;
  • Ability to respond to customer requests constructively;
  • Excellent proposal writing skills;
  • Have a spirit of initiative;
  • Be open and have a great listening capacity;
  • Have the ability to work in a team and in a multicultural environment;
  • Development and operational efficiency;
  • Ability to support the identification, formulation, implementation of development programs and projects;
  • Ability to communicate with government departments and civil society, local authorities and other actors in the field;
  • Excellent writing, synthesis and communication skills;

Experience and qualification requirements:

Education:

  • Master's degree or higher degree in a relevant field, such as economics, business and other similar disciplines;

Languages:

  • Fluency in fluent French is essential as well as excellent writing, synthesis and communication skills

Professional experience :

  • At least 7 years of relevant professional experience, including in the development and / or management, monitoring and evaluation of innovative projects and the private sector;
  • In-depth knowledge and past experience in Mali and the Mopti region or conflict zones are required;
  • Experience working with local authorities, civil society, and other actors is required.