Jobs Detail:
The Economic Diversification Support Programme (EDSP) will address a central concern in Yemen’s Strategic Vision 2025, namely, its call for national economic diversification, and do so by promoting pro-poor growth in four promising sectors: agriculture, fisheries, industry and trade, and tourism. This will also be a response to the country’s Third Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan for Poverty Reduction (2006-2010), and indeed the project will help operationalise the plan’s chapter on productive and promising sectors. The EDSP will also accord with national priorities reflected in the UNDAF and UNDP County Programme Action Plan (2007-2011) with reference to promoting pro-poor economic growth in the country and diversifying its economy. Within this framework, the intervention is aligned with a number of UNDP programme and UNDAF components and also the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI) current Agricultural Sector Strategy, which calls for improved food security, empowering rural women, improving export markets and training of ministry staff.
The agriculture component of the Economic Diversification Support Programme (EDSP) will support Yemen’s efforts to improve food security by building the capacity of MAI to conduct agricultural policy analysis, through strengthening local Women’s Departments, and by continuing UNDP’s efforts to support expanded horticultural exports. These studies will be coordinated with project activities in other sectors such as MOPIC, MFW and MOIT and with the economic policy & planning work of EDSP’s Programme Support Secretariat.
Duties and Responsibilities
General objective:
The main objective of the study is to develop an improved information to support horticultural exports, evaluation of market information system for horticultural production and exports and Develop recommendations for improved market Information system.
Together with other activities that aim to support economic growth in the agricultural sector as the most promising sector in the Yemeni economy, this study is one of many other studies financed by the project .
Expected Outcomes:
The output of this study expected to contribute to the improvement of marketing information system in terms of developed information, comprehension and wider coverage, as well as the development of marketing information disseminations, and the strengthening of institutional structures and, sustainability.
Outputs:
The following inter alia results are expected from this study:
A comprehensive analysis of the current situation of agricultural marketing and export information systems covering inter alia institutional, technical, technological, financial, economic, administrative, legal, legislative, regulative, investment, and other related dimensions.
Identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges.
Strategic and policy options in the short and long term.
Specific and clear recommendations on the best alternatives, proposed solutions and interventions required for sustainable development.
Detailed action plan for implementation of all stages in the long and short terms including the timeframe, personnel, responsibilities, obligations and indicators of monitoring and evaluation.
Budget required for the development and implementation of marketing information system.
B. Reporting System: Reports on the progress of work are to be presented to the Project Agriculture Team Leader (ATL) and National Agriculture Project Manager (NAPM) including, but not limited to, inception report, completion report and any other required reports as indicated in the table below.
C. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the framework of the project and the export marketing sub-component, the consultant will undertake the responsibility for carrying out a comprehensive Evaluation of market information system for horticultural production and exports and Develop recommendations for improved market Information system. S/he will operate under the overall guidance of the National Agriculture Project Manager, ATL, and International Agriculture Marketing Expert in carrying out the activities of study.
He/she will be responsible for the following:
1- Provide strategic thinking to ensure proper implementation of the activities and outputs related to the study.
2- Develop an integrated plan for the implementation of the study including:
Clear methodology and conceptual framework
A detailed action plan for all stages of the study
Review and approval of methodology and action plan by the project
Coordinate the different activities mainly with General Directorate for Agricultural Marketing (GDAM) and its departments in governorates, other actors and stakeholders based on collected and reviewed data and information.
3- Review the current status of agricultural marketing and export information system based on the existing information, literature, documents, reports, National statistics, scientific literature, international publications, and other studies financed by bi or multilateral donors etc (e.g. UNDP, FAO, EU, WB, IFAD, etc.).
4- Review of options for development of improved agricultural marketing and export information system: The review of options shall include, but not limited to, institutional, legal, legislative, financial, technical, technological, investment, regulative, community based/participation, awareness and gender, and information base.
5- Collection of data and information necessary for applying the agreed methodology by relevance data collection tools and field visits
a) The recent scope of data and information collecting by MIS :
Types of Data collected.
working methods (collect, analyze and summarize and disseminate …)
Geographical scope
Targeted beneficiaries groups.
Human resources.
Technical, financial and institutional capacities.
b) The Appropriation and consistency of MIS design with:
Economic theory.
Methodologies of marketing
Economic policy.
New and modern technologies available.
Characteristics and needs of the targeted beneficiaries.
c) Publication and utilization of the MIS:
Publication
The size and quality of outputs
Information dissemination
Stakeholders needs.
d) Management of the Information System:
Organizational functions.
Planning
Guidance and motivation
Evaluation and quality control .
6- Organize 1st Consultative workshop with all the stakeholders to present findings of the review & assessment study, and draft a detailed report and prepare a concise report (in bullet points) for discussions to validate the related issues.
7- Study and assess the available marketing and export information systems facilities, capacities, activities, policies and requirement and needs sustainable development considering models from south – south cooperation countries.
8- Assessment of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of horticultural marketing and exporting information system including potentials & limitations for development.
9- Analysis and conclusion.
Undertake cost analysis of options for sustainable development and implementation of marketing information systems for agricultural products and exports.
Diagnose the current situation and identify and measure the important indicators that describe the situation as a base line and criteria’s to measure progress and measure the impact of the project.
The feasibility study and technical evaluation for all alternatives.
Alternatives to the strengths and weaknesses.
Recommendations in strategies and policies for development including capacity development, technical, financial, logistic, technological, institutional and management development and interventions.
Clear methodology, conceptual framework and a detailed action plan for all stages of implementation include the timeframe, personnel, responsibilities, obligations and indicators of monitoring and evaluation.
10- Organize Validation workshop with all the stakeholders to present findings, recommendation, and the draft report for discussions to validate the proposed policies, solutions, recommended measures and interventions.
11- Based on the recommendations from the above, finalize and submit the final report in hard and soft copy for the main report and supporting documents.
Description
Develop an integrated plan for the implementation of the study.5 days, Sana’a
Review the current status of marketing and export information system, data collection and review, including field visits to governorates. 45 days, Sana’a with travel to project governorates
1st Consultative Workshop to validate identified related issues.1 day, Sana’a
Assessment of (SWOT), Review of options & propose recommendations, cost analysis and feasibility study. 30 days, Sana’a with travel to project governorates
Validation Workshop to present draft final report and validate the proposed solutions. 2 days, Sana’a
Finalize the final report based on the recommendations. 7 days, Sana’a
Assignments outside the Duty Station: Hodeidah, Aden, Hadramout (Mukalla and Seyoun), Hajjah, Taiz and Almaharah, Amran, Dhamar, Shabwah, Lahej, Al-Mahweet, Sa’ada, Mareb, Abyan. Ibb and Sana’a (governorate) and Sana’a Capital City.
Competencies
Substantive experience working in the field of information systems/ agricultural marketing and export issues
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills in English and Arabic
Required Skills and Experience
Advanced university degree in Information System, Marketing, Agricultural Marketing, Economics, Agronomy or a closely related field with relevant professional qualifications.
A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in the field of the study.
Experience in information systems, marketing and export information system, and marketing and export related aspects.
Working knowledge of English and Arabic, including excellent drafting and presentation skills.
Excellent computer skills, including full working knowledge of standard word processing, spreadsheet and presentation packages.
