Programme Design Consultant (Retainer)

In early 2017 LIFT’s Fund Board committed to support the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) to allocate land to landless and land poor households. In July 2017, MOALI developed and submitted to LIFT a concept note “Reclamation of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands (VFV), Re-allocation and Development by the Rural Poor”; that concept note now provides the basis for the development of a joint programme between MOALI and LIFT.  A Programme Design Consultant is currently required to work with MOALI and LIFT to further progress this work.

In sum, MOALI plans to pilot the reclamation of VFV lands that remain unused or under-utilised after allocation to individuals, companies and public entities, and re-allocate this land to smallholder farmers and/or landless farmers that need secure tenure over land resources to strengthen their livelihoods through agrarian activities. To date efforts to reclaim and re-allocate unused VFV land have been limited, mainly due to the absence of clear political and procedural guidance. As such, MOALI intends to pilot reclamation of VFV lands and reallocation to smallholder farmers in selected areas where risks and un-intended consequences can be easily managed. Lessons will be learned from this pilot and contribute to MOALI’s consolidated procedures which can then be used to scale up efforts of reclaiming/reallocating VFV lands in other areas across the country.

Reclaiming and re-allocating VFV land is more than a technical-administrative endeavor; it requires increasing agrarian production and productivity at the local level while at the same time responding to the needs of all local stakeholders through improved delivery of government services. The proposed methodology for the pilot is grounded in participatory processes, inclusive of local civil society, consensus seeking, and drawing from international best practices. Overall this effort should result in improved management of natural resources and strengthening of land tenure security for the most vulnerable and supporting local livelihoods.

MOALI is conducting the initial selection of potential sites in 2-3 townships and feasibility pre-assessments are ongoing with technical support from GRET (Professionals for Fair Development) and LIFT, with a report on these assessments expected in December 2017.

This consultancy is specifically required to work with and for MOALI on the further development of a detailed programme design document, for MOALI’s review, revision and submission for funding.

The purpose of the consultancy is to support MOALI to develop a programme design document (PDD) for reclaiming unused vacant, fallow and virgin (VFV) land and land reallocation to rural poor. The PDD will provide a programme plan for MOALI to review and revise as necessary for onward submission to LIFT for funding. 

The design should build on the initial concept note submitted by MOALI to LIFT. The design should also ensure alignment with the LIFT Fund Board’s principles on land-related matters, as follows:

-        The programme should be led by the Union Government;

-        Services provided to support smallholder farmers are all inclusive;

-        Do-no-harm practices always apply.

The consultant should ensure the design is responsive to the guidelines framed by LIFT and shared with MOALI:

-        The programme should maintain its focus on reclaiming unused VFV land;

-        The programme should have a longer term vision and a larger scope than the LIFT duration (which is only until mid-2019); the programme should seek to contribute to improved policies and capacity for land reclamation on a larger scale, as needed in the years to come;

-        Recognising that rural households need more than land to become successful agriculture producers, the programme can include support for improved access to agricultural services such as extension, quality seeds, credit, etc., as appropriate given the programme timeframe; however LIFT funds are deemed less suitable for large scale infrastructure and land development;

-        The programme should present a proposed governance and operational modality/ies; it is anticipated that the designed programme may require partner agency/ies to support MOALI on management and implementation, likely with staff located in the Department of Planning and at regional level, to manage the funding and support for and with MOALI.

The consultant will produce a programme design document (PDD) to be submitted to MOALI for MOALI’s consideration and onward revision or submission to LIFT for funding.   The structure and contents of the expected PDD are outlined in annex 1.

The PDD will need to also take into account and include:

• A background and rationale for a MOALI programme on reclamation, reallocation and development of VFV land, with a justification for how the program contributes to MOALI’s strategies and aligns with LIFT’s strategy, objectives and approaches. The PDD should explain how LIFT funding will contribute to a longer term vision from MOALI.
• Measures for managing the institutional complexities of a large programme involving multiple government agencies and non-government organisations;
• How cross cutting issues, in particular, gender, human rights, and the environment  will be addressed;
• How the proposed framework fits relative to other donor support activities in the sector and identify effective donor and development partner coordination mechanisms;
• A programme risk management matrix that identifies the risks to LIFT, including the degree of risk and options for management of the identified risks.
• An effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure that learning is applied to ongoing decisions on what activities are supported, where and how. It is recommended that the PDD includes a Monitoring and Evaluation for Accountability and Learning (MEAL) plan that includes a Theory of Change (TOC) defining specific outcomes, providing a clear logic for the programme and a measurement framework to assess the outcomes of the programme based on baseline and end line evaluations.
• An assessment of the value for money of the proposed investment and propose instruments for the programme to monitor and report on value for money during implementation.

Based on the consultant’s technical expertise and following consultations with MOALI, the Consultant will develop a PDD as laid out in annex 1.  The Consultant will submit the PDD to MOALI and LIFT.  MOALI will thus own the consultant’s outputs, MOALI review and makes final decisions on the submission to LIFT.

The Consultant will work in close collaboration with MOALI as the key stakeholder in the development of a programme on reclamation of VFV, in particular with the Department of Planning, and with LIFT as the donor. At the start of the assignment, she/he will develop a work plan in agreement with MOALI.

As part of the consultant’s orientation to the context, s/he will review all the relevant documentation, including:

-        MOALI’s concept note “Reclamation of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands (VFV), Re-allocation and Development by the Rural Poor”

-        MOALI’s agricultural development strategy

-       LIFT Strategy and operational guidelines Selected sites pre-assessment report from GRET

The Consultant will be guided by MOALI and need to carry out consultation meetings with various institutions and key informants and workshops as deemed useful. The Consultant will also work closely with and be advised by MOALI’s Policy Unit’s international and national consultants on land policies.

The Consultant will need to map and consult all relevant stakeholders on design, in particular the concerned departments from MOALI and the General Administration Department at union and regional levels. The Consultant should also ensure that civil society organizations and/or other projects or programmes related to land tenure security in Myanmar are consulted and considered in the design of the programme development document.

This programme design document should include all sections as laid out in annex 1.  The PDD should also include a brief capacity assessment of key institutions in regards to the programme management and propose coordination and institutional arrangements for a sound programme management.

In addition to the details of the programme design document for MOALI, the Consultant should develop Terms of Reference (TOR) for a partner agency who would support MOALI in the operationalization of LIFT-funded parts of the programme, for example managing LIFT funding, supporting MOALI management capacities, recruiting consultants and identifying external supports as required.

The following will be required:

1. Initial meetings with MOALI and LIFT FMO to review and agree on the consultant’s role, objectives and methodology, and to review logistics;
2. An programme design workshop with MOALI and other government units as relevant to discuss and ensure a shared understanding of the broad programme design;
3. A briefing to MOALI and a briefing to LIFT FMO on the programme design document being proposed before finalization.
4. A Draft Programme Design Document with annexes following the guidelines in annex 1 (up to fifteen days after the briefing) to be presented to MOALI and LIFT,
5. A Final Programme Design Document with a full set of annexes as detailed in annex 1 (up to seven days after receiving final written feedback from LIFT and MOALI).

The Consultant will work for an estimated 30 days, partially working from home (12 days) and carrying out consultations in Myanmar (18 days) according to the tentative work plan in annex 2. A detailed work plan and meeting schedule will be developed prior to the Consultant arrival in-country in coordination with MOALI.

In-country visits are planned for February-March 2018. Consultations in various locations (Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay regions – to be confirmed) will be followed by a debriefing to LIFT FMO and the project teams in Yangon.

LIFT will arrange for a local consultant to support all in-country meetings and visits, facilitating logistics and arrangements for consultations and interpretation of interviewees’ responses.  LIFT will cover any costs incurred in arranging meetings, workshop, and travel arrangements in-country. 

• Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Rural Development Planning, or a another subject area relevant to the ToR is required.
•  Additional two years of similar experience with a Bachelor’s Degree is considered as equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum seven years of experience in rural development programme/project implementation, design and evaluation is required.
• Experience in programme design and management involving government institutions is required;
• Technical knowledge and experience in land tenure security and land reform programmes is preferred;
• Technical knowledge of farming systems and farm extension is preferred;
• Proven understanding of the socio-economic and political situation in Myanmar is desirable;
• A sound understanding of livelihoods, food security issues and land tenure practices in South-East Asia and/or Myanmar is an advantage;Previous involvement with and knowledge of donors, UN agencies, international NGOs and civil society is an advantage;

Language Requirement

• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

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