Location:
Yerevan, Armenia (and home-based)
Type of Contract:
Individual Service Contract
Starting Date:
10-June-2024
Application Deadline:
20-May-2024 (Midnight Yerevan, Armenia)
Post Level:
International Consultant
Duration of Assignment:
35 working days (over 4 months), 1 trip to Armenia (20 working days)
Language Required:
English
BACKGROUND
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) launches a 10-year project “Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia” (FORACCA). The project aims to bring cutting-edge knowledge on climate change-related topics to Armenia so that national policies can be properly designed, and people better understand the need for action and react accordingly. Its three primary objectives are: (1) Promote climate-smart practices in rural areas and contribute to the engagement of rural communities in Forest landscape restoration (FLR) and Agroforestry; (2) Ensure evidence-based policymaking to improve climate change adaptation capacities and support climate-smart and efficient forest management; (3) Strengthen scientific knowledge of Armenia’s capacities to address climate change and manage its forest/landscape in sustainable and climate-resilient manner. For planning and implementation, FORACCA is working together with the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research (ETH-WSL), which is part of the renowned Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. In Armenia, the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU) actively participates in the preparation of this initiative. ANAU is the only higher education institution in the agricultural sector in Armenia and has a strategic role in the country’s economic development. It qualifies professionals in the field of agriculture, forestry, and rural development. ANAU students and researchers design and implement a wide range of academic activities varying from sustainable management of natural resources, smart farming, precision agriculture, crop production, the sustainability of ago-ecosystems, biosciences, climate change and adaptation to food security.
Duties and Responsibilities
In the first year of the FORACCA project, the ANAU has been commissioned to prepare one of the components of the project for the main phase with a focus on designing agroforestry systems (establishment of agroforestry sites in different provinces of Armenia for piloting purposes). The ANAU is looking for an international agroforestry expert to assist the team in the preparation of concepts and detailed individual management plans for selected agroforestry sites.
The international agroforestry expert will support the ANAU Senior Project Coordinator and liaise with national consultants (notable local forestry specialists), in the following specific activities:
- Review the draft report on the identification of project sites for establishing agroforestry systems.
- Review the draft report on the identification of suitable species for every potential agroforestry site.
- Assist the ANAU team to develop concepts and detailed individual management plans for all selected agroforestry sites.
- In liaison with the local forestry specialists and other relevant stakeholders, determine the extent to which farmers and farmers’ associations, or other community groups, could be engaged in establishing agroforestry systems.
- Propose community engagement mechanisms and capacity development measures that may be needed to implement agroforestry management plans and identify institutional barriers.
Timeline, Deliverables and Payment Schedule
The Total Duration of the assignment is 35 working days spread over 4 months. The expected date of Contract is June 10th, 2024.
Deliverables (D):
| D1. Submission of inception report
Timeline: July 2024 |
D2. Submission of a review report on the analysis of project sites and suitable species for the establishment of agroforestry systems.
Timeline: August 2024 |
| Payment Schedule: 20%. | |
| D3. Field mission: analysis of agroforestry sites, strategic issues, assessment of needs-oriented interventions that may be applied, draft concepts and detailed individual management plans agroforestry sites.
Timeline: August/September 2024 |
| Payment Schedule: 30%. |
| D3. Final report submission to ANAU, including concepts and detailed individual management plans for all selected agroforestry sites; community engagement mechanisms; capacity development measures for implementing agroforestry management plans; barriers/risks and mitigations measures).
Timeline: September/October 2024 |
| Payment Schedule: 50%. |
Required skills and experience
- Advanced university degree in Agroforestry, Forestry or a related subject.
- At least seven years’ international experience in agroforestry related projects.
- Specific experience in developing concepts and management plans for the establishment of agroforestry systems is required.
- Specific regional expertise (Eastern Europe, Caucasus) and national (Armenia) experience is desirable.
- Ability to conduct research and analysis, with strong synthesis skills, result-orientation.
- Proven problem-solving and critical thinking skills and ability to work with interdisciplinary teams in a multicultural context.
- Ability to work in complex, multi-stakeholder project environments.
- Excellent English writing and communication skills. Armenian and/or Russian language skills will be considered as an asset.
The ANAU OFFER and Scope of Price Proposal
The ANAU offers the opportunity to work in a responsible and interesting field as part of an extremely dedicated team. The ANAU attaches great importance to the personal and professional development of its employees/contractors and the balance of their work and private life. Remuneration is based on a gender-independent salary scale. The Candidate is expected to submit a financial proposal specifying the Daily Fee which should be all inclusive. The ANAU should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket.
APPLICATIONS PROCESS
Please submit applications to [email protected] and reference ‘INTERNATIONAL AGROFORESTRY EXPERT for the preparation of concepts and management plans for agroforestry sites in Armenia’ in the subject line.
Applications should be in English and include:
- A personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate.
- A detailed cover letter, explaining the interest, relevant prior professional experience and suitability of the Candidate for the FORACCA project at the ANAU.
- A brief methodology on how the Candidate will approach and complete the assignment.
- Financial proposal supported by a breakdown of costs.
- A preliminary Time Sheet, which shall serve as the basis for the payment of fees.
In the selection process both technical competence (70%) and the daily fee rate (30%) will be taken into account. The vacancy closes on May 20th, 2024, at Midnight, Local Time in Yerevan, Armenia (GMT+4). Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for (online-)interviews. Qualified women and members of social minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
