Cluster Coordination Analyst - Agriculture and Rural Livelihood (Duty Station: Bajura, Nepal)

Nepal's Constitution has established food security, the right to food, and food sovereignty as fundamental rights, with the government entrusted to uphold them. However, Nepal ranks 73 out of 117 food-importing nations in the 2022 Global Hunger Report, with approximately 45 out of 77 districts facing food insufficiency. To address this challenge and align with Sustainable Development Goals, a project named " Renewable Energy for Resilient Agro-Food Systems (RERAS)" is being funded by the Norwegian Embassy and implemented by UNDP in 11 local governments across Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Bagmati provinces. This project focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity and food security by leveraging affordable energy solutions, empowering local farmers through modern technology, and partnering with government bodies and national organizations. with the support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy. 

The project aims to contribute to the “improved food and nutrition security of the communities in targeted municipalities of Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces by promoting indigenous crop varieties through mechanization of agriculture using renewable energy-based technology.” The project will support establishing dedicated funds at local level to support the farmers for use of modern technology in production, processing, and marketing. The project will work with the local and provincial governments, academia, cooperatives, traders, and service providers to enhance their knowledge on use of modern technology for food production and sustainable food system management through capacity building and provisions for climate information, policies, access to finance, and research based improvised farming. Extensive use of energy-based and climate smart technology will help reduce the cost of production and increase local food supply. This will also support economic empowerment of women, returnee migrants, youths and marginalized groups through job creation and contribute to poverty reduction, environmental safeguarding, sustainable production and consumption, and gender equality and social inclusion. 

In the context of the ‘Renewable Energy for Resilient Agro-Food Systems (RERAS), UNDP is looking to recruit a full-time, dedicated, experienced and competent Cluster Coordinator- Agriculture and Livelihood to ensure operationalization of RERAS project in timely and cost-effective manner and fulfil programmatic expectations outlined in this TOR. The incumbent will be responsible for the overall supervision and guidance to local partners and responsible for all aspects of livelihood promotion and value chain administration of project interventions in both Sudhur Pachhim and Karnali provinces.

The Cluster Coordination Analyst will report to and work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager.

• Ensure stakeholders’ engagement and partners coordination at local level,
• Ensure preparation of Climate Resilient Agriculture Farming plan for the identified 11 municipalities in coordination with the respective local governments, cluster committees, Project partners and stakeholders.
• Prepare detailed roll-out strategy for technology dissemination related to food and nutrition security.
• Establish contacts with partners and coordinate with other UNDP projects/programs for synergy and complementarity.
• Represent the project with consent from the Project Manager and share experiences for up scaling the learnings of the project.
• Coordinate and network with relevant stakeholders for smooth implementation of the project at each local government, as per the need of the project. 
• Maintain good working relations with key stakeholders and partners – including but not limited to WFP, ICIMOD, AEPC, LIBIRD to support smooth implementation of the project and ensure local ownership of project results and their sustainability. 
• Coordinate with UN field office team and government line agencies working in the cluster. 
• Support Project Manager related to agriculture and livelihood promotion of selected commodity.
• Ensure quality assurance and proper implementation of the program at the local level.

Carry out administrative responsibilities. 

• Support in preparing the annual work plan, procurement plans, quarterly work plans to be submitted to UNDP. 
• Support and contribute developing annual plan of operation and annual budget, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual progress report. 
• Contribute on project visibility activities and extend technical support to the team as per requirements.
• Contribute on progress reporting (providing information and data on time along with report review) as required by the donor agency and the implementing partner.
• Support the Project Manager to make harmony with 11 local governments for the execution of project activities.
• Perform other tasks as required for the smooth implementation of the project.
• Support the Project Manager and finance team for efficient management and mobilization of project funds.

Strengthen the capacity of project partners and beneficiaries.

• Mapping of local value chain actors, prepare roadmap and support them in capacity development at different node of value chain of selected commodity to strengthen resilient energy-food system.
• Conduct the capacity and need assessment of the identified cooperatives and market committees. 
• Institutional strengthening of cooperatives and market actors for better access to finance.
• Capacity gap assessment- both technical and managerial of local governments, cooperatives, farmers groups, women entrepreneurs, and other service providers.
• Prepare training/orientation package based on the capacity gap assessment and support in providing training on different production technologies and improved practices including post-harvest technology and market management. 
• Capacitate municipalities to prepare and use digital soil map, establishment, and management of MIS system.
• Engage with legislative and executive members of the selected 11 local governments in formulating legal instruments like local agricultural policies, strategies, acts, guidelines, procedures, standard norms, for smooth operation of agriculture program -beyond project. 
• Prepare and implement plan of action on physical and institutional support provisions to cooperatives, collection centres and satellite markets to achieve the project targets, 
• Support the provision of postharvest handling and marketing of fruit and vegetables to operators of collection centres and satellite markets.
• Contribute to build the capacity of staffs of local government and cooperatives on themes relevant to the position.
• Support the cooperatives and market centres to prepare business plans, operational plans, and other relevant policy documents, and their smooth implementations, 
• Plan and manage the implementation of learning programs (trainings, workshop, exposure visits) on collection centre management, marketing, and value chain development. 
• Research the marketing and market information system at collection centres and satellite markets and identify opportunities to strengthen the system. 
• In collaboration with relevant government and private institutions, support provision of necessary ICT services and equipment to cooperative/collection centre members and farmers. 
• Identify potential market actors and business development service providers, and connect with producer’s organization for assured market and services,
• Support the cooperatives and market committees to develop value chain grant and its effective implementation,

Plan and monitor project interventions and knowledge management.

• Develop livelihood options through suitable farming systems, conservation farming, NTFP, green enterprise for the development of resilience of vulnerable communities.
• Support the development of initiatives and partnerships that facilitate knowledge-management on livelihoods, poverty alleviation and particularly, their linkages. 
• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.
• Review the result obtained from the baseline survey and ensure the findings are well incorporated in project interventions. 
• Ensure and support regular monitoring, quality assurance, midterm evaluation and necessary socio-economic research. 
• Support in mapping of demand and supply of indigenous crops, potential pockets areas, consumption behavior, dietary pattern, and agri-value chain of selected commodities in consultation with partner organizations.
• Support in assessing value chain, post-harvest loss and storage facilities of selected commodities.
• Provide technical support in establishing community seed bank, market outlets, and post-harvest management of selected commodity.
• Support identification of project pocket areas, municipalities, cooperatives, farmers, extension officers and information extension providers 
• Support in developing training modules, e-learning platforms and extension materials on resilient agriculture practice for technology transfer of food-based nutrition and conduct different awareness events.
• Provide technical support to municipalities, cooperatives and farmers’ organization on agriculture solutions, soil fertility, crop and water management and storage facilities.
• Support in implementing pilot project in testing feasibility and effectiveness of energy solution in food system.
• Support agriculture-based infrastructures, digital platforms and start-ups identified in collaboration with the municipality, farmers’ group, youths, women and cooperatives to enable them to deliver their products to market in timely and cost-effective manner. 

Provide technical guidance and support to the project team and partners: 

• Provide technical guidance to project team, government officials and other stakeholders, related to rural livelihood and preparation of detailed project workplan and budget. 
• Develop an integrated and coordinated plan of action based on proven evidence that identifies demonstrative opportunities of the project activities. 
• Guide the field team in Jumla and Bajura in relation to agriculture and rural livelihood. 
• Support local government and partners in diversification of rural livelihoods for community people. 
• Organize project inception and review workshops to build common understanding about project outcomes, implementation modality, challenges, and deliverables in collaboration with RERAS and other partners. 
• Provide technical guidance to the project team, in liaison with the government officials and other stakeholders, in preparation of detailed project workplan and budget, development of project implementation strategy and action plan, and engagement of project staff at community levels. 
• Guide the field team based in the cluster and municipality to execute planned activities in a timely and efficient manner. 
• Conduct regular meetings and follow ups with project team to take stock of implementation and reflect cross-cutting issues such as vulnerability, gender, social inclusion, human rights, etc. in project result framework. 
• Engage in policy advocacy, consultations, and policy formulation to enhance energy-food and nutrition security nexus.
• Provide quality inputs and feedback to the work done at provincial and municipal levels and ensure coherence with project objectives, plans and budgets.

Reporting and documentation responsibility

• In consultation with SPC, prepare and finalize financial progress reports periodically as agreed in monitoring and reporting timeline and deliverables as per the standard template of UNDP and donor. 
• Support in documentation and dissemination of project experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, and share in appropriate forums.
• Ensure timely monitoring, effective technical assistance, and project implementation through regular field visits, interactions with staff, partners, and stakeholders.
• Prepare and submit periodic delivery reports and submit to UNDP CO and share to project team. 
• Assist the Project Manager in preparing work plan, periodic reporting as per the requirements of donor.
• Prepare and organize public awareness raising activities in regard to energy, food and nutrition security at local level. 
• Prepare and finalization of technical and progress reports, briefs and other documents and ensure their quality. 
• Support in providing training and workshops to project staffs, stakeholders and implementing partners on best practices in M&E, project reporting, and communications, prepare summaries and briefs on key knowledge products to enhance the dissemination of lessons learned and best practices.

Carry out Gender Equality and Social Inclusion responsibilities of the project.

• Ensure the project outputs have specific objective in gender equality and women empowerment and activities, budgets and indicators gender transformative to measure changes.
• Manage data disaggregated by sex, age, and caste/ethnicity from the records of project interventions.
• Ensure formulation of GESI policy and guideline at municipal level. 
• Ensure meaningful participation of women, dalit, janajati and people with disability in all stages of project cycle.
• Ensure integration of GESI aspects in all stages of the project in coordination with GESI Focal Person of UNDP and consortium partners. 
• Provide advice and guidance on strategic and policy issues to strengthen gender & social inclusion initiatives during planning and implementation.
• Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
• Collaborate with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

People Management competencies

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business direction and strategy         

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business development            

• Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions. 

Business management           

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results. 
• Partnership Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

2030 Agenda: Planet                 

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Climate Change Adaptation: agriculture/ food security

2030 Agenda: People                

• Gender: Gender Mainstreaming

2030 Agenda: Peace 

• Governance: Inclusion and Participation