SOW.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Technical Advisor for Agriculture, Livestock and Climate Resistance in Niger

A. INTRODUCTION

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation whose mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. For more information on the MCC, please visit www.mcc.gov.

The United States of America acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (“MCC”) and the Government of Niger (the “Government”) signed a five year Compact to promote poverty reduction through economic growth. The Compact will be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account in Niger (MCA-Niger) and is expected to enter into force in September 2017. In the interim, the Unité de Coordination des Programmes du Millennium Challenge (UC-PMC) is supporting the oversight of all activities in preparation to Enter into Force.

Niger’s $437 US million Compact will support improvements to three major constraints to economic growth and investment in Niger: 1. lack of reliable access to water for agricultural use and livestock; 2. lack of access to markets; and 3. a fragmented and inefficient business regulatory system. In partnership with the Government of Niger, the MCC compact will strengthen Niger’s agricultural sector by improving water availability, infrastructure, and market access, and has the potential to benefit more than 3.9 million people.

The Compact has 2 projects:

1. The Climate Resilient Communities Project aims to increase incomes for small-scale agriculture- and livestock-dependent families in four (4) eligible regions in rural Niger by improving crop and livestock productivity, sustaining natural resources critical to long-term productivity, and increasing market sales of targeted commodities. The Climate Resilient Communities Project (CRA) envisions investment in public or quasi-public goods aimed at increasing the resilience of communities to climate risks as well as private investments aimed at reducing the risks of households through a Grant Facility. The Program in Support of Regional Project in Support of Pastoralism in the Sahel (PRAPS) is part of a West Africa Regional Project aimed at supporting a more resilient and productive livestock sector across the transhumance corridors by investing in animal health, improved management of natural resources and improved market infrastructure. The project will be implemented in partnership with the World Bank through existing project implementation units (“PIUs”) located in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Regions of intervention for this project are Tillaberi, Dosso, Tahoua and Maradi.

2. Irrigation and Market Access: Through the compact’s Irrigation and the Market Access Project, MCC will partner with the Government of Niger to improve irrigation, including the rehabilitation and development of three large-scale irrigation systems, in order to increase crop yields, sustainable fishing and livestock productivity. The project will upgrade road networks to significantly improve access to markets and services, provide technical support for farmers, with a focus on women and youth, to improve performance of their businesses and establish market platforms to competitively position farmer groups in the marketplace. In addition, the project will reform policies and institutions, including the establishment of a national water resource management plan and natural resource and land use management plans, and create local capacities to increase understanding of best-practices to sustainably use and maintain irrigation, road and market infrastructure. The project will focus its interventions in the Dosso and Tahoua regions.

B. SCOPE

The objective of the consultancy it to provide oversight support and technical guidance to MCC’s Agriculture Practice Group and relevant members of MCC country team in relation to the Climate Resilient Communities, in areas of livestock related investments and community development. In addition, the consultant may be asked to provide guidance or support to the other project (Irrigation and Market Access) as needed.

C. COUNTRY

The Republic of Niger and other eligible MCC countries

D. TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

TASKS

The consultant’s assignments shall include the following:

1. Technical Assessment and Review

· Consultant may be tasked with carrying out technical assessment of proposed investments (regional and communal level plans and sub projects) for the Climate Resilient Agriculture Activity (CRA) and the Program in Support of Regional Project in Support of Pastoralism in the Sahel (PRAPS)

· Requires both desk review and field visits to the site projects.

· Evaluate and analyze different aspects of the proposed investments in agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, and irrigation and natural resource management throughout the project cycle including feasibility, design, and appraisals.

· Assignments could include:

· Reviewing feasibility assessments of agriculture, livestock, community investments, irrigation (including water user associations) and natural resource management projects.

· Conducting special or preliminary studies related to an agriculture, irrigation (including water user associations) and natural resource management components,

· Assessments of agribusiness support and marketing services,

· Working and coordinating with local or international contractors, municipal councils/government, regional level entities, national or regional government ministry representatives, NGOs, research entities carrying out agricultural and agroforestry activities.

· Support to the Finance, Investment and Trade (FIT) Practice Group at MCC in conducting investment opportunity assessments within the context of agriculture, livestock and natural resource management.

· Reviewing and assessing the policy and regulatory environment paying particular attention to how it promotes or hinders private sector investment along value chains,

· Evaluating coordination of MCC program design with foreign donor activities in related areas, and travel to the project areas as appropriate/assigned.

· Provide detailed written reports of findings and compilation of documents to MCC.

· Support in the facilitation of working sessions and planning sessions with counterparts when appropriate.

· Make public presentations as needed on agriculture, agribusiness, livestock, irrigation (including water user associations) and NRM -related issues and/or projects.

2. Oversight of Implementation

· Requires travel to country and to project sites.

· Become intimately familiar with the Project, Activities and Sub-Activities in the Compact including workplans, budgets, schedules, implementers, beneficiaries and related parties in order to provide informed technical advise/support as needed throughout implementation and review and recommendations related to key project deliverables requiring MCC clearance/no-objection.

· Assess progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities, identify completion risks and provide correction or mitigation advise.

· Counsel implementing entities on measures to mitigate risks.

· Coordinate with the relevant government agencies (local, regional, national), civil society, private sector, donor, and Project Management Unit staff to facilitate Activity Oversight operations.

· Provide detailed and comprehensive written reports on progress of a Project, Project Activities, and Sub-Activities to the compact development and/or implementation teams and Senior Management as appropriate and directed by the COR.

· Make verbal presentations to MCC local, Embassy and MCC Washington on project progress.

The overall objectives of this contract are to:

· Assess and/or provide oversight support for all aspects of the project cycle for agriculture, agribusiness, irrigation (including water user associations), and natural resource management related components, activities and/or benefit streams including feasibility assessment, design, appraisal, project evaluation, assessment of implementer performance, and identification of completion risks.

· Assist MCC country team and appropriate sector and project leads in developing appropriate modifications or alternatives to the proposed agriculture, agribusiness, irrigation (including water user associations), agribusiness and natural resources management elements, should the assessment determine that is required.

· Conduct visits to proposed project locations and/or projects during implementation and provide reports to MCC that fulfills due diligence or implementation oversight requirements, as appropriate as as per specific technical directives provided by the COR.

DELIVERABLES

· COR/PM will provide technical directives or task for consultant outlining specific tasks. In response to technical directives, the consultant shall provide trip reports, written technical assessments, and implementer performance assessments, reviews of other contractors or institutions’ deliverables, project audits, among others.

· Trip reports to the MCC COR/PM, shall include at a minimum the summary of any consultations and meetings held, and key findings and recommendations and any next steps, as appropriate.

· Other ad hoc reports and inputs, as requested by MCC COR/PM.

Acceptance Criteria

The deliverables will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

· Thoroughness and timeliness in complying with all of the elements in the tasks specified.

· High quality finished products in a timely manner, and clarity of analyses and work produced.

· Timeliness and efficacy of communications with relevant counterparts at MCC, MCA, and other relevant organizations.

· All reports are to be submitted in English in hard and electronic copy (in MS Word), with tables, data and calculations in MS Excel.

E. PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All work will be completed between the dates of the award through a three year period of performance.

The estimated level of effort required under this contract is up to 1,200 hours per year. There is up to 6 trips per year. The consultant shall perform the services and tasks generally identified above at the consultant’s home facilities, periodically in MCC’s DC offices, and in any MCC-eligible countries.

F. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The consultant would be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCA accountable entity or using funds advanced under a Compact in the relevant country, unless the consultant submits a mitigation plan sufficient to ameliorate any conflict of interest pursuant to the rules applicable to the procurement process.

G. SUBCONTRACTING

The consultant is authorized to subcontract data collection, data preparation, social and gender analysis, and related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the consultant’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost.

H. EVALUATION CRITERIA

· An advanced postgraduate degree (accredited Masters or Ph.D.) agriculture, agribusiness, livestock management or related (mandatory)

· A minimum of 15 years of experience in agriculture or rural economic development projects with experience in any of the following areas: livestock management, agroforestry, small scale irrigation, climate resilient agriculture, natural resource management (mandatory)

· Experience in planning and/or conducting public consultations, focus groups or personal interviews with a wide range of stakeholders in government and civil society and analyzing and communicating results. (mandatory)

· Have good inter-personal and negotiation skills, and ability to work cooperatively and productively in teams with technical and construction experts, government officials, NGOs, community organizations, and other Compact stakeholders. (mandatory)

· Prior work experience in the Niger and/or in the Sub Saharan region required (mandatory)

· Working proficiency in French and Spanish (mandatory)

· Knowledge of the country’s socio-cultural, political and economic context (highly desirable)

I. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

International travel will be required. Travel to Niger for field and site visits required for up to two weeks for each visit. The Consultant may be requested to mobilize on a short notice.

J. TIMING AND REPORTING

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the COR/PM. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations.

Any changes in the terms of the Call Order will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this Call Order or of the terms and conditions of the Call Order unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

The designated Consultant would be expected to coordinate with local authorities responsible for MCC Compact implementation as well as other donors, where relevant. However, designated Consultant would report directly to the designated COR/PM.