Project Analyst on Capacity Building and Income Generation

The Project has 3 main interconnected components:

• Output 1: Development and implementation of Community Development Plans (CDPs). Strengthened capacities of 157 mahallas in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions in participatory CDP process that result in development, implementation, and oversight of climate smart CDPs focusing on improvements of infrastructure and services.
• Output 2: Capacity building in income generation, with focus on vulnerable groups. Strengthened capacities of businesses and individuals such as entrepreneurs who work in agriculture complex, including the vulnerable groups in businesses development/expansion.
• Output 3: Capacity building of regional and local authorities. Strengthened capacities of officials in all targeted regional and local authorities in participatory planning, implementation, oversight, and sustainable management of the local infrastructure and services. 2. Strengthened capacities of local residents, including the vulnerable groups in participatory decision making.

The Project will be implemented in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions where Project offices will be established.

The Community Development Associate will contribute to address needs of rural communities in target communities. S/he will be particularly contributing in achieving the output 1 and 2, while also supporting the implementation of other project outputs and will be in charge of ensuring successful implementation of the project’s activities related to ensuring supporting community mobilization, enhancing people’s skills on community development planning in remote rural areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

Substantial Functions: 

• Conduct in-depth diagnostic assessments of regional markets and evaluate local business capacities, with a specific focus on identifying opportunities for climate-smart agricultural solutions;
• Engage agricultural research institutions, international, and national experts to facilitate comprehensive market diagnostics;
• Ensure that market assessments consider the needs and circumstances of women, young women and men, and persons with disabilities;
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to design and deliver targeted training programs on rural business development;
• Ensure training topics are informed by regional market diagnostics and prioritize the needs of vulnerable beneficiaries, including women who are heads of households, young women and men, and persons with disabilities;
• Facilitate the training of at least 1,000 individuals (with a minimum of 300% women) on integrated business development through various channels such as webinars, consultations, coaching, and online video courses;
• Provide specialized training in areas such as bakery, textiles, handicrafts, small-scale manufacturing, beauty salons, tourism, and retailing;
• Capacity building activities on climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices, including water harvesting, drip irrigation, crop diversification and other relevant topics;
• Promote the adoption of higher-value crops and facilitate women-farmers networking and support groups;
• Conduct Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions to enable long-term capacity building and replication of best practices;
• Organize on-farm demonstrations of innovative agricultural technologies and practices;
• Train extension officers, business owners, and farmers on providing technical support to community members in startups and adoption of climate-smart agricultural solutions;
• Provide hands-on technical support to farmers, businesses, and individuals on inputs, technologies, sales, and marketing, with a focus on reaching community members with representation of women;
• Develop selection criteria for locally relevant climate-smart and energy-efficient business solutions in consultation with local partners;
• Identify and promote at least 8 climate-smart and energy-efficient business solutions through various promotional channels, including ICT solutions;
• Assist Project Manager in preparing and submitting in a timely manner, programmatic reports and ensure that the reports meet corporate quality standards;
• Be proactive in advising response to opportunities for resource mobilization and fundraising;
• Lead the work of consultants involved in the implementation of the given project component;
• Contribute to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefiting both women and men in the programme activities (gender mainstreaming);
• Facilitate planning and developing analytical reports, information brochures, specific thematic leaflets, infographics and flyers with basic fact sheets;
• Assist the Project Manager in preparing progress reports, lessons learned and provide relevant recommendations and contribute to the donor reporting process providing relevant information and data   on conducted activities;
• Contribute to programmes’ advocacy campaigns and facilitate the process of increasing visibility of the programmes activities and results; writing of success stories, press-releases, newspapers coverage, and other relevant PR campaigns;
• Facilitate knowledge and best practices sharing between projects, UN agencies, national implementing partner, government, communities to deeper integrate the work and idea of the project; participate in relevant networks and meetings of practitioners.

Operational Functions:

• Plan and implement the work in accordance with the overall work plan using both human and financial resources available in the most effective and efficient way, elaborate and propose new schemes and effective ways to achieve target indicators;
• Participate in elaboration and execution of the project’s work plans, analyze emerging problems and propose adequate measures to ensure timely fulfilment of envisioned tasks;
• Provide inputs for annual reports, work plans and any other planning, monitoring documents required by the UNDP;
• Support Project Manager in monitoring implementation of the project outputs for adopting corrective measures in project implementation, when necessary, to ensure timely delivery of required inputs and achievement of results;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
• Ensure that all procurement, and tendering processes are organized and implemented in the most transparent way and in line with corporate and national regulations;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, business administration, rural development, economics, or related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above with additional two years of experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree.

Experience:

• Up to 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in capacity building, conducting diagnostic assessments of regional markets and income generation activities;
• Experience in evaluating local business capacities, designing and delivering training programs on rural business development is an asset;
• Experience in providing technical support to farmers and businesses, preferably in the agricultural sector is an asset.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Proven experience in development of research papers and reports, publications and analytical notes;
• Understanding of Gender equality concept and women empowerment and youth engagement principles;
• Initiative and strong leadership skills;
• Strong analytical skills and knowledge of market research methodologies;
• Ability to promote business solutions through various channels, including ICT solutions;
• Experience in engaging stakeholders and adapting training content to diverse audiences;
• Knowledge of new innovation green and energy efficient solutions in construction sector;
• Ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Fluency in English and Uzbek is required; Knowledge of Russian is desired.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/18430