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Consultant - Implement Work Plan to Assess the Conditions Necessary for Long-Term Food Security and Poverty Reduction


Mekong River Commission 
The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being.
 
MRC Secretariat is now recruiting highly qualified individual consultant for the following consultancy
                                                                                                                                     
International Consultant
For implement work plan to assess the conditions necessary to achieve the long-term food security and poverty reduction in the LMB
Division/Section 
:
Agriculture and Irrigation Programme, Operations Division
Work location     
:
MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with the possibility of travel to other MRC Member Countries
Contract type/ Duration     
:
90 working days from April - June 2013
 
Objectives of this project  
 
Facilitation of long-term planning and policy making in the crop production sector towards the food secure and poverty-alleviated future of LMB under climate change.
 
Proposed Features of the Final Output  
 
The final output to be sought in this project is AIP Output 1.3 “Trends and forecasts in agriculture and irrigation documented.”
 
Relevant Strategic Plan (SP) Outcome and Programme Indicators are as follows:
        SP Outcome: Information and data on the full range of water and related resources parameters are systematically monitored and used in basin and sub-basin planning and management, and the state and developments in the Basin are reported: # 2- Incorporation of latest national plans of MCs into BDP scenarios
       Programme Indicators (Programme Chain Level: AIP Output 1.3)
#4- Assessment report of issues and trends of rural poverty in MCs
#5 - Assessment report of issues and trends of food security in MCs
 
Outputs/Deliverables
 
The expected output/deliverable of this TOR is an implementation plan of the aforesaid project that includes (1) choice of crop models/simulators supported by reasoning and evidences, (2) a comprehensive list of available necessary data and a plan for new data collection and existing data compilation, (3) performance evaluation plan of the chosen model and plan for setting future input scenarios, (4) proposal of social analyses and economics models (if desired) to be applied, (5) cost and time-line estimates, (6) TOR for those who will implement the project, and (7) a broad assessment report on the current crop production sector and rural poverty based on currently available information. All outputs/deliverables must be submitted with complete reference.
 
Note a possibility to implement part of the proposed plan as a pilot project in parallel under a separate funding. If this happens, the deliverable has to reflect the feedback from the pilot.  
 
Responsibilities and Tasks
 
Principal responsibilities of the consultant are the followings:
         To identify statistic and deterministic crop models with justification:
  One crop model for each of rain-fed rice, irrigated rice, maize, cassava, and soybean that can calculate their yield based on meteo-hydrological data and other parameters by comparing the data requirement and performance of at least three major crop models for each crop.
 Statistic production models for the aforementioned crops to be identified through trend analyses at each province of the whole LMB taking into account data access. 
  A concrete plan to assess the production of aforementioned crops in each province by modifying MRC’s SWAT or IQQM model.
          To study necessary data/information for the identified models and whether and how they are accessible, and identify the method and cost for essential additional data collection.
           To propose methods to define future (2025 and 2050) input scenarios necessary for the chosen models taking into account available data in the provincial level. 
          To stipulate the whole crop modelling and production assessment process which include:
  concept and demarcation of agro-ecological zoning,
 structural description of selected crop models (including their combination),
  spatial unit/description and time step for calculation,
 trend and correlation analysis and model calibration,
  data collection and compilation plan including the number, time and spatial distribution of the data to be collected, and downscaling, interpolation or other approximation processes, and
 examination of the feasibility of applying climate change scenarios
         To propose a plan for spatial analysis of the production assessment results and its socio-economic and environmental implications, which include:
  methods for social analysis and economic models (if desirable) to be applied,
 choice of indices in socio-economic analyses and a plan to analyse the implication of production assessment using the indices, and
ü data collection and compilation plan
          To propose a dissemination plan of the final outputs.
         To deliver cost and timeline estimates for the planned project with their detailed breakdown and reasons. 
         To write a broad assessment report on the current crop production sector and rural poverty with provincial level summaries on each topics based on currently available information with complete reference.
           To write a TOR for Member Country partner institutes for data collection if additional date collection would become necessary.
          To write a TOR for an international consultant who conducts the whole assessments.
          To collect feedback from Member Country representatives in a regional workshop explaining proposed work plan and draft outputs.  
         To cooperate another project, if such a project that implements part of the proposed methods in a pilot scale takes place before the aforementioned tasks complete, and reflect the feedback from the project implementation.
 
Expected conductsof the consultant for effective and efficient work include the followings:
         Extensive relevant literature review and information exchange with experts in similar projects
           Interview with national experts/authorities in charge
•          Recording and filing all the communications and contact information relevant to this project.
 
Itinerary
 
This work will be conducted within 3 month during April  – June2013. The following milestones are envisaged.
Milestones
Duration
Information and data collection
60 days
Report writing
30 days
Total
90 days
 
The detail work plan will be developed by consultant in consultation with AIP Coordinator and TA
 
Qualifications / Requirement
 
      M.A., M.Sc. or PhD university degree in agronomy/soil and crop science, agricultural economics, sociology/anthropology, or related fields;
      At least 15 years of experience in applied research activities on agriculture, rural development, and food economy;
      At least 5 years of working experience in crop modeling and its application to spatial database in a provincial or larger scale;
       At least 5 years of working experience in the Mekong region and having residence in the region;
      Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people and to work in a multicultural environment; and
       Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
       Knowledge on meteo-hydrology and its computer modeling is advantage. 
 
The Term of References and other information can be obtained at MRC website       http://www.mrcmekong.org/working-with-mrc/employment. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.
 
Application procedures:
The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets therequirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. The position title and division/section must be indicated in the cover letter.The application should be sent to:
 
Mekong River Commission
Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV)

P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa NgoumRoad
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Closing date for applications:  8 March 2013