Country: Afghanistan
Closing date: 04 Jun 2017
Background
Oxfam, in collaboration with an international social business, has received a grant to implement a 5-year project focusing on cashmere value chains in Afghanistan. The aim is to support community resilience and resource sustainability, improve the quality of herders’ cashmere and create better linkages between herders/small-scale producers and the market to further social and economic development. The first phase of the project, from May till October 2017, serves to collect information to inform the design of the project’s interventions. To this end, Oxfam will be conducting a feasibility study in multiple provinces after Ramadan with the support of a consultant specialized in (cashmere) value chains and livelihoods.
Objective
To design, implement and develop a feasibility study on the cashmere value chains in Herat, Balkh and Kabul. The feasibility study will be conducted in collaboration with an international social business with experience in cashmere value chains. The Oxfam component of the feasibility study aims to collect information that compliments the partner’s research. To be agreed with Oxfam, the consultant will develop tools to collect information linking cashmere value chains and livelihoods guided by the following questions:
What investments are needed to upgrade the skills and assets of herders and small-scale producers to access local, regional and if relevant international markets?
How can the market linkages between the herders/small-scale producers and the buyers become more effective to improve access to markets and reliability in delivery?
How can the governance of the value chain become more transparent and fair to ensure better quality, consistency and equity in production?
What options are available to improve the sharing of costs and risks of production across the value chain to benefit herders and small-scale producers?
What limitations exist for ensuring equitable access to services in relation to the value chain for herders and small-scale producers?
What different modalities of trade and organization can provide added value for herders and small-scale producers in terms of scale, access to markets, quality and price?
What adaption mechanisms and mitigation measures are available for cashmere value chain stakeholders – from herders to government – to deal with climate change?
Deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for:
Setting up consultations with Oxfam staff and the social business partner at the start of the project.
Designing the methodology and tools for the Oxfam component of the feasibility study.
Collecting the data from the field in Herat, Balkh and Kabul as well as quality assurance and data entry.
Analyzing the collected data and writing the feasibility study in collaboration with the social business partner.
Providing suggestions for intervention strategies to improve the livelihoods of the target communities through the cashmere value chains.
Oxfam will provide logistical support for the consultant as needed and mutually agreed upon. This can include arranging accommodation, travel to the field and security support. Oxfam will be closely involved in the entire process of the feasibility study from start to finish and review and approve all key outputs.
Timeframe:
The assignment will run from the end of June till mid-August over a period of 7 weeks. The consultant will work as per the tasks and timeline mentioned in the table below:
Specific objectives and task description
Specific Objectives
Weeks
· Setting up consultations with Oxfam staff and social business partner at the start of the project.
· Designing the methodology and tools for the Oxfam component of the feasibility study.
2 weeks
· Collecting the data from the field in Herat, Balkh and Kabul as well as quality assurance and data entry.
3 weeks
· Analyzing the collected data and writing the feasibility study in collaboration with the social business partner.
· Providing suggestions for intervention strategies to improve the livelihoods of the target communities through the cashmere value chains.
2 weeks
Total days
7 weeks
Contacts
During the assignment, the primary point of contract will be Latif Walizada, Economic Justice Pillar Lead. Other contact points during the assignment will be:
Internally:
Project Manager, based in Kabul
Technical Expert, tbd
Institutional Funding Manager, based in Kabul/London
Externally:
Social business partner representative, based in Kabul
Social business partner HQ, based in France
Required Expertise:
A solid background in sustainable livelihoods and value chains research, preferably in Afghanistan
In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of cashmere value chains, preferably in Afghanistan
Experience in designing and managing a feasibility study or equivalent for a livelihoods program
Experience in developing research that informs evidence-based livelihoods interventions Availability to travel to Kabul during the agreed timeframe
How to apply:
Submission of expression of interest:
The individual that meets the above requirements should submit their expression of interest, which should include the following:
Cover letter including the suitability for the assignment and current contact information
Brief outline (max. 5 pages) of the suggested approach for the feasibility study
Documents providing supporting evidence of required qualifications, including samples of written reports, relevant experience and CV of the consultant
Work plan including the proposed tasks described above
Budget inclusive of taxes and breakdown of all other costs
After review of the above documents, Oxfam will communicate its decision within maximum 5 working days to the successful candidates. Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to notify unsuccessful applicants. The above agreed documents will become part of the agreement between Oxfam and the selected consultant.
All applications clearly marked as ‘**Consultancy for** Feasibility Study on Cashmere Value Chains’ should be sent via email to reza.mohammadi@oxfamnovib.nl by COB on Sunday, June 4, 2017.