Closing date: 25 Aug 2019
CONSULTANT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AFGHANISTAN CASHMERE POLICY FRAMEWORK
Consultant for Development of Afghanistan Cashmere Policy Framework
1 CONTEXT
PUR Projet is a social enterprise dedicated to the engagement of small-holder farmers/herders in ecosystem regeneration and conservation, the strengthening of supply chains and the diversification of livelihoods.
Oxfam Novib is a Dutch NGO within an international confederation of charitable organizations aiming to achieve a just world without poverty.
PUR Projet and Oxfam Novib have been engaged by an international business to implement a positive impact project within the cashmere supply chain in Afghanistan, focused on natural resource sustainability, cashmere quality and socio-economic development for local herding communities. PUR Projet and Oxfam Novib are working with PRB (Partners in Revitalization and Building) and DCA (Dutch Committee for Afghanistan) to implement the project in two Afghan provinces: Herat and Balkh.
Among other activities, the project will develop a Cashmere Policy Framework to guide and inform the government norms and standards for the cashmere value chain. The consultant will be responsible for guiding and informing the relevant government members for the strengthening and development of these norms and standards, in close partnership with the Afghanistan Cashmere forum[1].
2.OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The consultant will work with PUR Projet and Oxfam Novib to develop a Policy framework for the cashmere sector in Afghanistan, including developing a comprehensive set of norms and standards that will be used to govern best practice in the cashmere fiber supply chain. This improved set of norms and regulations should create a favorable framework to both improve Afghan cashmere’s desirability and price on the international market and guarantee its social and environmental sustainability at all levels of the supply chain, including animal rearing, production, processing and trading.
The successful candidate will:
Develop an understanding of the cashmere fiber supply chain in Afghanistan, its dynamics, challenges and actors including producers, processers and traders. This will be performed through: a desk review of existing literature on the Afghan cashmere supply chain as well as the results of the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies conducted by Oxfam and PUR Projet; interviews with the project operators (including PUR Projet, Oxfam, DCA and PRB staff); and discussions with the Afghanistan Cashmere Forum participants, government representatives and further stakeholders.
Benchmark current laws and regulations that affect cashmere production and trade in Afghanistan and compare these with laws and regulations affecting other textiles and/or wool.
Benchmark the current set of laws and regulations affecting cashmere production and trade at the provincial level, especially in the Herat and Balkh provinces.
Identify relevant product standards and trade benchmarks in selected other cashmere producing countries, including Mongolia and China.
Develop a set of specific recommendations for production norms and trade regulations in the cashmere industry in Afghanistan, including recommendations to improve and/or update existing laws and regulations, along with a proposal to set up sectoral export standards for the national cashmere business as a whole (country of origin, fiber content, care instructions, etc.)
Collect feedback from national and provincial authorities and other relevant stakeholders on recommended norms and regulations to ensure alignment.
3.DELIVERABLES
The consultant will provide the following deliverables upon completion of the mission:
A summary report of consultancy activities, data, findings, sources and any additional relevant information regarding the assignment conducted (max. 10 pages).
A list of interviews performed including interviewees’ details and interview notes.
A comprehensive set of specific recommendations for norms and regulations regarding the cashmere business in Afghanistan to be proposed to the relevant government bodies.
All deliverables will be provided in English.
4.SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE
A first introduction training will be provided by PUR Projet and Oxfam Novib before the start of the mission to explain in detail the objectives and expected outcomes, and answer any questions.
Oxfam Novib’s cashmere project manager will be responsible for the day-to-day guidance of the consultant, including providing additional information and contacts in Afghanistan if needed.
Weekly calls will be organized with the PUR Projet Project Coordinator.
A conclusion meeting will be organized in Afghanistan at the end of the mission.
5.TIMELINE
The assignment is expected to have a total duration of maximum 3 months, between November 1st, 2019 and January 31st, 2020. The Consultant will be based in Afghanistan for this period, or if the Consultant works in a team, at least one person will be based in Afghanistan for the assignment period. It is expected that the consultant will work with the following indicative timeline:
Understanding the cashmere supply chain in Afghanistan and benchmarking existing norms and regulations – by mid-December 2019
Objective 2: Writing a comprehensive set of recommendations for the policy framework and norms and standards - by January 15th, 2019
Objective 3: Providing all deliverables in English (see above) – by January 31st, 2019
6.AGREEMENTS
The consultant will be asked to commit to a Non-Disclosure Agreement and an Anti-Corruption and Sanctions Agreement.
7.CANDIDATE PROFILE
Relevant experience in the field of Public Policy, Poverty Reduction &/or Development;
Knowledge of the specific context of Afghanistan and experience working with the Afghan government;
The consultant is encouraged to work in a team with different backgrounds and skills;
Fluency in Dari/Pashto is desirable;
Experience in the cashmere value chain is desirable;
Experience working with supply chain standards is desirable.
How to apply:
Candidates are asked to submit their resume, a proposal of the work plan including:
The proposed tasks described above
A budget inclusive of taxes and breakdown of all estimated travel expenses that will be paid at the end of the mission based on actual incurred costs.
It is asked that this budget is based on provision of deliverables.
[1] AFGHANISTAN CASHMERE FORUM: is a formal working group composed of government officials, collective action organization representatives, and cashmere industry stakeholders, gathered to discuss key performance standards to be applied to and opportunities to support the industry.
Application Procedure:
Applications should include the following:
Proposed methodology, work plan, budget.
Proposal package including previous demonstrated experience on similar consultancies.
Submit application to jobs.afghanistan@oxfam.org and CC reza.mohammadi@oxfam.org no later than August 25th, 2019.
Applications that do not contain the information outlined above will not be considered.