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Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategies Consultant

Request For Expressions of Interest

General Information
Country:   Bosnia and Herzegovina
Notice/Contract Number:   BA-ARDP-4325BOS-IC-SA-CS-09-029
Publication Date:   Jan 30, 2009
Deadline:   Feb 20, 2009
Funding Agency:   World Bank
Buyer:   AG & RURAL DEVT
Original Language:   English

Contact Information
Address:   Ms. Amela Ibrahimovic
Project manager
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry / Project Implementation Unit for Forestry and Agriculture
Trampina 4/I
Sarajevo 71000
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephone:   +387 33 552 452
Fax:   + 387 33 552 450
Email:   Click here

Assignments

 

Original Text

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Bosnia and Herzegovina
AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
IDA Credit no. 4325-0 BOS
Consulting Services


This request for expressions of interest follows the general procurement notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No.708 of August 16, 2007.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of the Agriculture and Rural Development Project, and it intends to apply the proceeds of this credit to payments for consulting services to be procured under the contract: BA-ARDP-4325BOS-IC-SA-CS-09-029 for Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategies Consultant,

The consulting services include:
a. Primary Objective of the Assignment
To assist both, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republica Srpska in the development of their respective Rural Development and Extension Strategies reflecting current institutional and legal frameworks towards alignment with EU Directives for support for Rural and Agricultural Development and future IPARD funding program, and to facilitate absorption of Rural Development Grants under the ARDP.

b. Common tasks for the consultant for both entities, Federation and RS
Main output under this assignment will be the definition of the:
1. directions for development of agricultural extension services that will satisfy the needs of agricultural producers and the rural population,
2. the overall objectives of Extension Service activities, and of certain specific areas of agricultural production, and as they relate to rural development,
3. a framework for involvement of private sector agricultural advisory and extension services.
Specifically, this includes for both entities:
i. Developing and guiding the collection of data on the current status in agriculture and rural areas in the Federation of BH and RS which could support the preparation of the Strategy (include all services that are active in this moment, both private and public).
ii. Organizing data and support the analysis of collected information to serve as basis for the development of Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategies for each entity.
iii. Defining the role of extension service in supporting rural development and supporting rural off-farm economic activities
iv. Elaborating the extension methods to be defined under the Strategy and the scope of work of extension service and packages of services which extension services should provide to its clients
v. Defining the structures and propose financing arrangements required for the implementation of the Strategy the extension services
vi. Planning and modeling of management of competitive programmes of extension services based on results, including the development of the system of training and payments based on results in accordance with legislation in force in each of the entities.
vii. Defining monitoring instruments gauging the impact of extension services and programs.
viii. Defining a model of training for extension staff (techniques, social and communication skills) and develop a continuing professional training program
ix. Defining monitoring and gauging instruments of effectiveness of the training program
x. Supporting the preparation and planning of workshops and public stakeholder consultative process in connection with the Strategy.

c. Additional Responsibilities Specific to the Federation:
For the Federation of BiH the assignment entails supporting the development of a Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategy for 2009-2013 that will be based on the new Law on Agriculture, the Law on Agricultural Advisory Services, the Law on Budget and the Law on Budget Implementation, as well as the Mid-term Strategy for the Agricultural Sector Development (2006-2010) and corresponding manuals and operational programs.

The Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategy consultant, under the auspices of the counterpart (the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry) will support and advise both, the Federal Ministry/Agricultural Extension Department, and the Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategy Working Group to be established at the Federal Ministry, in the preparation of the Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategy of FBiH for the period 2009-2013. As such he will support and advise on:
• defining the main elements of the Strategy;
• the establishment of objectives to be defined under the Strategy;
• the drafting of an agriculture extension policy for the period 2009-2013;
• drafting a working plan for the development of public extension service for the next five years period,
• identifying target groups and provide recommendations for ensuring collaboration with them;
• and establishing the main elements for the development of extension programs.

d. Additional Responsibilities Specific to the Republica Srpska:
The Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategy consultant, under the auspices of the counterpart (the RS Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Forestry) will support and advise the Agricultural Extension Agency, and any appointed working group to this task, in the preparation of the Mid-term Agricultural Extension Strategy of the RS. As such he will support and advise on:
• defining the organizational structures, i.e. territorial coverage of the Agency for agricultural extension services/advisory services as per their geographical characteristics and needs of farmers;
• prioritizing target groups and areas and plan different program approaches according to specific needs and opportunities;
• defining the internal organization of the Agency for agricultural extension services/advisory services according to the needs of the specific areas, specialists, etc.;
• defining rights and duties of legal i.e. physical entities, who want to perform extension activities.

Timing and reporting
The work is expected to start in March 2009 and would encompass around 50 days of technical assistance over a 6-month period including 3-4 day visits to each Entity, respectively. Each visit will result in a concise report addressing progress, issues and constraints, and solutions relating to the activities identified for the consultant in this Terms of Reference.

Qualifications:
• University degree and more in agriculture – agricultural extension, agri-economics, or in other relevant fields coupled with appropriate experience in planning, monitoring and performance evaluation of the agricultural extension services;
• At least 10 years of experience in design, management and implementation of agricultural extension systems;
• Knowledge of the local language(s) desirable;
• Good knowledge of agriculture and rural development sectors in BH and other countries of the region, and the implementation of EU IPA-RD programs.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry through Project Implementation Unit now invite eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (CV, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, etc.)

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, May 2004 (revised October 2006).

Interested consultants may obtain further information from background documents at the address below from 9.00 to 16.00 hours, Mondays to Fridays.

Expressions of interest (with stated title of consulting services) must be delivered in one original and two copies to the address stated below by February 20, 2009.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry
Project Implementation Unit for Forestry and Agriculture
Amela Ibrahimovic, Project manager
Trampina 4/I
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel. ++387 33 552 452
Fax. ++387 33 552 450
E-mail: a.ibrahimovic@piusum.ba
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