CONSULTING SERVICES

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Republic of Tajikistan
State Institution “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development”
Project Management Unit (SI AED PMU)
Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project (SRASP)

IDA (International Development Association) Grant No: D8600-TJ
Title of the consulting assignment: International Individual Consultant to conduct a mid-term evaluation of the project.

Reference Number: SRASP-CS-INDV-2024-01
The project aims to support the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) in successfully transitioning to a sustainable, more productive, climate resilient, and inclusive model of agricultural sector growth. The proposed project will help to:

(i) increase the availability of improved seeds, seedlings, and planting materials that are climate resilient, affordable, farmer-preferred, and well adapted to the different agro-ecological conditions of Tajikistan;
(ii) strengthen the access to improved Agri-logistic services of farmers and agri-businesses; and
(iii) strengthen the crisis management, i.e. early warning, preparedness, and response capacity of selected public institutions.

Purpose of the task
The purpose of the task is to carry out mid-term assessment, identifying positive and negative trends in the project, as well as analyzing the work done to achieve the goals and making recommendations for specific actions that can be taken to improve the project.
The project will be assessed based on the questions presented in paragraph 2.3. Terms of reference, as well as a matrix of project indicators, for the following levels of interventions.

Scope of services

2.1. At the program level:
Identifying the impact of the project on achieving the main goal of the project
(positive and negative);
Assessing the level of achievement of tasks and results  project;
Assessing the quality and sustainability of interventions  on the way to achieving project objectives;
Evaluation of carried out and planned activities from the point of view of technical and methodological aspects applied by the project and project partners;
Are additional measures/actions needed with existing target groups to ensure sustainability and flexibility given the identified context.

2.2 At the organizational level:
Assessing the project management level of the project team for effective implementation
project;
Providing results, conclusions and recommendations for evaluation, with a view to inclusion
lessons learned and recommendations for improvement – to improve quality
project activities and improving results.

2.3. Main questions
The mid-term assessment should contain specific descriptions regarding the following core issues (considering gender equality and other cross-cutting issues ):
Determination of Compliance
– Were the goals set out in the project document relevant, achievable and realistic in comparison to the results already achieved?
– How relevant are the selected approaches and tools to achieving the project goals?

Determination of effectiveness
– Is the achievement of short-term and medium-term results on track and consistent with the planned results presented in the log frame and project plans?
– To what extent do the project activities meet the needs of the target groups?  and strategies (policies) of partners, implementer and donor?
– To what extent have collaborations and partnerships been established between civil society, local government and the private sector to facilitate the successful implementation of the project?

Definition of Productivity
– Are the financial costs consistent with the costs budgeted for the project? – achieving project results at the lowest cost of their implementation.

Defining influence
– Are there significant unexpected positive or negative impacts on the path to achieving medium- and long-term goals?
Definition of sustainability
Are local stakeholders (stakeholders, beneficiaries) likely to understand the importance of their participation and their responsibilities in the implementation of the project, and also, after the end of the project implementation period?

Additionally
– Determining the extent to which the actions of the project implementation partner and the project team comply with the processes, procedures and standards established by the project (plans, monitoring and evaluation system, reporting)
– The need to restructure the project (with a detailed indication in which areas and what specific changes in the project design need to be made)

Qualifications and work experience:

1. Higher education in the field of economics and/or finance, agriculture or other related field.
2. Proven experience in conducting research by type (baseline study, mid-term study, etc.) for not less than 5 years.
3. Proven experience in evaluating projects related to the provision of agricultural services for not less than 5 years.
4. Experience in the Central Asian region is an added advantage.
5. Knowledge of English language  is required as well as working knowledge of Tajik and Russian languages is
6. Proven track record of honesty and integrity in handling public resources.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following link:
https://aedpmu.tj/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/tor_mid-term_review_indv.cons_._com_may_22_2024.pdf

The consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016; revised in September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.”

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 08:00 to 17:00 local time.

Expressions of interest including CV must be submitted to the e-mail address below on or before 17:00 hours local time on June 13, 2024. Questions (or requests for clarifications) can be sent to the below email address on or before June 10, 2024.

Procurement Department of
State Institute “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development”
Project Management Unit (SI AED PMU).
E-mail: aedpmu.hr@gmail.com