Over the past four decades, Afghanistan has been the scene of two protracted foreign military interventions and a civil war. The long period of armed conflict has taken a heavy toll on Afghanistan’s institutions, created enormous human suffering and hindered its economic and social development. Today, Afghanistan is among the poorest countries in the world and highly fragile in all dimensions. Nevertheless, over the past sixteen years, important progress has been achieved in education, health, rural development, justice, and good governance. Continued joint efforts by the Afghan government and the international community are crucial to sustain what has been achieved and to ensure no one is left behind.
Afghanistan’s economic foundations remain weak and the country is highly aid dependent, both for civilian and military expenditure. In 2017, foreign aid accounted for 66% of the national budget. There is a marked downward trend in the amount of foreign aid, which risks to negatively affect development investments in the country or even basic service delivery in the years to come. Despite considerable amounts of foreign aid, poverty remains high. Data from the recent Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey shows a sharp increase in poverty rates from 36.5% in 2011/12 to 54.5% in 2016/17, which is driven by insecurity, stagnating economic growth and a high age dependency ratio. Unemployment and underemployment currently stand at 24% and 20% respectively.
Agriculture is the most important sector in terms of employment, with 40% of the working population either directly or indirectly engaged in it. However, agriculture is mostly small scale with very limited market linkages. Low productivity and limited access to markets contribute to high levels of food insecurity with an estimated 44% of the population being affected. The high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and the lack of adaptive skills make Afghanistan’s agriculture vulnerable to adverse weather, natural disasters, and climate change.
Social inequalities are manifold, but dominated by two key aspects: the gender gap and the rural-urban divide. Afghanistan ranks low in the UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index (154 out of 188 countries assessed), with high rates of maternal mortality and adolescent pregnancy and low education levels and labour force participation for women. Social norms dictate a strict gen-der segregation, and sexual and gender-based violence is a pervasive problem. Surveys suggest that over 87% of Afghan women experience at least one form of physical, sexual or psychological violence during their lives. Inequalities between rural and urban areas are striking. With an estimated 73% of the population, rural Afghanistan has higher poverty rates, higher food insecurity, significantly lower literacy rates and less access to health and other basic ser-vices. (Source of the paragraphs above: Swiss Cooperation Strategy Afghanistan 2019 – 2022).
With the Sustainable Livelihood and Social Development (SLSD) Project, the Swiss cooperation effort in Afghanistan aims to tackle some of the deep-seated challenges of rural life in Afghanistan such as a lack of inclusion, especially of women and the poor, food insecurity, natural hazards, a lack of service delivery as well as conflicts and disputes around land and water. These Terms of Reference (ToR) cover the input from an international consultant in the third and final phase of SLSD, from 1 August 2019 to 31 July 2023.
The overall goal of SLSD Phase 3 is “Livelihood and resilience of resource-poor and smallholder farmers sustainably improved.” Phase 3 will be implemented in four years from 2019 to 2022 with a total budget of US $ 7.300,000. This includes Part 1-3 as operational cost US $ 3,595,600 (49.25%) and Administrated Projects Funds US $ 3,704,400 (50.75%).
At the national level SLSD Phase 3 will contribute to the seven strategic priorities of the Afghanistan Comprehensive Agriculture Development program: 1) Irrigation, 2) Wheat and other cereals, 3) Horticulture value chains, 4) Livestock, 5) Climate-sensitive natural re-source management, 6) Food and nutrition security and 7) Institutional reform and capacity building.
As a result of the four outcomes indicators, 6,200 resource-poor farmers will produce vegetable, dairy, and poultry products for home consumption, reducing their food insecure months by 20%, increase their income as a result of access and linkage to markets. Vegetation coverage of 1,200 ha common property land will be stabilized and managed sustainably, and damage due to natural hazards will be reduced by 20%.
Additionally, 10,500 smallholders’ farmers horticulture productivity will be increased by 20%, increase crop productivity by 20% through irrigation system improvement, and improved income as a result of access and linkage to markets. Furthermore, 25 DAIL and 2 PAIL staff report having the necessary resources and capacity to support resource-poor and small-holder farmers and deliver agriculture services.
Thematically, SLSD Phase 3 will focus on the following themes to improve the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers;
Pathway 1: Productivity of resource-poor farmers’ income generation activities enhanced
The project expects to achieve this long-term outcome via two intermediary outcomes a) increased horticulture productivity and b) better livestock management.
Pathway 2: CB-NRM Institutions halt the degradation of their natural resources and sustainably and inclusively manage them
Two intermediary outcomes must be achieved if CB-NRM Institutions are to halt degradation of their natural resources and sustainably and inclusively manage them, a) stabilizing of common natural resources and b) reducing hazards due to common natural resources.
Pathway 3: Productivity of smallholder land-based agriculture improved
For the productivity of smallholder land-based agriculture to improve the following three intermediary outcomes must first be achieved: a) irrigated agricultural productivity in-creased through improved irrigation systems, b) improved market linkages and c) horticulture productivity increased.
Pathway 4: DAIL/PAIL strengthened to support communities and deliver services
For this to be achieved, these two intermediary outcomes must first be achieved: a) DAIL/PAIL staff strengthened theoretically and practically and b) DAIL/PAIL staff have the necessary resources to support the communities.
Geographically, the SLSD Phase 3 will be expanded to 9 new districts and 2 urban centres in Paktia and Khost provinces and benefit about support 16,700 resource-poor and smallholder farmer. The project will be expanded to these districts: Jani Khel, Laja Mangal, Sayed Karam, Wazai Zadran, Garda Siray, and rural areas of the Provincial centre (Gardez) in Paktia province, and Ali Sher (Terizayi), Sabari (Yaqubi), Baak, Musa Khel, and rural areas of Khost centre that includes Matun, Lakan, and Shamal.
The purpose of the Market Systems Development (MSD) Consultant’s assignment is to review the below 3 concept noted developed by the previously hired MSD Consultant and existing MSD Afghan team to support 10,500 farmers (4000 resource-poor and 6500 smallholder farmers) through improved agriculture and horticulture practices and increase their income as a result of access and linkage to market.
In total 34 projects concept notes were submitted to SDC for review and approval from which 27 approved and 7 rejected for further revision and consultation with key stakeholders. This rejected concept notes also includes the MSD 3 concept notes which needs further analysis, adding market system development and market for poor approaches, reduce inputs cost, ensuring sustainability, and clarify the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders.
The responsibilities of the MSD Consultant are as follows:
Review the SLSD Project overall MSD and M4P approaches and strategy, review the developed 3 Concept notes with Afghan MSD team of 3 people and Project Manager, Meet with SDC to better understand about their feedback and expectations, analyse the previous and newly collected data, revise the 3 concept notes, and present to SDC. After acceptance of the concept notes, organize an MSD and M4P workshop for SLSD team at Kabul for better understanding of the MSD and M4P concepts.
Requirement and Qualifications:
The consultancy period will include minimum 16 days and maximum 22 days during the months of June and July 2020.
TLO will cover the visa, travel, accommodation, and transpiration cost at Kabul, Afghanistan.
This vacancy is archived.