Sustainable Cotton Expert

In this context of the effective and efficient use of resources in production processes with the purpose of developing the region along a sustainable axis; and the GAP Competitiveness Agenda prepared by the cooperation of GAP RDA and UNDP in 2007 aimed to use the regional resources effectively and efficiently. Following that mission, Integrated Resource Efficiency Project in Agriculture and Agro-based Industry in the GAP Region has been implemented by GAP Regional Development Administration within the technical cooperation of UNDP. Within the scope of IRE Project, Cotton is one of the strategic product. In 2019, GAP RDA has applied to The Better Cotton Growth and Innovation Fund (BC GIF) as an implementation partner in order to increase resource efficiency in cotton production and to contribute to training activities. The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a global not-for-profit organization and the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. BCI exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future. The BC GIF is a global investment vehicle established in 2016 to catalyze the transformation of cotton production worldwide through investments in capacity building programs. The purpose of the partnership is to enable farmers to grow Better Cotton and make continuous improvement in their farm management practices. IRE Project’s 5th component is ‘Expanding Better Cotton Production in GAP Region’. For this component UNDP will continue to provide technical assistance to GAP RDA for the implemention of all activities of Better Cotton during the season of July 2021-29 April 2022.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The overall objective of the Assignment will be to design/coordinate/report activities of the Project in line with ‘Expanding Better Cotton Production in GAP Region’ and work in cooperation with Project Unit Managers, UNDP IRE Project Team, the Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD) and IRE Project Implementation Partners (Ministry of Industry and Technology, GAP RDA,BC GIF and BCI ). The Expert will work in close cooperation with the UNDP Turkey, GAP RDA, IPUD, BCI and BC GIF to finalize the deliverables and present the deliverables to the UNDP Project Team, Local Economic Development Projects Manager and Portfolio Manager for approval.

The Expert will undertake the relevant tasks as follows:

• Preparation, implementation and update the Implementing Partner’s activity and partnership plan;
• Establish partnerships with local Institutions on sustainability issues with the support of the GAP RDA-UNDP Project Team;
• Support the plan procedure, mapping and internal management systems to be prepared by Producer Unit Facilitator (PUFs);
• To ensure that the preparation of all necessary training materials for farmers is prepared and to ensure that field technical personnel provide the farmers with the right training and technical support;
• Perform 2nd Party Inspections of Producer Units;
• Ensure that the field reports are prepared on time by PUFs;
• Give technical assistance to PUFs (support and supervise in data management);
• Prepare and organize training activities both for PUFs, Better Cotton farmers and technical staffs work for Cotton Production and ensure the accuracy of the quality, content and reporting of the trainings given to farmers;
• Prepare weekly and monthly reports for IRE Project team including GAP RDA and UNDP’s technical staffs;
• Undertake communication activities to promote the Better Cotton and develop training with relevant expert institutions and individuals and ensuring that the organization for these is done in a timely and complete manner;
• Collecting field data (Result Indicator Reports, Monthly Reports..) from PUFs and transmitting them to UNDP,IPUD and GAP RDA;
• Prepare Mid-term report, Focus Area Report, Year-End Report, Lessons Learned Report and present to GAP RDA, UNDP , IPUD and BCI;
• Guiding Producer Units to pilot trials on farmer lands within the scope of sustainable issues
• Identifying local sustainability problems and preparing an intervention and development plan (Continuous Improvement Plan);
• Developing and implementing the Implementing Partner internal management system and data management plan (Quality Management System);
• Developing and implementing an internal management system and data management plan for Producer Units (Quality Management System);
• To carry out audits of Producer Units, to prepare and follow up a Corrective Action Plan for understanding, reporting and correcting nonconformities;
• Prepare ‘Payment Request Reports’;
• Participating in and supporting 2nd Party and 3rd Party audits of Producer Units;
• Work in cooperation with UNDP finance unit and follow all payments.
• Perform appropriate duties as assigned by GAP RDA and/or UNDP

GAP RDA is implementing partner (IP) of BCI since 2019. IP is accountable for the project implementation, quality of farmer capacity building and other procedural requirements of the Better Cotton Standard system (BCSS). The IP is also responsible for identifying and managing any required Local Partners and identifying project locations. The IP is the interface between the BCI GIF and the local partners (if any), and ensures that the capacity building activities are undertaken effectively as proposed in the application. The IP is also responsible for completing all documentation required by the Fund.

Within this scope, the individual consultant for ‘Expanding Better Cotton Production in GAP Region’ (hereafter referred as Expert-IPE) will work closely with the IRE Project Team and will report to ISG-PPI Projects Manager.

The listed activities are subject to development and change with the consent of the Local Economic Development Projects Manager and Portfolio Manager (ISG-PPI). These possible developments and changes will be shared with the Expert throughout the contract execution.

Institutional Arrangement

Identify the direct supervisor (s) the Contractor and attach a general overview (or Organigram) in an Annex to show the position of this function within the office and unit structure (without indicating names of individuals).

UNDP will provide all relevant background documents. UNDP is not required to provide any
physical facility for the work of the Individual Contractor.

UNDP will cover pre-approved travel and accommodation costs of the Contractor(s) when traveling outside of the duty-station and upon submission of relevant documentation. Meetings with the Ministry and local partners/stakeholders will be facilitated through UNDP. UNDP is not required to provide any physical facility for the preparatory and reporting works of the Individual Contractor (s). However, depending on the availability of physical facilities (e.g. working space, computer, printer, telephone lines, Internet connection etc.) and at the discretion of the UNDP, such facilities may be provided at the disposal of the Expert.

ISG-PPI Projects Manager will directly supervise the Individual Contractor. Individual Contractor will be directly responsible to, reporting to, seeking approval/acceptance of output from ISG-PPI Projects Manager.

All reports shall be submitted in English and/or Turkish as will be elaborated in specific service requests

Travel:

a) Include any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions

Place of work for the assignment (duty station) is Şanlıurfa. Travel, accommodation and living costs in duty station will be covered by the Expert. Travel to join duty station and repatriation travel costs (travels to and from duty station) will also be covered by the Expert.

In case of travel out of duty stations is needed, the travel and accommodation costs of these missions will be borne by UNDP. It is required that the terms of such travels are discussed with the responsible UNDP Projects Manager prior to each travel. The costs of these missions may either be;

• Arranged and covered by UNDP CO from the respective project budget without making any reimbursements to the consultant (Any assignment-related travel (economy class), accommodation (bed & breakfast) outside duty station will be arranged by the travel agency UNDP works with, when necessary, by receiving prior approval of UNDP) or
• Reimbursed to the consultant upon the submission of the receipts/invoices of the expenses by the consultant and approval of the UNDP. The reimbursement of each cost item is subject to the following constraints/conditions provided in below table;
• Covered by the combination of both options.

The following guidance on travel compensation is provided per UNDP practice.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.