Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP)

Pakistan

Recruitment of an expert in market information system in Balochistan

Context

The Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP) is a six-year programme funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) helping to reduce the poverty in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan by strengthening the competitiveness and access of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to value chains. The programme envisions the implementation of a Market Information System, which will include a database of prices and other relevant market information to improve MSMEs access to real time and reliable specific market information in the horticulture and livestock sectors.

The Market Information System (MIS) is a tool to collect, monitor and disseminate market prices and other market information though an MIS online portal, mobile application and mobile solutions. ITC has designed the structure and proposed the services to be provided by the tool, and will develop and test the different components in collaboration with the Agriculture Department of Balochistan and representatives of farmers associations. In view of this, ITC is looking for a national specialist with experience in agriculture market information services in Balochistan, including in relation to market prices, to support the operationalization of the MIS.  The contract period is seven months (from June to December 2021) and the national consultant will be based at the GRASP coordination office in Quetta.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the MIS Project Manager and the GRASP Project Coordinator, technical supervision of an Associate Programme Advisor, and direct supervision of GRASP Provincial Lead, the Consultant will undertake the following:

-          Based on surveys carried out by ITC on the capacity of Agricultural Produce Markets (APMs) and their market committees to provide market price data, design a strategic plan to support the Agriculture Department of Balochistan in the collection of real-time prices data for the horticulture sector

-          Based on the results of the above-mentioned survey, a review of literature and an analysis of available secondary data, assess the feasibility of the collection of real-time market prices for products in the livestock sector.

-          Contribute to the intermediary report to be prepared by ITC on the implementation of the GRASP (on the MIS component to be specific).

-          Provide a list of potential national providers (e.g. telecommunication companies, weather information services, geolocation services, etc.) for the services to be included in the MIS.

-          Introduce the MIS to farmers, agribusinesses and traders associations in GRASP selected districts and create an account to manage their lists of members.

-          Collect lists of farmers and traders around GRASP priority products from other sources and upload them in the MIS.

-          Establish a continuing dialogue in coordination with GRASP team and partners in Balochistan with the representatives of farmers and traders associations during the development phase of the project, and obtain feedback on the MIS from these entities.

-          Contribute to the implementation of a communication plan on the MIS.

-          Draft various reports and other inputs on the implementation of the MIS.

The consultant has to ensure s/he is not employed by the public administration during the period of the contract and that s/he is available on a full-time basis.

Travel is required within the province of Balochistan and to Islamabad.

Expected Outputs and Timeline

By the end of the contract (31December 2021), the following outputs should be completed:

1. Provide a list of potential services and information providers in Pakistan (June 2021)
2. Final design of an assessment report on the feasibility of a market price collection system for the livestock sector in Balochistan (October 2021)
3. Final design of an intermediary report on the implementation of the GRASP’s component on MIS (December 2021).

2. A list of farmers and traders in the GRASP priority districts around GRASP priority products collected and uploaded in the MIS (August 2021).
3. Final design of a strategic plan for the daily collection of market prices for the horticulture sector in Balochistan, which outlines the capacity of the Department of Agriculture to implement the MIS, the current available resources (human & financial) at the provincial and district level, the constraints and recommendations (September 2021).
4. At least eight associations of farmers and traders per GRASP selected district have created an account in the MIS to manage their list of members (September 2021)

6. A list of service providers for the implementation of a communication plan on the MIS (October 2021)
7. Feedback on the MIS provided by representatives of farmers and traders associations (November 2021)

Skills

• Knowledge of agricultural market information systems
• Knowledge of the horticulture and livestock sectors in Pakistan
• Competent in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Strong communication skills
• Strong research and writing skills
• Technical report writing skills

Education

• Advanced university degree in agriculture economics/development economics, agriculture development, business administration or closely related field.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in the implementation of projects related to agriculture information or agricultural market infrastructure/operations.
• Knowledge of market prices legal framework in Balochistan.
• Good understanding of market structure, roles of market committees in Balochistan and issues related to prices collection system in Balochistan.

Language

Written and spoken proficiency in English and Urdu. Knowledge of Balochi, Pashto and Brahvi will be an asset.