Drafting of Balochistan Farmers/Women Farmers and Water Users Association Act

Background

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN). It is the only development agency that is fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). ITC's mission is to foster inclusive and sustainable economic development, and contribute to achieving the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

ITC is implementing the EU funded ‘Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress’ (GRASP) project which aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty through development of rural MSMEs in selected districts within two provinces of Pakistan: Balochistan and Sindh. GRASP will focus on selected product lines within livestock and horticulture.

GRASP will take a holistic approach to building MSME competitiveness in agribusiness value chains starting from a deep understanding of markets and working back through the value chain to enable MSMEs and ultimately producers to create and capture additional value. To do this, GRASP will implement three intermediary outcomes:

1. Regulatory and institutional frameworks improved at federal and provincial levels for rural value chain and MSME development.
2. Productivity, quality, and sustainability of selected value chains in horticulture and livestock improved.
3. MSME commercialization within selected value chains improved.

Under output 1, GRASP will seek to improve the regulatory and institutional frameworks, at federal and provincial levels in Sindh and Balochistan, in the areas of domestic commerce, agricultural policies, rural MSME development and food safety, including plant and animal health. GRASP will undertake regulatory reform by developing and sustaining policies, laws, regulations (including upgrading existing laws) and strengthening government institutions to reduce barriers to competition and market openness, and foster market dynamics, while ensuring essential social and environmental welfare. GRASP will employ highly inclusive approaches to the design and implementation of regulatory reforms through close participation of all relevant stakeholders, especially the private sector including the small hold farmers and women through wide range consultations and public private dialogue (PPD).

Weak and inadequate regulatory framework for the formation, operation, promotion and registration of farmers and women farmers organizations and water users association was one of the key issues identified for reform through consultations with the public and private sectors during the inception phase of the GRASP project. The Agriculture and Cooperatives Department government of Balochistan also highlighted this need officially.

In this context, ITC is hiring national consultant to support the Government of Balochistan to assess the need and hold consultations with the relevant stakeholders to design and develop a new law for the formation, promotion and registration of farmers and women farmers associations and water users associations in the province. The new law will regulate formation, promotion and registration (among other areas) of the farmers/women farmers organizations and water users associations in the province to provide for on-farm water management, conservation and optimum utilization of irrigation water sources in the Province. The law will be developed in close collaboration with the Balochistan Agriculture and Cooperatives Department.

Description of Duties/Responsibilities

ITC intends to hire a legal expert to review the existing regulatory framework in the province for regulation of farmers and women farmers association and water users associations and develop a new law to that affect. The new law will be developed by undertaking a regulatory impact analysis of existing laws in force in Balochistan and/or in other provinces of the country as well as international best practices and evolving trends and in close consultation and coordination with all relevant stakeholders from public and private sectors. The new law shall regulate formation, promotion and registration (among other areas) of the farmers/women farmers organizations and water users associations in the province to provide for on-farm water management, conservation and optimum utilization of irrigation water sources in the Province.

The Legal Consultant will work under the guidance of the Islamabad based Deputy GRASP Coordinator cum Policy Lead in association with Balochistan GRASP Lead and under the overall supervision of GRASP Coordinator. The consultant will be required to collaborate with other ITC GRASP staff and consultants working on the GRASP project.

"The consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to the event(s) as required. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC."

Expected Outputs and Timelines

Travel

Travel to Quetta will be required to hold consultations and presentation of the proposed law Budget: Lump sum fee for the consultancy. Travel and DSA will be provided as per UN rules. Required education, skills and experience

The consultant should have the following education, skills and experience.

Education