AWO International Job Vacancy: Consultancy Group for the Feasibility Study of a Food Security and Agriculture Related Projects, Yogyakarta

AWO INTERNATIONAL JOB VACANCIES 2024

  • Job Title: Consultancy Group for the Feasibility Study of a Food Security and Agriculture-related Projects
  • Project Title: “Promotion of resilient, food secure, and climate-adaptive livelihoods of the most at-risk communities in the disaster-prone area of Yogyakarta Province” (PROSPER Project)
  • Project Location: Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia
  • Duration of Appointment: 10 weeks

Introduction

AWO International was founded in 1998 as a professional association for development cooperation and humanitarian action within the framework of the German welfare organization “Arbeiterwohlfahrt” (AWO). It draws on the expertise and vast experience of AWO in Germany, which has been an integral part of the German welfare state since the last century.

In close cooperation with local non-governmental organizations in Central America, East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, AWO International is working to ensure that disadvantaged people can sustainably improve their living conditions. The organization adopts a special approach in all its development projects, which is the “Enhancement of Social Structures”. Its goal is to set up and strengthen the social structures wherein people interact. To achieve this, AWO International and its partner organizations concentrate their efforts on providing organizational development and supporting civil society networks at the local and regional levels.

The Regional Office in Southeast Asia (RO SEA) under the Humanitarian Action program has been aiming to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities by conducting measures on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and responding to the needs of people affected by disasters and crises.  Since 2018, 8 projects have been completed, 3 in Indonesia and 5 in the Philippines, all in partnership with partner organizations. At the same time, 2 projects are ongoing in the Philippines. Currently, another project is being planned in Indonesia under the Engagement Global – BENGO program for Private Entities with the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as the donor agency. Together with the partner organization, YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU), a concept note was prepared and submitted. The project seeks to enhance food security and resilience in 7 vulnerable communities across disaster-prone villages in Yogyakarta Province. This will be achieved through boosting food production, improving market access and sales, implementing a comprehensive disaster management plan focused on the food sector, and raising stakeholder awareness about food security and climate-adaptive livelihoods. The initiative aims to strengthen community resilience and reduce poverty within the food sector.

The pre-registration of the concept received an “A” prioritization from BENGO, indicating the availability of funding for the project. However, the final approval by the donor will only be granted after a full proposal is submitted that meets the expectations and standards of BENGO-BMZ. To support the proposal’s development, a feasibility study is thus planned to be conducted.

The main objective of the feasibility study is to conduct a feasibility appraisal of the proposed project including suggestions for improvements of the concept in view of the situation of the target groups and the specific context in the 7 communities. It should outline recommendations to be addressed in the final project proposal and contribute to the finalization of the log frame.

Background of the Planned Project

Indonesia is a middle-income country with considerable progress in its economy, yet it is still facing challenges in terms of poverty, food security, and vulnerability to natural hazards, and climate change. Despite significant achievements in decreasing poverty, and inequality, and reducing food insecurity, stunting, and wasting, other indicators remain challenging.

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire and facing many natural threats including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, flooding, and droughts, Indonesia ranks as the third country in the world with the highest climate risk, with great exposure to all types of flooding, sea level rise, and strong winds. Disasters have made an impact on food production, increased food prices, and disrupted access to food distribution. Ultimately, the impacts of climate change and disasters are one of the main causes of hunger and affects all dimensions of food security. Extensive research over the past 30 years reveals that it is generally the poor who tend to suffer the worst from disasters.

According to the Central Statistics Agency’s data in 2022, the extreme poverty rate in Indonesia is 2.04%, while the World Bank reports that the extreme poverty rate in Indonesia is 1.5%. Data from Central Statistics Agency also shows that as of March 2023, the number of poor people in Indonesia reached 25.9 million or 9.36%, and the Poverty Line was recorded at IDR 550,458/capita/month (EUR 31,67) with a composition of the Food Poverty Line of IDR 408,522 (74.21%) and the Non-Food Poverty Line of IDR 141,936 (25.79%).

In 2023, out of the total poor population in Indonesia, Java Island, where Yogyakarta Province is located, contributed to 19.21%. It had a composition of 7.40% living in urban areas and 11.81% living in rural areas. The Special Region of Yogyakarta Province was listed as the poorest province in Java with a percentage of 11.04% and its number of poor people reaching 448,000. Their poverty line per capita per month is IDR 573,022 (Central Statistics Agency, 2023).

The proposed project will be implemented in 7 villages in rural areas in 2 regencies in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province, which has the highest poverty rate. In 2023, the number of poor people in Kulon Progo regency reached 70,735, with a percentage of 16.64% of the total population; 81,120 people in Gunungkidul regency, with a percentage of 18.30% of the total population.

The overall objective of the project is to alleviate poverty, have secured food, and increase the community resilience of the impoverished and most at-risk communities in the disaster-prone areas of Yogyakarta Province.

The project will have the following 4 outputs of the log frame:

  • Increased food production: The 350 smallholder farming households have improved their food production by 20%.
  • Indicators: Farming households adopted new climate-adaptive livelihood; farmer groups maintained innovative climate-adaptive livelihood; and new best practices on climate-adaptive livelihood are adopted.
  • Measures: Introduction and development of innovative and climate-adaptive agricultural practices, such as smart mist irrigation, organic fertilizers, and row-spacing techniques.
  • Increased Market Access and Sales: The 525 targeted women and smallholder farming households have increased their market access and sales by 20%.
  • Indicators:  Women and farmer groups developed business and marketing plans and established online marketplaces which led to increasing their sales, and they are able to have business relations and cooperation agreements in place with other partners.
  • Measures: Conduct training in business planning and marketing, setting up a marketplace, and better market linkages.
  • Disaster risk reduction in food sector: All targeted 7 disaster-prone communities have implemented their disaster management plans with a specific focus on food sector.
  • Indicators: There is an increased understanding on disaster risk reduction, related documents are developed, and resilience actions are implemented; and food barns are established and legalized. These ensure that food supplies are protected during emergencies, there are sufficient supplies, and that appropriate distribution mechanisms are in place.
  • Measures: Conduct information sessions on disaster and climate risk, participatory assessment, and establishment of food barns that serve multiple purposes: as emergency food reserves and during non-emergency as a means to support local economic activity by connecting farmers with consumers and offering affordable food.

Note: While the food barns will offer a diverse range of foods, the project will not monitor nutritional balance, or the types of food stored in these barns.

  • Advocacy for government support: All targeted 7 disaster-prone communities are aware of their rights and have submitted proposals for complementary government support.
  • Indicators: Advocacy materials are developed and disseminated, dialogues are conducted, groups applied for complementary government support, and there is community representation in national and regional Southeast Asia forum.
  • Measures: Conduct research to generate recommendations for the improvement of government programs, multistakeholder workshops, documentation of learnings, and participation in forums.

The project combines the strategies of community organizing; capacity strengthening including the most at-risk groups, the village disaster task force, and community-based livelihood groups in understanding and addressing food insecurity both at household and village level, livelihood support, and rights-based advocacy; community-led innovation development; and building partnership with government and relevant stakeholders. It will target existing civil society structures (CSS) in the villages such as Famer groups, Women groups at the village level (PKK), and Village disaster task forces.

Objectives

AWO international’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia (AWO RO SEA) seeks to contract into service a short-term Consultant to do a feasibility study. The concept developed by YEU has been done based on research, previous and current experiences, consultation and coordination with the women groups and farmer groups that have been assisted by YEU since 2015, and government offices – such as Social Agency, Local Disaster Management Agency, Agriculture Office, and Agriculture Extension Office in Gunungkidul Regency.  Nevertheless, there is still a need for a critical review, for direct verification with the target groups and incorporation of their particular needs and views, and for external experts’ opinion.  The feasibility study shall provide AWO RO SEA and YEU with a good basis for the development of the project proposal. It should examine the context of the planned project at all relevant levels (micro-, meso-, and macro-) and collect essential, project-relevant data on the project concept including stakeholders. It should also be able to clarify the pre-requisites, potential benefits, opportunities, barriers, and risks in implementing the planned interventions. Overall, it should critically examine the project concept with respect to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability; and assess the feasibility of the project logic to determine whether it will likely succeed and the plan of action is likely to produce the anticipated result. Finally, it should produce concrete recommendations for improving the project concept including the impact matrix (log frame) and project measures (activities).

The study should also review and assess whether AWO International’s cross-cutting issues of Gender Equality, Inclusion (including Disability), Climate Change (CCA & CCM), and Environment Protection are properly integrated and mainstreamed throughout the project.

Note: A guide on conducting a feasibility study, from BMZ, will be shared with the selected Consultant before the start of the study. It contains important information that the Consultant shall consider and utilize of as a reference to ensure all requirements of BENGO-BMZ are met.

Scope of Work

Team of consultants (or consultant) is responsible for the following tasks and outputs, in line with the proposed deliverables and timeline in section 7:

  • Overall planning and development of an inception report to be finalized in coordination with AWO RO SEA and YEU.
  • Enumeration of the required data and information for the feasibility study and compilation of a draft report, in close coordination with AWO RO SEA and YEU.
  • Presentation of study results in a reflection and planning workshop (with AWO International, YEU, and relevant stakeholders) including contribution to the finalization of the project log frame.
  • Submission of the final feasibility study including annexed adapted log frame based on the recommendations of the study.
  • The result of the study shall be presented through a reflection and project planning workshop. The consultant shall be able to support AWO RO SEA and YEU in finalizing the proposal document including the log frame, ensuring all key results of the study are taken into account.

Intended Users of the Feasibility Study

This will be used by AWO International, both its Head Office and Regional Office in Southeast Asia, and YEU for the finalization of the project proposal, and can be used as a reference for future projects with similar context. It will further be submitted to BENGO as an annex to the project proposal, supporting the final funding recommendation.

Geographical Scope

This shall be undertaken in the proposed project areas in Kulon Progo Regency and Gunungkidul Regency in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. Depending on the research strategy of the Consultant and the needs, visits to other areas outside the targets, but with similar situation context, can be made as well.  This will help to ensure that the feasibility study will be able to recommend the appropriate areas where there is a need. It is also important to visit different actors and stakeholders, located within and outside the target areas, like for example the Province and Regency Office of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine, Environment and Forestry, Social Affairs, Tourism, Meteorological Agency, Disaster Management Agency, Development Planning Agency, and international non-governmental organizations and forums working for food security, agriculture, livelihood, disaster and climate resilience.

7-8 Deliverables and Timeline, Report Design:

The full details are in this terms of reference: CLICK HERE

Degree of Expertise and Qualifications:

  • With the vast scope of the study, a team of consultants is preferred that possesses the following background and experience.

Professional background in key areas:

  • A University Degree in a related field of study like Research, Program Management, Agriculture, Food Security and Livelihood, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), Climate Change, Development Studies, Environmental Studies, etc., with a Master’s level is an advantage but not required.

Required Knowledge, Experience, and Capacity:

  • Knowledge, expertise, and several years of experience doing work in relevant areas including resilience, food security and livelihood, DRRM, and climate change.
  • Knowledge, expertise, and experience in formulating qualitative and quantitative data research, and applying OECD DAC evaluation criteria.
  • A robust capacity in technical report writing, excellent analytical skills, and an understanding of working in partnership with NGOs, government, and other stakeholders.
  • Experience working with German-funded international organizations and with BMZ as a funding donor is an advantage but not required.
  • A strong knowledge of and working experience in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, is an advantage but not required.

Note: The study requires expertise in many different technical aspects, hence, a team of Consultants is preferred rather than an individual. It is required that every member of the Consultant team should possess the needed professional background, knowledge, experience, and capacity, as mentioned above. In a team, there should be a leader, who shall serve as the lead Consultant and the main focal point during the entire study period, while the rest shall be the team members who will have different roles and responsibilities depending on his/her expertise.

Budget

The Consultant shall provide a financial proposal under four (4) main lines: (a) professional fees, (b) administrative fees, (c) field visit costs, and (d) all other necessary costs. All costs during the preparation meetings, and related expenses during home-based work shall be on the charge of the Consultant. For the remuneration, the payment shall be given in four (4) tranches:

  • 1st tranche (10%) upon signing of the contract.
  • 2nd tranche (30%) upon submission of revised and final version of O1. Inception Report.
  • 3rd tranche (30%) upon submission of revised and final version of O3. Initial Study Findings’ Report
  • 4th tranche (30%) final payment upon submission of the O2. Repository of Documents, and the revised O4. Final Report incl. the final adapted project log frame (incorporating the recommendations of the report), and once it is accepted by AWO International RO SEA.

(Note: The Consultant is solely responsible for the deduction of income tax, social security, and insurance fees as applicable by Indonesian law and regulations. AWO International shall not withhold nor deduct any amount pertaining to such duties.)

Application and Selection:

  • Teams of consultants and experts who meet the stated requirements and can perform the task described within the given time frame are encouraged to apply.
  • Required documents for submission:
    • Letter of intent / Application letter detailing the competencies stated in this terms of reference. Address the letter to Mr. Stefan Bepler, Director, Regional Office Southeast Asia, AWO International
    • Detailed curriculum vitae of all team members
    • Proposal for the study, which contains at a minimum: methodology, resources, work plan, and financial proposal
    • Professional references (3) – a combination of most recent works and works related to this study
    • Portfolio of previous similar studies carried out

Only applications submitted on or before 20 September 2024 to mail@awo-southeastasia.org copy furnishing charmaine.marinas@awointernational.de with the subject title: “AWO RO SEA Application: Feasibility Study Consultant (IDN)” will be processed. Please take note that only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview and presentation of proposal.