Vacancies

Project Title : National Sustainable Food Systems Programme

Contracting Organization: St. Lucia Agricultural and Environmental Foundation (SLAEF)

Project Location: Saint Lucia                                              Duration: Three (3) months

Background

The St. Lucia Agricultural and Environmental Foundation (SLAEF) has received support through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme Planning Grant to develop a comprehensive project proposal entitled National Sustainable Food Systems Programme.

The proposed programme seeks to address critical environmental and socio-economic challenges affecting Saint Lucia's food system, including:

• Unsustainable agricultural practices;

• Soil degradation;

• Biodiversity loss;

• Chemical runoff affecting marine ecosystems;

• Weak integration between agriculture and marine conservation;

• Limited institutional coordination; and

• Limited sustainable financing mechanisms.

The planning phase includes research, stakeholder consultations, environmental assessments, development of an eco-agro tourism financing model, and preparation of a high-quality proposal for submission to the GEF Small Grants Programme.

Purpose of the Assignment

To engage an experienced consultant to lead the preparation of a high-quality, technically sound and GEF-compliant project proposal that will secure funding for implementation of the National Sustainable Food Systems Programme.

The consultant will work closely with SLAEF, stakeholders, government agencies and technical partners throughout the planning phase.

Objectives

The consultant shall:

1. Develop a complete GEF-compliant project proposal.

2. Design a comprehensive intervention that promotes sustainable food systems using a Ridge-to-Reef approach.

3. Facilitate stakeholder engagement throughout proposal preparation.

4. Develop the environmental, technical, institutional and financial components of the project.

• Ensure the proposal aligns with: GEF priorities and other sustainable agricultural systems and strategies and environmental and climate change policies

Scope of Work

The consultant shall undertake, but not be limited to, the following tasks.

• Review all planning grant documents, review relevant national policies and prepare an inception report that include a detailed work plan and data collection tools.

·   Conduct an assessment of current agricultural systems, existing farming practices, value chains, Institutional arrangements, environmental challenges, marine ecosystem linkages, existing financing mechanisms, existing programmes and projects

·   Plan and facilitate consultations with stake holders: Farmers, Fisherfolk, Community organizations, Tourism operators, Government ministries and other NGO’s. The consultant shall document recommendations and develop partnership arrangements

·       Develop the complete project design to include: Theory of Change, Results Framework, Logical Framework, Risk Assessment, Gender Action Plan, Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Sustainability Strategy, Exit Strategy, Knowledge Management Strategy, Environmental and Social Safeguards, Implementation Plan, Procurement Plan and Governance Structure.

·   Prepare detailed budget, cost estimates, financing strategy, co-financing strategy, sustainability financing model, eco-agro tourism business model, cash flow projections, Cost-benefit analysis

·   Develop results framework, performance indicators, baselines, targets, monitoring plan, evaluation plan, reporting templates.

• Prepare the complete proposal including: Executive Summary, Background, Situation Analysis, Problem Statement, Project Justification, Project Objectives, Outcomes, Outputs, Activities, Budget, Work Plan, Risk Analysis, sustainability Strategy and Annexes

Deliverables

The consultant shall submit:

Deliverable

Timeline

Inception Report

Week 1

Baseline Assessment Report

Week 4

Stakeholder Consultation Report

Week 6

Environmental Assessment

Week 7

Draft Project Design, Budget and Financing Plan Monitoring & Evaluation Framework

Week 8

First Draft Proposal and review by SLAEF

Week 11

Final Presentation to SLAEF

Week 12

Expected Outputs

The assignment shall produce:

• A complete GEF-compliant funding proposal.

• A comprehensive baseline assessment.

• Stakeholder consultation report.

• Environmental safeguards framework.

• Financial sustainability strategy.

• Eco-agro tourism business model.

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework.

• Logical Framework.

• Theory of Change.

• Detailed implementation plan.

• Communications and stakeholder engagement plan.

Required Qualifications

The consultant should possess:

Education

• Master's degree or higher in Environmental Management, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Project Management, Economics, Environmental Science, or a related discipline Or Bachelors in the above area and experience in writing project proposals

Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years' experience in project formulation.

• Demonstrated experience developing successful GEF, UNDP, GCF, Adaptation Fund, or other international donor proposals.

• Experience in sustainable agriculture and food systems.

• Experience in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

• Experience in stakeholder engagement and participatory planning.

• Experience developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

• Experience preparing project budgets and financial analyses.

Competencies

• Excellent analytical and technical writing skills.

• Strong facilitation and communication skills.

• Knowledge of GEF Results-Based Management.

• Familiarity with environmental and social safeguards.

• Excellent report writing skills.

Reporting Arrangements

The consultant will report directly to the Project Coordinator of the St. Lucia Agricultural and Environmental Foundation. Progress meetings shall be held at least every two weeks throughout the assignment.

Duration

The consultancy shall be completed within three (3) months, consistent with the GEF Planning Grant implementation period.

Payment Schedule

Deliverable

Percentage

Inception Report approved

20%

Submission of First Draft Proposal

50%

Approval and acceptance of Final Proposal and all supporting documents

30%