SENIOR EXPERT FEASABILITY STUDY FOR A MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROJECT

1.       BACKGROUND

Papua New Guinea ranks 137 out of 169 in the list of all countries by Human Development Index. In 2010, the Papua New Guinea government embraced a new strategic long term intention called Vision 2050 which attempts to aspire for PNG to be smart, wise, vibrant and happy society by 2050. In order to achieve that the government has also approved the PNG Development Strategy Plan (PNGDSP) 2010-2030 and the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2011-2015, the first of four five-year plans to implement the DSP. One of the key sectors of the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2011 – 2015 is rural development, with the goal to achieve rural prosperity. Socio-economic development in rural areas has been slow and stagnant since independence, despite the fact that the vast majority (85%) of the population lives in rural PNG. The government's priority is to improve service delivery in rural areas.

 

Millennium Development Villages (MDV) Pilot Project - Based on discussions with the Prime Minister, Minister for National Planning and District Development, Minister for Community Development, and other high level officials, there was  a proposal for collaborating with government and development partners to establish Millennium Development Villages in PNG to support the government's community and district level development initiatives.

 The Millennium Development Villages philosophy is aligned to PNG's development priorities as stated in the Medium-Term Development Plan and in the newly released integrated community development policy of the Ministry for Community Development.  It is envisaged that by establishing Millennium Development Villages pilot project in PNG, this could demonstrate that multi-sectoral rural investments have the potential to deliver practical, measurable development outcomes on the ground and show that the MDGs can be achieved at the village level.

2.    DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

 

2.1 Global objective

 

The overall objective of this assignment is to assess the feasibility of the implementation of a Millennium Development Project in Papua New Guinea and prepare the related project document.

 

2.2 Specific objectives

 

1. Examine critical lessons learnt from the Millennium Development Village projects implemented in Africa.
2. Assess the adaptation requirements to the PNG context (community development, cultural differences and practises, level of government decentralisation, organic laws, infrastructure etc.).
3. Define the selection criteria for potential beneficiary villages; draw a list of potential Millennium Development Village sites.
4. Draft the Millennium Development Village Pilot Project document.
5. Draft a comprehensive evaluation framework that includes process, outcome, and impact evaluations

 

3.    EXPERT PROFILE

 

Ø      The senior expert should have at least ten (10) years of wide international and proven experience in designing and/or implementing projects which may include integrated community development projects and programmes, as well as an understanding and knowledge of the European Union and other donors' aid delivery modalities.

Ø      The senior expert shall have at least one consequent experience of work with the existing Millennium Development Villages projects in Africa.

Ø      University Degree in the field of social development or any relevant degree to this consultancy.

Ø      The Expert shall be fluent in English and have excellent writing and editing skills

 

The following additional areas of expertise should also be covered by the expert:

 

Ø        Proven experience in participatory formulation processes (EU Project Cycle Management and Logical Framework Approach in particular).

 

Ø         An understanding and knowledge of EU aid delivery modalities (concepts and implementation of EDF-funded projects in particular).

Ø        Experiences in developing countries (ACP countries in particular).

 

4.    LOCATION AND DURATION

 

The tentative starting date of the assignment in Papua New Guinea is scheduled for the 1^st of August 2011 and the tentative overall duration of the assignment is 50 days.

 

If this position is of interest to you and you believe you are suitably qualified, please submit an application to moc.lanoitanretnimrg@aicrag.assenav.