Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI)

For

Appointment of Local Consultant

in

The Social Investment Program Project (SIPP)

Government of Bangladesh has received a Credit from the International Development Association (IDA)] to implement  two new programs under Social Investment Program Project (SIPP) through Social Development Foundation (SDF) to help restore the livelihood of rural communities affected by the 2007 floods and by Cyclone Sidr.  SDF is a pro-poor organization that aims at social and economic empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged people in Bangladesh by addressing the poverty, livelihoods and empowerment issues of the rural poor.  SDF is looking for motivated and innovative professionals for the following positions in its new Disaster Risk Mitigation Unit (DRMU) to be set up as a Regional Branch of SDF, in Barisal. The DRMU will be responsible for managing the implementation of the new programs.  Successful candidates have to respect the poor, open to learning and should have an aptitude for community driven development. The work involves extensive travel to the affected areas and working in the field.

(1)  Project Director

     Job Description:

This is  the leadership position in  the Disaster Risk Mitigation Unit (DRMU).; The incumbent will be responsible, interalia, for the overall management of the project and for delivering expected outputs and outcomes identified in the Annual Implementation Plans; and in line and consistent with the program’s objectives and key principles.  Overall, the incumbent is expected to focus intensively on routine and day-to day implementation processes at the district and field office and more importantly at the community level.  Successful implementation of the project will mainly depend upon the efficiency and commitment of the incumbent as well as the depth of knowledge, experience and understanding of the problems of rural development and poverty alleviation.  He/she would spend part of the time in Dhaka to liaise with SDF management, World Bank and other stakeholders.

Qualification and Experience: Minimum Postgraduate in any discipline with minimum 15 years of  practical and relevant experience in the field of rural development; out of which at least 10 years experience in senior and leadership level.  The incumbent should have a track record in successfully leading/managing of rural development/livelihood programs adopting Participatory and Community Driven Development on the ground; he/she should have also experience in designing and implementing of disaster risk reduction management strategies.

(2)  Community Driven Development Specialist

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will be responsible for community mobilization, institutional aspects and operationalizing of the Community Driven Development approach and rules and guidelines (building on SDF’s approach and guidelines as being practiced currently).  He/she would also ensure compliance of the community institutions and field teams and other agencies to the project’s core values, principles and operational processes and procedures.

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in Social Science; with minimum 8 years of practical experience in the relevant field especially working with the poor and most vulnerable groups and communities. 

(3)  Livelihood/Business Development Specialist

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will be responsible for overall livelihood promotion and restoration strategy of the program; specifically exploring various employment and income generating opportunities for the poor and affected families; establishing linkages between the rural poor, and skill development providers, labor markets, and markets for their products.

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in Business Studies /Commerce/ Economics/ Finance;  with minimum 8 years experience in the relevant field, especially dealing with the private sector agencies in developing products and markets.

(4)  Technical Specialist (Community Infrastructure)

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will facilitate planning and implementation of demand-driven community infrastructure activities, ensuring technical soundness of design and participation of community members in planning, implementation, and operation and maintenance aspects.

Qualification and Experience: B.Sc. Engineering (Civil); with minimum 8 years experience in the relevant field.

(5)  Social Accountability Specialist 

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will facilitate implementation and operationalizing of various downward accountability tools and methods that SDF has developed and ensure that project activities are carried out in a transparent and inclusive way and that they achieve impacts for the poor, hardcore poor, women, and other marginalized stakeholders.

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in Social Science; with minimum 8 years practical experience in the relevant field; especially dealing with community institutions and governance aspects.

(6)  Environmental Specialist

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will help communities and project staff understand the environmental issues affecting the lives and livelihoods of the poor and ensure that investments have no negative environmental impact; and are carried out in accordance with the Environmental Management Framework. The incumbent would be responsible for the environmental aspects in the northern area as well.  As this involves both SIPP normal program and the cyclone project, this position would be based in Dhaka but will involve extensive travel to the project areas.

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in environmental science, economics or engineering or natural resources; with minimum 8 years practical experience in the environmental field and excellent knowledge of the sector.

(7)  Information, Education and Communication Specialist

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will design and implement for the project and oversee the development and delivery of  all communication and information messages and products throughout its implementation.

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in Journalism/ Mass Communication / Public Administration / Economics or any other discipline in Social Science with minimum 8 years experience in the relevant field, including 4 years in the field of Information and Communication.  

(8)  Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist

     Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will be responsible for designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation and learning systems for the project including   setting up of a baseline survey, monitoring progress against targets, process monitoring impact assessments etc. and reporting progress and issues to the Project Director and Managing Director on a monthly basis.

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in Social Science with minimum 8 years experience in designing and implementing of the monitoring and learning systems and/or Management Information Systems.

(9)  Capacity Building and Training Specialist

      Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will design and implement all Capacity Building  and training programs for project staff, rural communities, and other stakeholders of the project including need analysis, demand driven training needs; monitoring effectiveness etc. as per the CDD approach and operational documents.

Qualification and Experience: Post Graduate in Social Science with minimum 8 years experience in organizing training and capacity building activities.

(10)  Financial Management Specialist

        Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will manage funds for flood and cyclone programs, ensuring efficient, transparent and accountable Financial Management Systems, at all levels of project implementation including Community Level. 

Qualification and Experience: Postgraduate in Accounting/Finance or ACA or ACMA or MBA Major in Accounting/Finance with minimum 8 years experience in the relevant field, including 4 years in any donor-aided project and knowledge in Computerized Accounting System having experience in CDD approach.

(11)  Procurement Specialist

       Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will arrange all required procurement for the project or as assigned to him/her which may include goods, works and services; for this purpose, the incumbent will prepare procurement plan, tender/bidding documents, REOIs/IFTs/IFBs, RFPs, Evaluation Reports, Award Recommendations, Contract Documents, Procurement Progress Reports, etc., as required. The incumbent will also undertake facilitating procurement training at the community level, and will monitor progress and performance of procurement activities at that level, including but not limited to providing appropriate advice/suggestion to the management as required.

Qualification and Experience: Master's Degree in any discipline; practical experience of minimum 8 years in doing procurement including preparation of procurement plan, tender/bidding documents, REOIs/IFTs/IFBs, RFPs, Evaluation Reports, Award Recommendations, Contract Documents, Procurement Progress Reports, etc. is a must; sound knowledge in the Public Procurement Rules & Regulations of  GoB & WB.

(12)  Community Finance Specialist

        Job Description:

·                      The incumbent will be responsible for implementation of community financing (revolving fund) at the community level and facilitating setting up and functioning of community institutions for managing the fund.  He/she would liaise closely with other micro-credit agencies and adapt SDF’s model of community financing to the suit the conditions of the affected community members.

Qualification and Experience: Master's Degree in social science with minimum 8 years practical experience in micro-credit/community financing and experience of working with NGOs; and community organizations.

For all the posts:

·          Attractive remuneration package commensurate with the qualifications, skill and experience will be offered.

·          The candidates must have strong computer literacy, high level of interpersonal skill, excellent report writing skill and strong ability in oral and written communication in both Bangle & English.

·          Experience with international agencies, donor funded projects and NGO and GoB would be an advantage.

·          The tenure of the above position is up to 36 months following satisfactory performance evaluation.

·          Only short listed applicants will be called for interviews.

·          The incumbents should be willing to travel to remote areas extensively, and will be spending minimum 20 days per month in the project area.

Interested persons are requested to send their detail CV indicating proposed position, name, address (present & permanent, Telephone / Cell Number), date of birth, nationality, membership in professional societies, education, other training, languages & degree of proficiency, countries of work experience, employment records and work undertaken that best illustrates capability to handle this assignment. The interested candidates are requested to send their applications including copies of all certificates with two passport size photographs to the following address on or before 12 August 2008 during office time. Candidates are requested to write the position applied for on the top of the envelope. No TA/DA will be provided for attending interview.

Managing Director

Social Development Foundation (SDF)

House # 4, Road # 21, Sector # 4,

Uttara Model Town, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh.

Email: md@sdfbd.org