1. Project Description

On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar with an epicentre near Mandalay at a shallow depth of 10 km, intensifying surface-level destruction. The earthquake was followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude quake further south and multiple aftershocks. The most affected regions are Mandalay and Sagaing, with some parts of Naypyidaw and Shan also affected. The Early Recovery Needs Assessment (ERNA) indicates that of the 1.66 million people affected across 7 regions and states. Livelihoods in both rural and urban areas have been severely disrupted, with 64% of communities reporting job losses, and 30–31% reporting damage to crops and workplaces. A UNDP Rapid Needs Assessment surveying 110 business in Mandalay and Sagaing, the two hardest-hit regions, indicated that only 35% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Mandalay and 24% in Sagaing were operational following the earthquake, with most reporting severe disruption to their operations. Ten (10) months on, earthquake recovery progress remains uneven. The recovery is further slowed down by ongoing conflict in parts of Mandalay and Sagaing, logistics disruptions, lack of access to finance, and macroeconomic policies, which negatively influence operational environment of MSMEs.

In this context, UNDP’s Earthquake Response Project aims to support recovery and strengthen resilience of affected communities through an area-based approach. Under the project’s livelihoods recovery component, UNDP aims to restore and expand sustainable livelihoods and income-generating opportunities for earthquake-affected households and communities in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas.

2. Scope of work

The Market Systems and Enterprises Facilitator will closely work under the direct supervision of the Livelihoods Officer, he/she and will be responsible for the following key functions:

a) Field-based Research and Analysis: Situation Analysis and Value Chain Analyses

·         Undertake situational analyses including through engaging with:

o   Local businesses, particularly those involved in agriculture, forestry, food processing and production, trade;

o   NGOs and representatives from other development projects;

o   Financial services providers; and

o   Other relevant stakeholders.

·         Document findings in analytical reports on market situations in order to:

o   Identify local economic opportunities and constraints

o   Identify a long list of potential products of interest by community/producers.

·         Work with communities in project locations to prioritize products, based on selection criteria.

·         Facilitate and conduct participatory value chain analysis with producer research teams, including:

o   Identification of market actors

o   Mapping value chains

o   With producers, conducting research interviews with market actors at local, regional and national markets

o   Analyzing interview data to identify risks and opportunities within each selected value chain.

·         Communicate value chain analysis findings to producers and stakeholders in the region

b) Community Facilitation: Business Groups/Individuals and Training

·         Work with producers to form functional producer groups

·         Facilitate (organize) and/or train producer groups in 5 key skill sets, including through engagement with external expert trainer service providers:

1.       Group Management;

2.       Financial Literacy;

3.       Basic Market Skills;

4.       Innovation; and

5.       NRM and production skills.

·         Based on findings from value chain analysis, organize technical training for producers to ensure they can produce products of quality and quantity that meet market requirements.

·         Facilitate/organize ongoing training for producers in selected technical areas that is responsive to market requirements, production issues (disease, pests), weather, and other agronomic concerns.

c) Facilitation of Action planning; Facilitation of Market linkages

·         Facilitate producers in developing and implementing intervention plans based on the findings of the participatory value chain analysis.

·         Work with producer groups to identify practical solutions to meeting buyers’ requirements.

·         Facilitate Value Chain Stakeholder Network with local economic stakeholders to plan and implement chain-wide interventions.