Background
Into the 4th year of devolution, there is a growing appreciation among the county governments that county regional economic integration can provide the critical leverage necessary to realize the economic growth potential and thus counties within close geographic proximity have come together to establish economic blocs. In this regard, County Governments from the Coastal Region have been engaging in a process of crafting a cooperation framework towards socio-economic empowerment of people in the region covering Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, and Taita Taveta Counties
The Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani (JKP) Economic blueprint initiative recognizes that the strategic connections between the member counties with shared interests can form a viable unit for sustainable socio-economic development. In addition, a regional approach will ensure, inter alia, access to new expanded markets, economies of scale, larger labour force and shared natural and infrastructural resources. With support from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MOALF), the development of the Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani Economic Blueprint will be undertaken primarily by the JKP Secretariat, identified professionals from the universities, Non-Governmental Organizations and private sector from the Coastal area, and with the guidance of a professional private firm.
In this regard, FAO and JKP seek to recruit the services of a technical lead consultant to support the delivery of the JKP economic blue print. The technical lead consultant will work with a team of experts from the coast region identified by the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) secretariat in consultation with the Lead consultant.
Reporting line and specific tasks
Under the overall supervision of the FAO representative in Kenya, and direct supervision of the Programmes Coordinator and with a secondary line of reporting to the JKP secretariat. The consultant will closely work with JKP Secretariat to lead the development of the Jumuiya 2030 – Long-term (2017 – 2030) regional development framework, architecture and methodology – Economic Blue Print.

The consultant will specifically:
• Form a team of experts including a technical lead consultant(s) from the firm and three experts from the coast universities (to be identified by the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) secretariat in consultation with the firm.
• Be the technical leader of a team of three with oversight and project management and technical responsibilities with support from the JKP Secretariat
• Undertake a comprehensive situational analysis of the JKP regional economic development status in relation to contribution of county governments, national government, private sector and development partners and including desk review of relevant documents and key stakeholder consultation.
• Develop an all-inclusive, implementable Jumuiya 2030 regional long-term socio-economic development framework aligned to Kenya Vision 2030 national policy framework, harmonized County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs)
• Incorporate a localized approach and methodology informed by knowledge transfer and application of globally proven models and practices of sustainable regional economic development.
• Map out the key national Vision 2030 projects and others in the region and identify complimenting programmes/projects to be undertaken by Jumuiya to expedite economic development within the County Governments mandates.
• Qualify and map out the identified (14) cross-cutting sectors to assess county comparative advantages, value chain analysis for clustered economic development and equitable growth
• Support sector technical teams with mapping, rationalization and sequencing of flagship projects as well as enabling legal and institutional frameworks within the Jumuiya 2030 Phase (1) development efforts.
• Define innovative flagship project funding mechanisms and resource mobilization strategies within the constraints of County government and JKP mandates and Public, Private and Partnership (PPP) as well as inclusion of the private sector.
• Facilitate dissemination and validation of the JKP economic blue print with the stakeholders.
• Develop an implementation matrix with performance indicators and possible timeframes to guide the realization of the goals of the process and ensure easy monitoring and evaluation of the various actions to be taken as detailed in the blue print.
• Prepare an end of assignment report using a given format after being contracted by FAO

Minimum Requirements
Academic Qualifications
• Advanced university degree in Sociology, Social Sciences, Economics, Development Economics, or other related disciplines
Technical Competencies and Experience Requirements
• Over 5 years of experience in using participatory approach for research and data analysis.
• Capable Technical Lead consultant based in Kenya with proven experience in development of regional economic development plans and able or willing to work with a team of other experts to prioritize and craft sectoral programmes that will stimulate regional development.
• Demonstrated ability through publications in English language to produce written analysis of socio-economic and gender issues
• Experience in integrating the perspective of gender equality in nutrition sensitive agriculture and programme formulation in the context of agriculture and rural development and experience in socio-economic and gender analysis
• Excellent oral and written English language skills
• Knowledge of the UN System, its working and programming mechanisms, familiarity with FAO’s work would be an asset

HOW TO APPLY:
Candidates are requested to submit their application by email to vacancy-kenya@fao.org quoting the position title and vacancy announcement number.
A duly completed Personal Profile Form (PPF) generated from FAO’s iRecruitment portal as a PDF-file is to be submitted by email together with a cover letter. Please note that attached resumes or CV’s in place of the PPF will not be accepted.
In order to prepare a Personal Profile Form, you must first register on the FAO iRecruitment site by clicking on the following link to register: http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/ In order for your application to be properly evaluated, please ensure that all sections of the on-line profile are completed.
Applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
This vacancy is open to both male and female candidates. Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.