The “Armenian Association of Social Workers” non-governmental organization (hereafter AASW) announces a competition for the selection of the “Consultant on Training of Family Benefit Program Beneficiaries on Pilot Business Management Skills Training, Advisory for Business Plan Development, Supervision of Capacity Building Activities”  senior consultant on business man skills development assignment within the framework of the “Promoting Social Inclusion and Self-Reliant Livelihood Activities in Armenia” Project (hereinafter Project).

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the implementation of the Project Component-2 activities, specifically to implement Pilot implementation of Business Management Skills trainings and provide supervision of capacity building activities.

Scope of work

Under the guidance of the Project Component-2 Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Consultant on Capacity Building Activities and Sub-Grants Follow-Up (Component-2 Consultant) the Consultant on Training of FBP beneficiaries on the pilot Business Management Skills Training, Advisory for Business Plan Development, Supervision of Capacity Building Activities (hereafter Consultant) shall be responsible for the provision of assistance to the Project team in ensuring the compliance and effective implementation of FBP beneficiary entrepreneurial capacity building and follow-up activities . Specifically, the Consultant shall:

1. Implement the Pilot BMS training course for a group of beneficiaries
2. Provide Supervision of Capacity Building Activities

The Consultant Shall be Responsible for the Following Duties, Responsibilities and Tasks:

1. Under the “Implement the Pilot BMS training course for a group of beneficiaries”, the Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct the Pilot BMS training according to the preliminary developed curricula for 15-20 participants (representatives of the FBP beneficiary families); the training should be conducted in Ashtarak, Aragatsotn marz; the duration of the training should be 6 days, 3,5 hours per day, 20 hours in total;
• Provide feedback on the BMS training curricula and methodology.

2. Under the “Provide Supervision of Capacity Building Activities”, the Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Coach the Business consultants in the Implementation of the BMS Trainings (specifically in Development of Business Plan) by running of 5 in person or on-line group meeting sessions (each lasting 1 hour), as well as providing 60 hours (in total) individual supervision
• Develop sample templates for estimating costs and potential benefits of a business plan and other key provisions (budget, business income projection, business key indicators, the most common risks, etc.) for at least 5 business types in total 4-6 pages each.
• Supervise or Assist the Business consultants in the Implementation of follow-up activities (Coaching/Advisory Services) by running 7 in person group meeting sessions (or workshops during trade-fair exhibitions) and 2 on-line meeting group sessions (each lasting 1.5 hours), as well as providing 60 hours (4-5 hours per month) individual supervision
• Implement Coaching/Advisory Services to Business Consultants (at least 14 visits: 4 visits during BMS trainings and two visits per marz during BPI)

4. Timetable & Milestones

The working language of the documents (deliverables) is Armenian.

The dates and places of all activities mush be preliminary agreed with PIA.  Above specific activity duration (estimated time required per task) and dates for the task are based on regular circumstances and can be subject to changes in case of external influence or rescheduling and re-planning of Project activities. As part of the assignment, and depending on the official health recommendations in the country associated to the pandemic, the consultant will regularly visit the project marzes (the activities related to the tasks N 1, 2, 5, 6 of the table above require visits to Project marzes).

The Consultant should satisfy the following qualifications and requirements

• University degree in the field of business administration, economics, or qualifications in the field of education (or other relevant fields)
• Experience in elaboration of business (entrepreneurship) development training programs, curricula and training materials (is an advantage)
• Experience (at least 1 year) in conducting business (entrepreneurship) development Trainings, implementation of coaching and mentoring
• Experience of working with poor/extremely poor people (is an advantage)
• Good reporting, team player, interpersonal as well as multi-stakeholder communication and performance skills
• Excellent knowledge of the Armenian, working level knowledge of English (verbal/writing)
• Good software user (MS Office, Internet, etc.) and presentation skills.

The Project

The project is expected to help increase access to social assistance benefits and services and provide self-employment support to about 11,000 vulnerable members of society in urban and rural communities in Ararat, Armavir, Kotayk, Lori and Shirak regions of Armenia. The Project grant was received under the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) which is financed by the Government of Japan.  

The project has been designed by the World Bank in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia and will be implemented by the Association of Social Workers– a non-governmental, not-for-profit national professional representative body of social workers in Armenia.  The JSDF was established by the Government of Japan and the World Bank as a mechanism to provide direct assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in eligible World Bank countries. The aim is to enhance their capacities, strengthen their empowerment and participation in society and economic life.

Application

All interested candidates meeting the above-listed requirements are requested to submit their letters of interest and CVs to the e-mail address below until November 26, 2021.

Please clearly indicate the title of the position (Consultant on Training of Family Benefit Program Beneficiaries on Pilot Business Management Skills Training, Advisory for Business Plan Development, Supervision of Capacity Building Activities) in the subject line of the e-mail. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the interview.

E-mail:  procurement@aasw.org

Tel:  (374 93) 514499 (for questions and clarifications)