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 Business Management Skills Training, Coaching and Advisory Services” 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 Family Benefit Program beneficiaries on Business Management Skills Training, Coaching and Advisory Services (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 BMS Trainings in Project marzes for selected FBP beneficiaries.
2. Implement Sub-Grant Follow-up activities (Monitoring, Coaching/Advisory Services and contribution to organization of the trade-fairs / networking activities)

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

1. Under the “Implement BMS Trainings in Project marzes for selected FBP beneficiaries”, the Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Participate in the Training of Trainers as a trainee and provide his/her feedback (both training materials and methodology). Contribute to the Pilot BMS training as co-trainers.
• Implement BMS training to the Project Component-2 beneficiaries (selected FBP beneficiaries) according the BMS training curricula and methodology (including mentoring the BMS trainees in developing their Business Plans) developed in the framework of the Project. The BMS training duration is 20 hours, the average group composition is 12-22 trainees, the number of groups provided with BMS training may vary from one to four for the whole assignment. It is estimated that this task will require 9 working days per training/group[1].
• Participate in Evaluation of business plans by supporting the presentation of the Business Plans by the Beneficiaries as well as providing additional information/feedback asked by the evaluators, etc.
• Input the Project MIS (Management Information System) with documents and information related to the scope of his/her assignment.

2. Under the “Implement Sub-Grant Follow-up activities (Coaching/Advisory Services)”, the Consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks:

• Implement Follow-up activities: Coach the beneficiaries (the sub-grantees) on specific Business Management issues including Environmental and Social aspects arising during the business operation by running one on-site visit per month and 7 hours per month individual coaching/consultancy by phone (the Follow-up activities’ duration is up to 15 months, the maximum number of beneficiaries (number of sub-grantees under Consultant’s supervision is 25)
• Contribute to organization of the trade-fairs / networking activities by participating in the trade-fairs to be organized by the Project and run workshops (up to 3 workshop to be conducted during the Project). The content of workshops and selected topics will be decided based on beneficiaries needs and requests; it may include the taxation, business enlargement and marketing issues, specific business type problems, etc.

4. Timetable & Milestones

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

The dates and places of all activities must 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 (all activities indicated in 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 deliver business (entrepreneurship) trainings
• Experience in conducting business (entrepreneurship) development programs, implementation of coaching and mentoring (highly appreciated), 
• 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 (must), working level knowledge of English (is an advantage)
• Good software user and presentation skills (MS Office, Internet, etc.)

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 December 27, 2021.

Please clearly indicate the title of the position (Consultant on Training of Family Benefit Program beneficiaries on Business Management Skills Training, Coaching and Advisory Services) 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)