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.

Assignment implementation period: December 2022 - June 2023.  

Scope of work

Under the guidance of the CLIENT the Consultant on training of Family Benefit Program beneficiaries (sub-grant beneficiary coaching), hereafter Consultant, shall be responsible for the provision of assistance to the CLIENT in ensuring the compliance and effective implementation of FBP beneficiary entrepreneurial capacity building and follow-up activities, such as coaching, advisory services for sub-grant beneficiaries, trade-fairs and networking activities.

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

• Implement Follow-up activities for 20 sub-grant beneficiaries in Tashir and Stepanavan enlarged communities of  Lori Marz: Coach the beneficiaries (the sub-grantees) on specific Business Management issues, including Environmental and Social  (E&S) good practice (in accordance to Project Guidelines on good E&S practice for main types of eligible activities[1]) arising during the business operation. Follow-up activities need to include at least:
• at least one on-site visit (visit to the specific place/venue where the business is launched) per month per beneficiary; and,
• 30 minutes individual coaching/consultancy by phone, per month per beneficiary.

The duration of follow-up activities’ is up to 5 months, the approximate number of beneficiaries or sub-grantees under Consultant’s supervision is 20.

• Contribute to the organization of the trade-fairs/networking activities including providing advisory support to sub-grant beneficiaries on their participation in the trade-fairs to be organized by the Project and run 1.5 hour workshops (2 workshops to be conducted) on Business Plan Implementation and Business Sustainability issues. The specific content of workshops and selected topics will be decided based on beneficiaries needs and requests.

 Administrative and Logistic Arrangements

Anticipated commencement date of the assignment December 27, 2023. Contract end date: June 30, 2023.

The coaching of 20 sub-grant beneficiaries has to be conducted in Tashir and Stepanavan enlarged communities of Lori Marz of Armenia. Consultant’s transportation (taxi car) and communication (mobile SIM card) will be provided by the Client. All technical arrangements (space, equipment, transportation of beneficiaries and consultant, coffee-breaks, etc.) required for the to the organization of trade-fairs and workshops will be provided by the Client.

The working language of the documents produced by consultant is Armenian.   The dates and places of all activities must be preliminary agreed with the Client. Specific activity 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 (sub-grant beneficiaries of Tashir and Stepanavan enlarged communities of Lori Marzas well as trade-fairs organized in other Project marzes).

[1]Project guidelines on good environmental and social practice for main types of eligible activities https://aasw.org/uploads/page/pdfs/E&S_guideline_for_good-E&S_for_main_business_types-ENG.pdf

Required qualifications

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),
• At least 3 years of experience in deliver business (entrepreneurship) trainings and/or provision of advisory services and coaching,
• Experience of working with poor/extremely poor people at least in one project (is an advantage),
• Understanding of functioning of project main sub-grant business types (such as animal husbandry, pig farming, greenhouses, trade, production (bakery, pastries), beauty salons, beekeeping, sewing and fashion salons) and experience of working in Lori region (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.)

Application procedures

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form (CV and letter of interest) to the below e-mail address by December 20, 2022

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers (2016) (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the (Selection of Individual Consultant) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 10:00 to 18:00.

The “Armenian Association of Social Workers” non-governmental organization

Paruyr Sevak 30, Yerevan, 0014

Tel: 37493 514499

E-mail: procurement@aasw.org

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.