The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a
multi-donor fund established in 2010 to address food insecurity and income
poverty in Myanmar. LIFT has received funding from 14 donors – the United
Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Switzerland, Denmark, the United
States, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Luxembourg, Italy, New Zealand,
Ireland and Mitsubishi Corporation. The United Nations Office for Project
Services (UNOPS) is the Fund Manager to administer the funds and provide
monitoring and oversight.
The overall goal of LIFT is to sustainably reduce the
number of people living in poverty and hunger in Myanmar. LIFT’s purpose is to
strengthen the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of poor people in
Myanmar. LIFT’s purpose-level outcomes are increased income, decreased
vulnerability, improved nutrition, and pro-poor policy developments.
LIFT works with implementing partners that include
international and national non-government organisations, United Nations
agencies, the Government of Myanmar, private sector organisations, academic and
research institutions.
LIFT is active in the four main agro-ecological zones of
Myanmar: the Ayeyarwady Delta, the Rakhine State, the central dry zone
(including Mandalay, Magway and the southern Sagaing region), and the upland
areas of Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin and Shan States and Tanintharyi Region.
So far, LIFT has reached more than 7.2 million people, or
roughly 20 per cent of Myanmar’s rural population; and is active in almost half
the country’s townships. LIFT is funding projects through to June 2019. For
more details visit www.lift-fund.org.
Background
of the Programme
In early 2017 LIFT’s Fund Board committed to support the Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI) to allocate land to landless and
land poor households. In July 2017, MOALI developed and submitted to LIFT a
concept note “Reclamation of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands (VFV),
Re-allocation and Development by the Rural Poor”. That concept note now
provides the basis for the development of a joint programme between MOALI and
LIFT.
In sum, MOALI plans to pilot the reclamation of VFV lands that remain
unused or under-utilised after allocation to individuals, companies and public
entities, and re-allocate this land to smallholder farmers and/or landless
farmers who need secure tenure over land resources to strengthen their
livelihoods through agrarian activities. To date, efforts to reclaim and
re-allocate unused VFV land have been limited, mainly due to the absence of
clear political and procedural guidance. As such, MOALI intends to pilot
reclamation of VFV lands and reallocation to smallholder farmers in selected
areas where risks and un-intended consequences can be easily managed. Lessons
will be learned from this pilot and contribute to MOALI’s consolidated
procedures which can then be used to scale up efforts of
reclaiming/reallocating VFV lands in other areas across the country.
Reclaiming and re-allocating VFV land is more than a
technical-administrative endeavor; it requires increasing agrarian production
and productivity at the local level while at the same time responding to the
needs of all local stakeholders through improved delivery of government
services. The proposed methodology for the pilot is grounded in participatory
processes, inclusive of local civil society, consensus seeking, and drawing
from international best practices. Overall, this effort should strengthen land
tenure security for the most vulnerable and supporting local livelihoods as
well as improve natural resource management.
MOALI is conducting the initial selection of potential sites in 2-3
townships and feasibility pre-assessments are ongoing with technical support
from GRET (Professionals for Fair Development) and LIFT. A report on these
assessments is expected in December 2017.
LIFT is currently recruiting an international programme design consultant
to work with MOALI on the further development of a detailed programme design
document. MOALI will then review revise – if necessary – and submit to LIFT for
funding. LIFT is now recruiting a national consultant to support the international
consultant during the field work in Myanmar.
Purpose
of the Assignment
The purpose of the assignment is to advise the international consultant and
to facilitate his/her consultations with MOALI representatives, other
stakeholders during the in-country visits.
Function / Key Results ExpectedUnder the direct supervision
of the LIFT Livelihoods and Food Security Specialist, the National Consultant will
assist the international consultant for:
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Liaising with the various stakeholders and in
particular MOALI,
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Arranging appointments, meetings and workshops,
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Introducing the consultant to the relevant
stakeholders and facilitating discussions,
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The interpretation of interviewees’ responses in
English,
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Understanding the local context and the roles of
various stakeholders in the land sector at union and regional levels,
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Advising on approaches adapted to the local
context.
Deliverables
Deliverables will be agreed at the start of the assignment.
Work
Plan and Estimated Timeframe
The National Consultant will work for an estimated (20 days) during the months of
February-March 2018 according to the tentative work plan in annex 1. A detailed
work plan and meeting schedule will be developed prior to the international
consultant arrival in-country and in coordination with MOALI.
The National Consultant will accompany the international consultant
during the field visits to various locations (Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing,
Magway and Mandalay regions – to be confirmed) in country.