Consultancy for Conducting Training on Planning, Coordination, Budgeting, and Implementation of Agricultural Programmes in Nasarawa State at Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture

Introduction

The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources in Nasarawa State is committed to improving its capacity in planning, budgeting, budget coordination, and implementation to ensure efficient use of resources and enhance agricultural productivity. This training aims to equip ministry staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively plan, manage, and implement budgets for agricultural projects. Therefore, the Nasarawa State Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources is looking for a dynamic Individual Consultant who will work directly with the State Ministry of Agriculture, to oversee and lead training on planning, coordination, budgeting, and implementation as detailed below. 

 Objective

1. To enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources staff in Nasarawa State in effective planning, coordination, budgeting processes, and implementation of agricultural programmes.
2. Enhance the understanding of planning, budgeting, budget coordination, and implementation processes among ministry staff.
3. Develop skills in financial management, budget planning, coordination and monitoring
4. Improve the capacity of staff to coordinate and implement agricultural projects within the allocated projects. 
5. Promote best practices in budget management, accountability and transparency. 

Duration: 15 Days

Target Audiences: Staff from the various departments within the ministry, Nasarawa Agriculture Development Program, Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency and other MDAs involved in the state value system. 

Specific Tasks for the Consultants

1. Conduct a needs assessment to identify the training requirements and current skill levels of the ministry staff.
2. Develop a comprehensive training curriculum covering planning, budgeting, budget coordination, financial management, and project implementation.
3. Facilitate training sessions for ministry staff, including both theoretical and practical components.
4. Provide training materials and resources to support learning.
5. Conduct pre and post-training evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the training and identify areas for improvement.

Duration: 15 days

Target Audience: Staff from various departments within the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), NASIDA and other government MDAs involved in the Nasarawa State food system. 

Specific Tasks for the Consultant

1. Conduct a needs assessment to identify the training requirements and current skill levels of the ministry staff.
2. Develop a comprehensive training curriculum covering planning, budgeting, budget coordination, financial management, and project implementation.
3. Facilitate training sessions for ministry staff, including both theoretical and practical components.
4. Provide training materials and resources to support learning.
5. Conduct pre and post-training evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the training and identify areas for improvement.

Deliverables

1. A detailed training curriculum tailored to the needs of the ministry staff.
2. Training materials, including manuals, handouts, and presentations.
3. Conducted training sessions with documented attendance and participation records.
4. Post-training evaluation report with recommendations for future training sessions to the Ministry of Agriculture, including updates on training preparations, attendance records, and post-training evaluations.

Training Modules

1. Module 1: Introduction to Planning and Budgeting
   • Overview of planning and budgeting in the public sector.
   • Importance of effective planning and budgeting.
   • Key concepts and terminology.
2. Module 2: Strategic Planning
   • Steps in strategic planning.
   • Setting goals and objectives.
   • SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).
3. Module 3: Budget Preparation and Coordination
   • The budgeting processes.
   • Types of budgets.
   • Developing budget proposals.
4. Module 4: Budget Execution and Monitoring
   • Implementing the budget.
   • Monitoring and evaluation techniques.
   • Managing budget variances.
5. Module 5: Financial Reporting and Accountability
   • Importance of financial reporting.
   • Types of financial reports.
   • Ensuring transparency and accountability.

Training Methodology

1. Workshops: Interactive sessions with practical exercises.
2. Case Studies: Real-life examples relevant to the agricultural sector.
3. Group Discussions: Facilitated discussions to encourage knowledge sharing.
4. Trainer: Industry experts to provide insights and best practices.
5. Assessment: Pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge acquisition.

Resources Needed – To be provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources

1. Materials: Printed training manuals, venue, workbooks, and reference materials.
2. Equipment: Projectors, computers, and internet access for online resources.

Expected Outcomes

1. Enhanced understanding of planning, coordination, and implementation of budgeting process and principles.
2. Improved ability to prepare, execute, and monitor budgets.
3. Increased transparency and accountability in financial reporting.
4. Strengthened capacity to make data-driven decisions.

Evaluation and Feedback

1. Feedback sessions to assess the effectiveness of the training.
2. Final evaluation report to summarize the outcomes and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:

1. Minimum of MSc in relevant Agricultural Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or Political Science or related field and/or significant experience in the sector.
2. Excellent project training skills with the ability to apply principles, techniques, tools and methodologies to accomplish results-oriented outcomes
3. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present clear and structured arguments and strong stakeholder engagement abilities in motivating and mobilizing individuals within or outside your reporting line.
4. Excellent analytical, strategic, and technical competence in the areas of policy, advocacy, building of institutional capacities, food systems or closely related domains
5. Exhibit exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment.

Location of the assignment.

The consultancy will be carried out in Lafia, Nasarawa State.