| Overview : Water availability and affordability is crucial to maintaining economic growth and social cohesion within the agricultural sector. This is particularly challenging when viewed against the projected climatic baseline set out in the Second National Communication for the UNFCCC (forthcoming). The Government of Turkmenistan is fully aware of these challenges. To meet these challenges, the government is focused on implementation of large scale water infrastructure investment designed to maximize storage and supply capacity. This is aimed at the support of large scale farming of strategic staple crops under the national procurement system (cotton, wheat, rice, sugar beet). Water efficiency infrastructure, such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, is also being integrated into these large scale farming operations. Even so, recent analysis undertaken within the UN IFF project, and findings within the Second National Communication indicate that such supply side measures are unlikely to be sufficient to meet the overall projected water deficit over the next 20 years. As a response, the government is issuing a new integrated national strategy for water and agriculture in 2011 which will address the efficiency issues in cotton and wheat farming. To support government’s efforts, UNDP in cooperation with the Ministry of Nature Protection launched a project of “Addressing climate change risks to farming systems in Turkmenistan at national and community level” in 2011 financed by Adaption Fund. The main objective of the project is to strengthen water management practices at both local and national levels in response to climate change-induced water scarcity risks that are increasingly affecting farming systems in Turkmenistan. The project will assess and deliver concrete water adaptation measures to local vulnerable communities in the three typical agro-ecological regions, while also strengthening national level water legislation and pricing to ensure water availability for the non-state sector farmers. To address these project objectives, UNDP Turkmenistan Country Office is seeking proposals from individuals for provision of the Individual Consultancy Services described in the abovementioned subject. All interested candidates may submit their proposals, P11, CV and Offeror's Letter to UNDP on or before close of business (18:00) on April 14, 2015 and via: e-mail, facsimile, in a sealed envelopes marked " National Expert on valuation of socio economic efficiency of investment activities for pilot regions and determining economic factors for functioning of the Association of water users" to the following address: UNDP Turkmenistan Registry Galkynysh 40, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Telephone: + 993 12 425250 Fax: + 993 12 425317 E-Mail: registry.tm@undp.org To assist you in understanding the requirements of this assignment, we have attached hereto the following: •The Terms of Reference for the assignment; •Offeror's Letter to UNDP, confirming Interest and Availability, which you must accomplish and submit to UNDP; •P11, CV; and •The Individual Contract and its General Terms and Conditions, which you would be expected to sign in the event you are the selected Offeror in this procurement process. | 
