Terms of Reference: Technical support to the Agricultural Information Exchange Platform Initiative

Location: Home-based in India

Travel: Travel required to project-related engagements

Reporting to: Program Manager

Timeframe: November, 2024 - March, 2025  (up to 60 FTE days total)

Application deadline: Due to the urgency of this project, screening and interviews will commence immediately and the post may be filled before the deadline for applications.

CLEAR Global is an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse team where individuals of all backgrounds collaborate and learn from one another. We believe we can be most effective with diverse experience and expertise in our team. We recruit on merit, actively seek diverse applicant pools and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, marital or parental status, or sexual orientation, and welcome all types of diversity.

Background

CLEAR Global is looking for a consultant to provide advice, research and support across cohorts of the AIEP (Agricultural Information Exchange Platform) initiative with whom CLEAR Global is cooperating in its mission to leverage language technology in low resource languages.

In extension of its 4 Billion Conversations Initiative, CLEAR Global currently works with various partners, most of whom are currently engaged in the AIEP initiative, to explore the use of language technology in agriculture with a special focus on Kenya and India. As part of this work, CLEAR Global aims to

1. Support the creation of a basic architecture for an information exchange platform in the agricultural sector
2. Support for various endeavors creating language technology and information exchange platforms in the agricultural sector
3. Community building and support around 4BC for farmers, agricultural information exchange platforms and other digital communication initiatives in the sector
4. Support the publishing of technology resources as DPGs (Digital Public Goods) and packaged resources

The role and responsibilities

The consultant will work closely with the AIEP program manager and support  the cohorts and other partners guided by  the detailed work packages (see below).

The candidate  will also work closely with CLEAR Global and partners to identify areas of need and focus, including through participation in cross-partner coordination calls and shared workspaces.

Work packages 1 through 3 are expected to run through the complete term of the contract while  work package 4 is expected to be finalized by the end of January 2025.

Work package 1: Supporting AIEP cohorts

• Provide support in engaging at least two cohorts of the AIEP initiative with their focus in India
• This includes:
  • Co-coordinate the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) development process of each cohort
  • Supporting the cohorts in overcoming obstacles and in preparing key events and meetings with external partners and funders
  • Engage the cohorts  through regular meetings
  • Gather insights, data and updates from the cohorts

Work package 2: DPI Integration and extending the partner network

• Research and evaluate various digital public infrastructures (DPIs) that could be used in the AIEP MVPs
• Extend the AIEP initiatives existing partner network in AI and language tech in agriculture and DPIs with a special focus on India
• Support the AIEP cohorts in accessing and evaluating those DPIs
• Record any challenges the cohort encounter in integrating DPIs to share with partners

Work package 3: DPG Roadmapping

• Support the partners of the AIEP initiative in creating a roadmap to create relevant DPGs out of their MVP development
• Support the partners of the AIEP initiative in following the steps outlined in this roadmap, crucially resulting in the publication and promotion of various DPGs. Where the registration of DPGs is not feasible, the component should at least be openly available
• Record the challenges in publishing DPGs encountered by the cohorts and draft recommendations on how to overcome these

Work package 4: AIEP Architecture

• Support CLEAR Global and other partners in drafting a reference architecture for AIEPs based on the MVP development of the initiative’s cohorts
  • The reference architecture should at a minimum include common architectural patterns, key technical options (e.g. models, tech stacks) and technical implementations those
  • The reference architecture should be accompanied by a document outlining the learnings, especially those from user testing implementations of this reference architecture

Please note that these responsibilities may change over time. The role will evolve along with the overall project and as activities develop.

Deliverables

• WP1: A report summarizing the implemented support for the cohorts
• WP2:
  • An overview and evaluation of available DPIs
  • A report summarizing the support provided to the cohorts in implementing DPIs as well as potential challenges encountered by the cohorts
  • A partner overview of actors in the DPI and AI in agriculture space
• WP3: A DPG roadmap and report summarizing the progress in implementing it, including an overview of the DPG or open source components published and challenges encountered by the cohorts
• WP4: Inputs to the reference architecture to be created by CLEAR Global and partners

Requirements

For the implementation of these services, CLEAR Global seeks an expert with the following characteristics:

• Extensive expertise in AI and language technology in agriculture, especially in India and Kenya
  • Proven through relevant work experience
• An extensive network in the DPI space in India
  • Demonstrated  through relevant work experience and by providing an overview of key actors in this space  An extensive network in AI in agriculture in India, Kenya and globally
  • Demonstrated  through relevant work experience and and by providing an overview of key actors in this space
• Familiarity with GIZ and BMGF as key funding agency in this space
  • Demonstrated  through relevant work experience
• Excellent public speaking and research abilities, including the ability to draft concise and data-informed pieces
  • Demonstrated through relevant work experience

Given the implementation of the AIEP initiative in India and the needed support in that geography, CLEAR Global explicitly looks for a consultant based in India.

Terms and conditions

• An advance of 20% % of the total contract value within 30 days of the signature of the contract
• An installment of 40% of the total contract value after (1) an interim report on WP1, (2) the overview of available DPIs from WP2 and (3) first inputs into WP3 are delivered. https://drive.google.com/file/d/19IvSQL1dJBxSum61U2vUMUJ9YuH6l0Eg/view?usp=sharing
• A final installment of the remaining amount of the total contract value payable on satisfactory completion of the work and presentation of all deliverables.

Deliverables will be considered as finalized only after approval by the CLEAR Global team.

The Consultant will be expected to use their own equipment and supplies (laptop, mobile phone, any recording equipment, etc.) and cover all costs related to the assignment.

CLEAR Global may cover travel reimbursement expenses for travel directly related to the assignment. We expect at least 1 trip to Kenya or within India for project-related engagements. Any travel expenses must receive prior written approval from CLEAR Global to be eligible for reimbursement. All reimbursement claims must be submitted in accordance with CLEAR Global's travel expense reimbursement policies, including appropriate documentation and receipts to substantiate the expenses.

How to apply

CLEAR Global will accept offers from individual consultants and consulting firms.

To apply for this consultancy please send the following documents:

1- A technical and financial offer to include:

• a brief description (no more than two sides of A4) of why you are suitable for this position and how you would tackle this challenge
• a financial offer, specifying daily fees in US Dollars . Please also state your daily fee in the ‘Desired Salary’ field in the application. Please note that payments will be made in US Dollars via international bank transfer, regardless of quoted currency.

2- Curriculum vitae highlighting experience from similar projects and relevant experience, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and at least three professional references.

Please upload the technical and financial offer as one document under “cover letter” and present the CV(s) of the expert(s) proposed in one document under “CV”.

We value authentic, original submissions that reflect your expertise and experience. While we understand the usefulness of AI tools, we strongly encourage genuine documentation created by the applicant, as our team is adept at recognizing AI-generated content.

About CLEAR Global

CLEAR Global helps people get vital information, and be heard, whatever language they speak. We believe that everyone has the right to give and receive information in a language and format they understand. We work with nonprofit partners and a global community of language professionals to build local language translation capacity, and raise awareness of language barriers. Our network of over 100,000 community members translate millions of words of life-saving and life-changing information a year.

Core values

CLEAR Global employees and volunteers passionately believe in the value of this work and take personal responsibility for achieving the mission. CLEAR Global’s mission and organizational spirit embody the core values established in its strategic framework:

• Excellence: In communicating humanitarian information in the right language, CLEAR Global is a leader in the translation industry and in the non-profit sector.
• Integrity: In believing that every person, whether it’s the people who we serve, our volunteers or our staff, has value, deserves respect and has inherent dignity.
• Empowerment: In using language to empower people around the world to control their own development and destiny.
• Innovation: In recognizing and celebrating the power of innovation to address humanitarian and crisis issues around the world.
• Sustainability: In recognizing that meeting our mission requires the establishment and maintenance of a solid financial and organizational infrastructure.
• Tolerance: In that our staff and volunteers value each other, our partners and our end users, create a supportive work environment, and conduct themselves professionally at all times.

Keywords

AIlanguage technologyagricultureDPIDPGtechnology resourceslanguage professionalstranslation capacitylanguage barriershumanitarian informationinnovation