vacancy No. CON 005/2017
Individual consultancy
Background
Save the Children International (hereinafter referred to as SC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization whose mission is to fight for children’s rights and deliver immediate and lasting improvement to children’s lives worldwide. SCI has been operational in Ethiopia since 1973 and the organization has developed into one of the largest NGOs in the country. Currently, SC operates programs that straddle relief to development with a wide range of programs encompassing various thematic areas: Food Security, Livelihoods and Resilience, Health/HIV AIDS, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child rights and governance, and Child protection interventions in all regions of Ethiopia. SC works to ensure quality programming on the ground which forms the basis to advocate for greater changes in policy and practice at regional, national and global levels. SC implements livelihoods based resilience building programs that integrate market access and marketing opportunities in the different parts of the country.
About the Programme
Poverty; limited education options and a lack of livelihood opportunities have had a tremendous impact in the lives of young men and women in Ethiopia. If not provided with alternatives and sustainable sources of income, idle youth without skills and opportunities can easily be exposed their lives to serious risk through unsafe migration practices. SC aims at integrating its Ethiopia activities within a wider regional mixed migration programme.
SC currently implementing Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP) in Ethiopia. The programme contributes to the overall objective of the RDPP in Ethiopia ‘to create evidence-based, innovative and sustainable development and protection solutions for refugees and their host communities in Ethiopia. The 39 months action is led by a consortium of three experienced INGOs: Save the Children (SC, consortium lead), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), and Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA), an established Ethiopian Civil Society Organisation (CSO). The program target Somali refugees & host communities in Awbare and Kebribeyeh woredas, Fafan Zone, Somali region; with specific emphasis placed on vulnerable groups (women, children and youth) and on relevant local authorities. Specifically targeting: 3 refugee camps (Sheder, Awbare, Kebreibeyeh) and surrounding host communities in Awbare and Kebribeyah woredas. The direct beneficiaries of the program are 50,000 (adjusted for double counting; breakdown below). The overall objective will be achieved via four specific objectives that aim to improve access to integrated basic services delivery (water, energy and education), improve livelihoods and employment opportunities and protection of Somali refugees and their host communities; and strengthen capacities of local authorities and multi-stakeholder coordination platforms in the action target areas. Each of the four objectives have 2 to 3 expected results and related activities.
SC has implementing youth-focused projects that address the root causes of migration. We implement proven methodologies to systematically increase employability and economic empowerment of youth and support other issues that contribute to migration. We first conduct market assessments to identify viable opportunities and local public and private-sector actors who can facilitate these processes. We then take a multi-faceted approach to youth empowerment to build employability skills of youth. The program will conduct labour market and economic opportunities assessments to understand where employment and economic opportunities for host communities and refugees (in and out of camp) can be promoted. The assessments will help to inform the support and skills youth require in line with market needs. Understanding the market will also help to ensure target groups gain competent, viable and sustainable employment opportunities, as well as helping them to pursue their own businesses successfully. The program will then help youth to acquire skills and supports with which they can become gainfully employed and increase their income. In order to ensure that the trainings and support offered are informed by availability of opportunities within the job market and potential economic sectors and value chains, SC seeks to commission a labour market assessments and youth aspiration studies identifying marketable skills and sectors where employment and economic opportunities for host communities and refugees can be promoted. To this end, SC invites qualified professionals to conduct this assessment.
Purpose of Consultancy
The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct comprehensive labour market and economic opportunities assessments to understand labour demand and supply, and document marketable skills and potential sectors where employment and economic opportunities for host communities and refugees (in and out of camp) can be promoted, targeting both formal and informal sectors. The program will match this with a youth aspiration study to better understand youth preferences.
The specific objectives of the consultancy include:
a) assess labour-market demand and supply, and economic opportunities; identifying sectors and value chains with high potential for employment and economic opportunities;
b) conduct feasibility studies for identified economic activities (to assess the viability and sustainability of identified activities so as to avoid investing in non-viable/saturated businesses);
c) identify vocational training (technical skills, entrepreneurial, micro and small enterprise management);
d) assess youth aspirations including an analysis of economic drivers for and patterns of migration.
e) document strategies and criteria for targeting beneficiaries for training in each of the identified skills and economic opportunities and how the opportunities can be exploited for maximum economic gain of the beneficiaries.
Scope of work
This consultancy will be conducted in Awbare and Kebribeyeh woredas, Fafan Zone and the neighboring potential areas. The neighboring potential woredas, urban centres and kebeles will be selected based on the fact they have relatively large populations, they continue to attract both rural and urban youth searching for employment opportunities. A detailed analysis of the existing and potential labour-market demand and supply, employment and economic opportunities and enabling factors for skills training qualifiers will be required. The consultant will be required to carry out an analysis of how seasonal trends affect work and employment opportunities in the areas. It would also be important for the consultant to look at the quality, availability and accessibility of jobs in the employment sectors. The consultant will also be expected to interview service providers and collect information on their opinions with regards to the existing and potential labour-market demand and supply, employment and economic opportunities and enabling factors, and quality of training offered by Vocational Skills Training Center. The consultant will also identify and document strategies and criteria for targeting beneficiaries for training in each of the identified skills and economic opportunities and how the opportunities can be exploited for maximum economic gain of the beneficiaries. The consultant (s) assessment also maps individuals in the target host communities with existing skills who will provide a strong base upon which to upgrade or develop new skills in line with market demand.
Key tasks
For the objectives of the consultancy to be achieved as a minimum, key tasks to be performed by the consultant(s) will be to:
• Develop an inception report detailing, among other things, detailed methodologies and processes to be employed for the assignment, data collection and analysis tools, qualitative and quantitative protocols for data collection and analysis and assessment tools. It should include interview schedules and important time schedules for this exercise, planned timeline and work plan, literature review of all relevant secondary sources, planned stakeholders to be consulted and sampling framework. This inception report should be presented to SC for review and further inputs before proceeding to the field for data collection.
• Undertake desk review of relevant documents including the SC proposals, assessments, evaluation and guidelines; SC strategy documents; donor programme guidelines and standards. Review any governmental policy or strategic documents and consult with key government officials. Annex policy and strategy documents
• Design data collection and evaluation methodology/tools, guided by the objectives and scope of consultancy; including international guidelines and relevant framework(s). The data collection tools will be critiqued (with SC team) before being refined and finalized.
• Conduct a comprehensive field-based assessment [using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods] based on the purpose and objectives of the consultancy. The consultant should undertake a multi-stakeholder analysis, including relevant line bureaus and offices, youth and women groups, community representatives, NGOs active in youth economic development/ livelihoods in the target areas, VST providers, private sector groups and representatives (formal and informal sectors), financial service providers, Chamber of Commerce, and any other relevant stakeholders to help gather information that will inform decision making in programming.
• Debriefing at the end of field work is mandatory with relevant SC staff
• Write and present a draft report, capturing key findings against objectives of the assessment to SC team for review before producing a second draft
• Present a Draft Report (2nd draft report) to SC and other stakeholders in a feedback workshop to facilitate sharing of the assessment results with a view of incorporating inputs from stakeholders in the final draft
• Compile and Submit a Final Assessment Report to SC as stated in the Consultancy Contract.
Expected Outputs
• A detailed analysis of the labour-market demand and supply, and economic opportunities; sectors and value chains with high potential for employment and economic opportunities; feasibility studies for identified economic activities (to assess the viability and sustainability of identified activities) in various sectors
• A clearly enumerated and ranked list of marketable and potential vocational skills and employment and economic opportunities
Key Deliverables
The Expectations from the Consultant:
• Debriefing workshop with donors and other stakeholders: PowerPoint presentation of the draft Assessment report.
• Four (4) bound hard copies of the report written in English that meets the requirements outlined below
• Electronic copy of the Report in two (2) CDs.
• The consultant will also be required to submit to SC all assessment materials including:
Ø electronic copies of clean (final) data sets, both quantitative and qualitative;
Ø all filled quantitative data collection tools and qualitative data recording materials; and
Ø any other non-consumable documents/items that will be used in the course of the planned consultancy
The final report should be jargon free, clear and simply written. The main body of the report should not exceed 25 pages and should include an executive summary, brief background and recommendations. Data should always be disaggregated by gender (i.e. if there is a differential in profit/income/earnings of male or female-led businesses etc.). Recommendations and findings should be backed up with relevant data, with reference to the data source and need to be specific. The structure of the report should cover the following:
1. Title page
2. Table of Contents
3. Acronyms
4. Acknowledgments
5. Executive summary
6. Brief project background
7. Purpose and Scope of the Assessment
8. Scope methodology
9. Main findings relating to the study questions and discussions- analysis and description of the findings
10. Recommendations for programming
11. Annexes:
─ Terms of Reference
─ Literature review
─ Itinerary
─ List of meetings attended
─ List of persons interviewed
─ Details of methodology
─ Summary of field visits
─ List of documents reviewed
─ Any other relevant material, including data collection tools
─ Further technical data and sources
SC’s Responsibilities
The Consultant will be responsible to the Sr Program Manager with technical oversight provided by the Livelihood Specialists and M&E Coordinator. SC staff in assessment areas will provide necessary support to the assessment team, as needed. SC will provide the following:
• All necessary project documents as requested by the Consultant
• Facilitate contact with stakeholder/participants at field level
• Pay consultancy fees at a mutually agreed rate and schedule
The terms and conditions of service will follow SC terms for consultancies. Payment will be according to the finance procedures of SC.
Duration of the Consultancy
It is anticipated that the assessment will take 30 days from signing of contract, beginning mid-May. The Consultant/Consultancy Firm should develop a feasible costed-work plan/activity schedule covering a maximum of 20 days, committing to finalize within the period and submit as an integral part of the proposal for this consultancy.
Technical requirement
• An Advanced Degree in Development Studies/Business Management allowing the candidate to assess labour-market demand and supply, and economic opportunities; sectors and value chains with high potential for employment and economic opportunities; feasibility of identified economic activities (to assess the viability and sustainability of identified activities so as to avoid investing in non-viable/saturated businesses) the technical value of the vocational skills, entrepreneurial, micro and small enterprise, institutional management arrangements and the larger socio-economic aspect of the intervention.
• Experience with youth employment and livelihoods, vocational skills, entrepreneurial, micro and small enterprise in similar environments.
• Proven experience in labour market and economic opportunity assessments carried out is an added advantage
• Demonstrated understanding of the entrepreneurship and livelihoods sector specifically as it relates to youth
• A demonstrated understanding and analytical capacity in issues relating to labour-market demand and supply, and economic opportunities; sectors and value chains with high potential for employment and economic opportunities; viability and sustainability of identified activities
• At least 5 years’ experience in youth employment and livelihoods programming, monitoring, quality control and employability development projects
• Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills
• Excellent report writing skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Good knowledge of socioeconomic and political dynamics of the areas
• Ability to speak and understand local languages will be an advantage
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