Terms of Reference – On a consultancy service for the engagement in a child day care service provision
Background: About the project and the task
Low-income women in business or who want to engage in new business face several challenges due to minimal access to financial services, bad business decisions, lack of skills, knowledge and attitude in running a business and potentially a lack of market demand. Women on top of that, because of their reproductive tasks, are relatively time-poor and much of their work is socially unrecognized since it is not paid for. They tend to be concentrated in informal labor activities such as home working, as these activities allow them to combine paid work with unpaid reproductive labor. And even when they do paid work, the return is lower than the return to men’s labor, while the job is often part-time and insecure.
The increase in the number of women joining the workforce while bringing needed income to their families also creates conflicts in reconciling income-earning activities and traditional child care responsibilities. For low-income women, balancing both work and child care is particularly difficult, since these women have access to only a limited range of child care services.
H&M Conscious Foundation, CARE Ethiopia and Mission for Community Development Program have partnered and designed Women for Women project for three years in three sub-cities of Addis Ababa. The project is aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs from low-income urban communities in Addis Ababa to reach their full potential. The project supports women in developing business opportunities to generate income, build confidence and enhance self-esteem.
Purpose and scope of the study
This study is intended to be a practical input for CARE Ethiopia and its implementing partner in supporting the targeted women entrepreneurs to establish child day care centres in three sub-cities of Addis Ababa for children of 3 and less years to be used as a means of an income generating activity as well as a way whereby the other targeted women use the centre to address the problem that they have in balancing between their productive and reproductive role. In light of this idea, there is, therefore, a need to explore the context and feasibility of day care service provision in Lideta, Kirkos and Arada sub-cities to support the targeted women to be engaged in the initiative.
Specific task of the consultant
CARE Ethiopia and its implementing partner clearly expects the following questions to be answered and areas to be covered through this consultancy service.
Q What policy provisions exist that assist in the implementation of child day care service provision for children of three and less years?
Q Who are the main governmental offices (starting from the higher structure up to the lower structure) that have a direct responsibility in the child day care service provision initiative and what roles do they have ( this should be seen from the overall government structure then to the Addis Ababa city administration then down to the selected sub-cities and woredas)?
Q What support exists for the low-income women to be engaged in this initiative?
Q Were there any child day-care centres that were established by the low-income women in the selected sub-cities and woredas through the assistance from the government?
Q If yes, how are they organized, operate and provide services? What resources (material, human), services, and activities are put in place? How far the centres entertain the developmental needs of babies and young children? What strengths, challenges, and support are experienced?
Q What are the challenges that hinders low-income women from engaging in this initiative?
Q What are the opportunities that can be utilized in establishing the child day care centres by the low-income women?
Q What are the requirements (including the legalization process) and what necessary steps should be taken in establishing the child day care centres by the low-income women?
Q Are there any free spaces in the selected sub-cities and woredas that can be availed by the government, private sectors, CBOs, schools, NGOs and other relevant structures that are convenient enough to be used as child day care centres for the low-income communities? The consultant is expected to map out free spaces in the selected sub-cities and Woredas.
Q Is there a demand by the local communities to use the service?
Q How can the project move forward in supporting the low-income women in establishing the centres?
Q Which investments are scalable and sustainable by the private sector independent of project intervention?
Q Are there any training centers (both governmental and private) that provides training on managing child day care centers? If yes, who are they and what specific role do they have apart from the provision of trainings? The identification process should focus on the selected sub cities and woredas as well as on the other parts of the city.
In addition to the mentioned questions, the consultant is expected to develop the child day care service provision business model by using the business canvas model which should necessarily encompass customer segments, customer relationships, channels, value propositions, key activities, key resources, key partners, cost structure, revenue streams, profit margin, and ability to compete, duration of the opportunity, growth potential, risks and rewards.
Geographic Focus
The study shall cover three sub-cities and six woredas (Arada: Woreda 5 & 10, Lideta: Woreda 5 & 7, and Kirkos: Woreda 9 & 10) of Addis Ababa.
Time frame
The work should take place within a period not exceeding 30 days, expected to commence on July 2017 through August 2017.
Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected from the consultant;
Q An inception report, including: planned timeline and work plan, literature review of all relevant secondary sources, detailed methodology / approach, planned stakeholders to be consulted and sampling framework, data collection and analysis tools, qualitative and quantitative protocols for data collection and analysis
Q Field note/journal for the carried out field study
Q Minute for the conducted bi-weekly progress briefing sessions with the project team
Q Draft report for feedback
Q Final report that addresses this terms of reference/ Overall analysis
Q Organized stakeholder workshop to disseminate findings
Reporting requirements
The study is expected to be performed within 30 days. The consultant will be expected to submit a draft report by the end of week 3. The report should include raw data together with key illustrations where these will add to clarity of data or its analysis. Final payments will be effected once CARE Ethiopia have received final report and sign it off.
The structure of the final report should cover the following:
Q Executive summary
Q Brief project background
Q Main findings including the overall analysis, analysis and interpretation relating to the study questions
Q Conclusion and recommendations for future action
In addition, the final report should contain at least the following annexes:
Q Terms of Reference
Q Literature review
Q Itinerary
Q List of meetings attended
Q List of persons/offices/organizations/firms interviewed
Q Details of methodology
Q Summary of field visits
Q List of documents reviewed
Q Any other relevant material, including data collection tools
Q Further technical data and sources
Type of contract
The consultant will be offered a fixed-price contract to include all the activities and deliverables listed above.
Eligibility and how to apply
The technical proposal submitted by the consultants, should include but not be limited to the following:
Q A detailed work plan including the sequencing of the events/activities;
Q A detailed methodology should be provided showing how the assessment aims and objectives will be met
Q Key personnel together with their qualifications and experience;
Q Company profile with experience in the study area; and
Q An itemized and detailed budget, indicating the unit costs for consultancy fees in Ethiopian Birr.
Q
Q The technical and financial evaluation will consider the below:
Q 1. Level of appreciation of the TOR in the technical proposal.
Q 2. CV
Q 3. Similar studies conducted
Q 4. Duration
Q 5. Review of renewed Business License, TIN and VAT Certificate
Q 6. Financial Breakdown
Q 5. Deliverables
Q 6. Qualifications
Q 7. Timeline
Q The consultants should submit their proposal by the end of July 21, 2017. The assignment will start immediate after the selection of the consultant.