Country: Somalia
Closing date: 10 Oct 2016
1.Background and context
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries throughout the world. DRC fulfils its mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations- refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities; and by advocating on behalf of conflict-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC aims at integrating its Somalia activities within a wider regional mixed migration Programme, comprising the existing programmes in Kenya, Somalia (South Central, Puntland and Somaliland), Ethiopia and Yemen. DRC Somalia Programme operates within a regional framework (East Africa and the Horn) and incorporates three major components namely: long-term community-driven development, emergency urban/rural humanitarian interventions and protection/advocacy.
DRC is currently implementing Vocational Skills Training (VST) in Bosaso, Garowe, Dollow Beletweyne and Galkayo which target IDPs living in protracted IDP situations and their host populations. This projects is funded by Danida, OFDA, SIDA and ECHO, its aim is to create alternative livelihoods opportunities for the youth while giving them an opportunity of a daily income. If not provided with alternatives and sustainable sources of income, idle youth without skills and opportunities can easily be recruited into armed groups and criminal affiliates as well as exposing their lives to serious risk through unsafe migration practices to other places like Yemen and European countries where a significant numbers have lost lives other being subjected to gender based violence especially women and girls. The courses offered by DRC run between four and six months, with certificates awarded by the relevant ministry on completion of the course. Areas of training include masonry, electrical engineering, tailoring, hair-dressing, tie and dye, ICT and mobile repairing, and beauty salons. It is envisaged that these will meet the increasing demand for skilled human resource as a result of the burgeoning construction and hotel industries in the city.
The WFP Somalia Country Office (CO) has a framework agreement with DRC (2016-18) a comprehensive program of delivering of SCOPE registrations & livelihoods support in Somalia through Food for Training projects. The VST projects are currently being implemented in Central, Mogadishu and Puntland. The V/FFT intervention aims to enable members of food insecure households to acquire skills, including basic literacy and numeracy, with which they can become gainfully employed and increase their income. It mainly targets vulnerable groups such as unemployed women, female-headed households, unemployed youths, former child soldiers and disabled persons who had limited access to education.
2.Purpose
In order to ensure that the courses offered are informed by the availability of opportunities within the job market within Bossasso, Garowe, Dollow, Baidoa, Galkayo & Beletweyne .DRC and WFP seeks to commission a markets skills assessment within potential employing industries for the VST finalists in the target to document this information.
To this end, DRC in collaboration with the WFP invites qualified professionals to conduct an assessment with a broad objective of documenting marketable skills within target areas, targeting both formal and informal sectors, with the following specific objectives of to:-
- Assess and identify existing and emerging marketable opportunities for vocational skills within target areas, targeting various sectors of the economy such as constructions, fishing industry, livestock sales and carpentry establishing the expected income per month of each field explored.
- Review existing labor dynamics including regulatory frameworks and procedures and document enabling and disenabling factors and how these can be harnessed or strengthened to enhance employability of local vocational skills trainers both private and public sectors
- Document strategies and criteria for targeting beneficiaries for training in each of the identified skills and how the opportunities can be exploited for maximum economic gain of the beneficiaries.
- Map the government of Somalia overall approach, to vocational skills policy and strategy the target districts.
- To assess the opportunities for self-employment and challenges in light of the skills training provided, projecting possible means to employment creation and marketing linkages for the youth in these areas.
- To provide an analysis of most marketable courses in view of; easy access to employment and incomes returns
- Identify packages of tools or relevant start-up materials that each group of trainees would need to be able to establish a business, bearing in mind accessibility, affordability, and profitability for the target group;
- Explore, identify, and recommend appropriate strategies, approaches and processes, to strengthen apprenticeship and/or employment opportunities for the target group of trainees;
- Identify main constraints and opportunities for entry into current and emerging vocational sectors and recommend appropriate interventions.
- Describe labor security and insecurity in the current and emerging vocational sectors and projected income generating abilities in the different sectors
- Recommend appropriate or potential technical/vocational and business skills training service providers and any amendments (structural, physical, pedagogical, etc.) that they would need to make in order to offer the kinds of training recommended by the study;
- Present recommendations worthwhile considering in view of courses pursued vis a vis market trend in surveyed areas based on the practical findings of this study
3.Key Responsibilities
3.1.Scope of consultancy
This consultancy will be conducted in selected locations in Bosasso, Garowe, Dollow, Baidoa, Galkayo & Beletweyne are currently implementing VST activities. , A detailed analysis of the existing and potential employment opportunities and enabling factors for vocational 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 Target District. It would also be important for the consultant to look at the quality, availability and accessibility of jobs in the employment sectors in target areas.
The consultant will also be expected to interview service providers and collect information on their opinions with regards to the quality of training offered by Vocational Skills Training Centers including WFP supported centers.
In addition to this, it would also be important for the consultant to provide an inventory of all the vocational training centres in the districts, listing their affiliations, what trainings they provide, which populations they service
3.2. Key tasks with list of ‘key activities’, under each responsibility.
The consultant(s) will be expected to implement key tasks as outlined below:
- Develop a research plan: This should detail among other things: the process and methodologies to be employed for the assignment; including time and interview schedules for this exercise; a list of stakeholders targeted for participation. This document should be presented to DRC/WFP for review and further inputs before proceeding to the field for data collection.
- Design data collection and evaluation methodology/tools as appropriate, guided by the objectives and scope of consultancy; including international guidelines and relevant framework(s). The data collection tools will be critiqued (with DRC team) before being refined and finalized.
- Undertake desk review of relevant documents including the proposals; DRC/WFP programme management guidelines; DRC/WFP strategy documents; existing Somalia Labour guidelines; related ILO and Somalia Food Security Cluster documents and any other relevant documents and should take into consideration donor programme guidelines and standards.
- Present an inventory of all VST/FFT centres in Target districts– the courses they offer, how long they have been operating for etc.
- Review any governmental policy or strategic documents regarding vocational skills training and consult with key government officials. Annex policy and strategy documents.
- 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 ministries, ILO and Food Security Cluster member organizations, youth and women groups, VST providers, formal and informal sectors, Chamber of Commerce, and any other relevant stakeholders to help gather information that will inform decision making in VST programming. Write and present a draft report, capturing key findings against objectives of the assessment to DRC team for review before producing a second draft.
- Present a Draft Report (2nd draft report) to DRC 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 DRC as stated in the Consultancy Contract.
3.3.Expected Outputs
i. A detailed analysis of the employability of the VST qualifiers (or employment absorption potential) in various sectors in the target areas
ii. A clearly enumerated and ranked list of marketable and potential vocational skills in the districts
iii. A well analyses and documented regulatory framework and any opportunities for partnership to enhance employment of the VST qualifiers.
iv. A clear list of packages of tools or relevant start-up materials that each group of trainees
v. Well defined approaches/strategies and outline how these have been tested and are working in areas of intervention
vi. List of service providers across the intervention areas
3.4.Key deliverables
The Expectations from the Consultant:-
a) Debriefing at the end of field work is mandatory with relevant DRC staff
b) Four (4) bound hard copies of the report
c) Soft copy of the Report in two (2) CDs.
d) The consultant will also be required to submit to DRC all assessment materials including:
- Soft copies of all data sets: both quantitative and qualitative
- All filled quantitative data collection tools and qualitative data recording materials. Any other non-consumable documents/items that will be used in the course of the planned consultancy
e) Workshop with donors and other stakeholders: PowerPoint presentation of the draft Assessment report.
4.DRC’s responsibilities
DRC will provide the following:
- Transport to and from the field.
- All necessary project documents as requested by the Consultant
- Travel Insurance for the consultant
- Accommodation for consultant in the field.
- Pay consultancy fees at a mutually agreed rate
5.Reporting Arrangements
The Consultant will report to Food Security & Livelihoods Technical Manager with technical oversight provided by the M&E Coordinator.
DRC staff in the assessment areas will provide necessary support to the assessment team, as needed.
6.Duration of Assignment
It is anticipated that the assessment will take 30 days from signing of contract, beginning late November 2016. 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.
7.Expected profile of consultant
- An Advanced Degree in Development Studies/Business Management allowing the candidate to assess the technical value of the vocational skills, institutional management arrangements and the larger socio-economic aspect of the intervention.
- Experience with vocational training/management training institutions in similar environments.
- Proven experience in labour market assessment carried out is an added advantage
- At least 5 year experience in monitoring, quality control and institutional capacity building efforts and development projects, preferably in post-conflict countries
- A demonstrated understanding and analytical capacity in the identification of issues relating to indicators of performance in development projects.
- Good knowledge of socioeconomic and political dynamics of Somalia, specifically in the major cities
- Excellent report writing skills and ability to meet deadlines
8.Terms & Condition
- The Consultant must be willing and able to travel to conduct fieldwork in major towns in Somalia listed in this document.
- Some areas is an insecure environment (level 5) with basic living conditions. Social activities are limited and there are restrictions on movements for security reasons. The candidate should be in good health due to limited health facilities
- The consultant will be bound by and must adhere to all DRC security procedures while in Somalia.
- Payment will be according to the finance procedures of DRC.
9.Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability committments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)
How to apply:
10.Application Process
Interested applicants who meet the required profile are invited to submit an expression of interest including:
i. A suitability statement including CV of participating consultants with details of qualifications and experience.
ii. Technical proposal that summarizes understanding of the TOR, methodology and tools to be used.
iii. Work-plan clearly indicating the activity schedule. Daily consulting rate is negotiable, although will be commensurate with DRC consultancy terms and standards
iv. Financial proposal providing cost estimates of daily consultancy fees.
v. Contacts of three organisations that have recently contracted you to carry out similar assignment.
Applications should include CVs, Technical proposal, Work plans, and financial proposal all to be uploaded on the DRC recruitment portal https://drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies
Closing date for submission is 10th October 2016
DRC will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility. DRC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest or the highest bidder. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.