Country: Somalia
Closing date: 16 Aug 2014
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Request for expression of interest for consultancy in Technical Backstopping of Women Involved in Small Scale Income Generating Activities
1.Background
VSF Germany is an international Non-Governmental Organization, providing humanitarian aid and development assistance to pastoralists and vulnerable communities in areas where livestock is of importance. In the region, VSF Germany implements activities in South Sudan, the Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. With support in animal health, agriculture, marketing, food safety but also with developing the capacity of communities and governmental institutions or initiating peace and conflict resolution we work towards food security and strengthened livelihoods of pastoralist communities.
Following over 20 years of conflict and civil unrest in Somalia, the structure of Somali society has dramatically changed and women dominate many of the informal business entities and have become the prime bread-winners of their families in the country. Somali women contribute to the economies of their families by largely engaging in small scale enterprises and home-based income generating activities such as milk and meat vending, teashops, artifacts, garment making, etc. This happens against the backdrop of longstanding lack of skills in business management, limited access to resources for expansion of businesses and poor or no linkages to critical service providers. These women run their business in an unorganized and ad-hoc manner causing them to incur in relatively higher transaction costs, lose profits and fail to meet their consumer satisfaction/preference and generally adapt to market dynamics. Common sense, knowledge of local markets, traditional experience and self-developed business skills are the main pillars of the business operations of these women. Establishing and maintaining business records, calculating profit and loss in accurate quantitative figures, developing business plans, forging business partnerships and undertaking basic market research are key skills that most small-scale business women lack to lead successful and profitable businesses.
Strengthening the business management capacities of these women is promising and rewarding as it can lead to improved and sustainable incomes. VSFG is implementing a women economic empowerment project funded by the European Union and German Development Cooperation in Galkayo, Puntland State of Somalia in collaboration with local partners and government to enable women traders to operate with increased knowledge, skills and financial resources. Developing the business management skills of these women is a key milestone of the project. This capacity building process takes different forms – direct training, on-job mentoring and technical backstopping, and provision of reference materials.
2.Purpose of the technical backstopping exercise
The main purpose of the technical backstopping exercise is to strengthen the business management capacity of 14 women IGA groups through intensive engagement and mentoring including one-to-one interactions. All the 14 groups have their own business plans which they developed before receiving cash grants. These business plans will form the basis of the engagement with the beneficiaries in this exercise for the purpose of assessing their implementation and general best practices in the management of small enterprises.
Specific objectives of the technical backstopping exercise are:
a) To assess implementation of the business plans by IGA groups and advice them as necessary on the implementation of their business plans.
b) To support them establish transaction recording system (cash book, ledger, etc.), book-keeping system including stock card preparation.
c) To strengthen their skills in basic business calculations to compute profit/loss, exchange of currencies (US dollars versus Somali shillings) as well as stock taking. etc.
d) To assist them monitor market dynamics, identify trends in the marketing of the goods they trade, and define courses of action needed to cope with market dynamics.
e) To discuss with all groups critical cross-cutting issues in enterprise management: effective communication, decision-making process, advertisement, partnerships, and others.
3.Scope of the exercise
The exercise will take place at two levels. The first level will be at group level and the second at individual level. The exercise involves reviewing the group business plans, engaging the groups on their progress with business plans, group discussions, individual discussions and physical visits to the business sites or shops of the women IGA. In other words, this is a mentoring exercise and involves critical engagement, transfer of skills, shaping up of thinking and knowledge, and consolidation of experiences gained and lessons learnt over the years by the women IGA.
4.Methodology
The consultant shall prepare a comprehensive participatory methodology and tools for undertaking this exercise in the spirit of achieving the specific objectives stated above. The methodology must include among others, review of the group business plans, group discussions, individual-level mentoring, basic arithmetic exercises tailored to business management and demonstration of key interpersonal and management skills of a successful small business owner. The exercise is expected to enhance the business management knowledge and practical skills of women IGA groups with low literacy and numeracy levels through on-the-job training and mentoring.
5.Indicative time-line
The exercise shall be completed in 27 days including the various level meetings and mentoring sessions with the women IGA groups and individual entrepreneurs.
ActivityTime-line (days)Meet with project team to discuss VSFG’s women economic empowerment initiative 1 Review of the group business plans and training reports of the women IGA groups 1 Prepare technical guidelines/ materials for the on-job training /mentoring exercise 1 Meet with 14 groups and provide group-level technical backstopping (1 groups per day) 14 Visits to individual businesses and provide individual-level technical backstopping 7 Reporting 3Total 27 days
6.Key tasks of the consultant
a) Review the project documents to be clear on objectives, implementation methodology and expected outcomes.
b) Assess business environment and evaluate operations of women IGA groups.
c) Review the business plans of the women IGA groups and propose any ways of improvement.
d) Based on the understanding developed from business environments of the different women IGA groups and VSFG’s women empowerment initiative and in line with the technical backstopping exercise objectives, develop guidelines for technical back-stopping (on-job training/mentoring) exercise and submit for approval by VSFG before use.
e) Engage in discussions with IGA groups and individual business women on issues ways of improving their businesses
f) Visit groups’ and individual business sites/ shops for mentoring sessions
g) Prepare a detailed report giving proceedings and achievements of the exercise and submit to VSFG
7.Deliverables of the exercise
In line with the objectives of the technical backstopping exercise and under the overall guidance of the Field Coordinator, the consultant shall provide the following outputs:
a) Guidelines/ materials for on the job-training/mentoring for the technical backstopping exercise
b) Reviewed group business plans; inputs into the plans.
c) A report detailing the proceedings and achievements on the areas specified under the specific objectives
8.Reporting
The consultant shall write and produce a precise final report (maximum 20 pages) written in simple and clear English language. The draft report shall be shared with VSFG for comments and inputs for inclusion in the final report by the consultant.
The report should have the following format:
a) Cover page: title of the exercise, title of the project, names and logos of the donor and implementing partner, consultant’s/firm’s name, dates of the exercise, etc.
b) Table of contents, Executive Summary (maximum 3 pages) and main report including; proceedings and achievements of the exercise, conclusions and recommendations for future action.
c) Annexes
- Terms of Reference
- List of persons interviewed/engaged
- List of literature and documents reviewed
- List of sites visited
- List of abbreviations.
d) Submit 3 hard and 3 soft copies of the Final report to VSFG
9.Key qualifications and skills required for the consultancy
a) University degree in Business management, Economics or a related discipline.
b) Diploma holders with at least 5 years experience in working with small scale traders will be considered
c) Extensive experience in facilitating business management trainings for small scale traders and supporting them to develop their businesses.
d) Knowledge and understanding of the business environment of small scale traders (tea shops, hawkers, meat vendors, milk vendors, etc.) of Somali context.
e) Strong analytical and writing skills and the ability to clearly present findings and drawing practical conclusions and recommendations.
f) Prior work experience in a similar technical exercise.
g) Must be able to speak Somali language.
h) Priority will be given with women with required expertise
10.Expression of Interest
A person/firm interested in this exercise should send an Expression of Interest consisting of:
a) Technical proposal; (maximum 3 pages) including methodology and work plan for the exercise.
b) Financial proposal: Consultant fees per day. Specify the currency.
c) CV of the person to carry out the exercise
NOTE: VSFG will cater for transport, food and accommodation in the field if not a resident of Galkayo town.
How to apply:
All proposals should be submitted to the following address (Email: admin_hr@vsfg.org) on or before 16th August 2014.