Background Information and Rationale

DCA Kenya in consortium with partners: Anglican Development Services – North Rift Region (ADS-NRR); College of Career Guidance and Development, Growth Africa, Quercus Group and SMEdenmark – and in collaboration with the County Governments of Nakuru, Nyandarua and West Pokot – have secured project funding from Danida under the funding stream of Job Creation and Skills Development for Youth in Africa. The project aims to Increase the number of Kenyan youth who are gainfully employed or self-employed through a replicable, self-sustainable job and skills development model. The three main outcomes are: Outcome 1: Skills development through improved outlook and motivation of 4,000 youth participants on prospects for the future and becoming self-sufficient, responsible members of society Outcome 2: Job creation through improved incomes and employment opportunities of 2,500 youth participants Outcome 3: Successful youth-led businesses, creating employment for 1,500 youth participants

As part of the project roll-out, the consortium partners wish to conduct a labour market assessment in each of the three target counties, identifying the types of jobs currently or projected to be available in the near future. The assessment should pay special attention on identifying green growth jobs, including waste management, food loss/cold chains, fuel-efficient cookstoves, solar lighting, biogas, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture such as the fresh vegetable/fruits value chains. The results from this assessment will be shared with local TVETs and other actors to help them better align training programs to the types of jobs that are emerging in their locales.

Purpose of the assessment

The purpose of the assessment focusing on the informal and informal economy, across all sectors but with a special focus on the green economy is to determine the following parameters in the three counties:

1. Economic context and analysis: Which sectors currently absorb labour and which are likely to see increases in employment in the future, and the income levels per sector and job type/level?
2. Demand for specific skills: What are the skill sets required by function in the value chain, currently and in the future, by type of firm, by region and/or county?
3. Supply of specific skills: What occupations, education levels, and skills levels are possessed by the workforce (disaggregated by gender), and what types of training are offered by which institutions?
4. Systems, stakeholders: What are the institutional relationships, barriers, and opportunities for supporting change?
5. Policy and regulatory environment: What policies impact the labour market and what are the implications for reform?
6. Alignment: How does the information gathered fit together? What recommendations can we make to improve labour market functioning?
7. Update the log frame with baseline data

The detailed assessment objectives are:

1) Employment and sector analysis of labour demand: To provide a summary of the employment situation in Nakuru, Nyandarua and West Pokot Counties of Kenya, an analysis of the structural and/or other factors influencing unemployment and employment. Including:

i. Generation of employers’ details including

a) Employers’ catalogue and needs (specifying both skilled and unskilled needs)

b) Employers’ opinion about the willingness and readiness of youth – distinguished by factors including gender and location (urban/rural) – to takeup certain jobs in both the formal and informal job sectors

c) The competencies and skills of the available labour for the job respectively

ii. Existing labour opportunities and economic coping strategies that can be strengthened or expanded; and

iii. New and potential growth sectors that can be supported and developed.

iv. Income levels for the new and existing employment/job opportunities

2) Small and medium enterprise (SME) development, entrepreneurship, and self-employment: To identify SME development, entrepreneurship, and self-employment opportunities across sectors including the green economic opportunities.

3) Labour supply: To describe the degree to which youth have the potential to meet employment demands in high potential sectors both in the formal and informal sectors, with a special focus on the green economy

i. Showcase the technical and transferable skills that youth need to successfully pursue existing or anticipated labour opportunities in the local market.

ii. Socio- economic and unemployment/employment information on youth including women

iii. Identify critical gaps in the job market for youth with age of 15 -35 years

iv. Income levels for the new and existing employment/job opportunities

4) Mapping of workforce development programs: To better understand who is doing what and where on youth workforce development and match this to the needs of the labour and employment workspace. Detailing possible opportunities for apprenticeships, internships, incubation, and mentorship cutting across the informal and formal sector. (Paying special attention to Village Technical Centers, Agricultural Technical Centers and other Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions)

5) Policy and regulatory reforms: To identify and examine key policy and regulatory opportunities and constraints which would be critical in addressing the systemic deficiencies of the labour market under the mandate and/or influence of the County government.

i. Identify institutional gaps at all levels of the county government and private sector in coordination and provision necessary information on available jobs in timely and efficiently manner

ii. Identify capacity and quality of trainings provided on TVET centres in the job creation and readiness of the youth for the job market either in the formal or informal sectors, employed or self-employed

6) Barriers and constraints: To identify critical barriers and constraints to youth access and participation in the local labour market in the formal and informal sectors, including:

i. Cultural barriers that limit youth engagement against gender in various employment opportunities

ii. Social barriers (ex. negative employer perceptions of young people, cultural norms that limit female youth participation, etc.) and

iii. Physical or structural barriers (ex. lack of safe transportation services, no childcare for young mothers, safety concerns and limitations on physical mobility).

iv. Discuss the major health concerns, and how they affect youth productivity and employment

7) Review and update the project log-frame data.

Intended users of the assessment

The following are the key intended users of the assessment:

DCA and Consortia partners: Head of Programmes – Patrick Kibuku [email protected] Assessment Findings and their implication on project roll-out

County Governments: Nakuru, Nyandarua and West Pokot, Various, Assessment Findings and their implication on project roll-out recommendations

Local Business Associations: Various, Inform changes to the business environment, positioning for competitiveness and shape skills development actions.

Approach and Methodology

The assessment approach shall be utilization focused. As such, the consultant should arrange individual meetings with individual intended users during the assessment.

The following should be observed:

· Possible sector players including potential employers in the formal and informal economy should be individually engaged including private sector actors and relevant government and non-governmental institutions

· Attention should be given to collect information from all types of stakeholders, with special attention to women and youth from the project focus counties.

· Initial findings and recommendations made as a result of the assessment must be fed back to DCA and partners and rights holders in a meaningful way, so they have an opportunity to discuss the recommendations before they are finalised. This includes a (virtual) workshop presentation of the findings.

Methodology.

· The Consultant is expected to respond to this call with a detailed proposed methodology and itinerary which upon successful contracting will be discussed during the inception meeting.

· The consultant is expected to refer to and use existing research and assessment, while relevant documents and information specific to the DCA project will be made available to the consultant during the inception meeting. It is however expected that the consultant in the expression of interest, will share a brief analysis of any job and labour market analysis that have assessed the needs in the “bottom of the pyramid” in both the informal and formal economy and how these will influence their methodology.

· As the assessment is market and end-user oriented with a special focus on commercial viability, meetings with following are expected: DCA and other NGOs; National and County Government relevant departments; Various authorities and sectoral programmes including the National Employment Authority, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority; Sectoral bodies and associations including – Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Chamber of commerce; Private sector players including SMEs; Training institutions – village training centers, agricultural training centers, incubation hubs etc.

Required qualifications

· Academic:

o Advanced university degree in labour and macro-economic studies or other related fields.

· Professional Experience:

o Minimum of eight years’ experience in job-labour market assessments, livelihood studies, value chain studies, market study, policy review and development research, or similar

o Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills and experience leading and managing research teams

o Proven assessment experiences from similar assignments including participatory assessment methodologies, appreciative enquiry methods, focus group interviews etc.

o Demonstrable experience of engaging with and networks amongst the private sector in Kenya including the financial sector

o Proven experience from NGO-based development assistance in the HoA and Kenya in particular is an added advantage.

Deliverables and Schedule

Suggested timeline

The envisaged assessment period is 30 days during the month of April and May 2021 distributed around time for preparation, start-up meeting with intended user, field work, travel, and report writing.

Reports

The final assessment report shall follow a format to be agreed on between the consultant and DCA.

Throughout the assessment process, intended users should be adequately updated on progress. A progress report can take the form of an email of half a page, supplemented by field notes as relevant.

General Terms and Conditions of Consultancy

· Professional fee: The consultant(s) will be paid professional fees in accordance with this TOR and within DCA’s approved rates, which will cover all costs of the consultant including travels, food, accommodation, etc.

· 5% withholding income tax and any other taxes payable to the Government of Kenya (GoK) shall be deducted from the consultants’ fees during payment when relevant.

· A contract will be signed by the consultant(s) prior to commencement of this consultancy which will detail additional terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables.

· Full term of consultancy: document review, field work and report writing should not exceed 45 days.

Other specifics on who makes decisions on what and what resources does DCA mobilise to support the assessment, e.g., logistical support will be contained in the consultancy contract.

Budget and Payment

· The consultant(s) will receive remuneration under the following terms of payment, which will be based on the output of the work and not on the duration that it might take:

· This task is projected to fall within 30 consultancy days

· 30 % of the total consultancy value (including withholding tax) shall be paid upon signing of the contractual agreement.

· The remaining 70% (including withholding tax) shall be paid after a final satisfactory report and other outputs are submitted and satisfactorily signed off by DCA.

Expression of Interest and Proposal

All expressions of interest should include:

Technical Proposal:

This section should be no more than 10 pages detailing:

· Brief explanation about the consultants (s) with evidence of previous experience in this kind of work.

· Profile of the consultancy firm to be involved in undertaking the consultancy.

· Understanding of the TOR with detailed response to the overall and specific objectives of this task

· A detailed description of the proposed methodology, staffing and monitoring of training and fieldwork.

· A draft consultancy framework and execution plan, with milestones and points of engagement with DCA

· At least three referees and links to materials of relevant works.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal should be no more than 3 pages and provide cost estimates for:

· Services rendered costs including

o daily consultancy fees related to the consultants

o costs related to persons that will participate from partners and government officers.

· Detailed breakdown of support costs including

o Accommodation, living and transport cost

o Stationeries and supplies needed for data collection.