Economic Recovery Consultant 90 views0 applications

County context:

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Libya has been adversely affected by conflict and protracted political crisis since 2011. According to the 2019 HRP, some 823,000 people, including 248,000 children, need humanitarian assistance due to instability, conflict and insecurity, the absence of rule of law, disrespect of IHL by armed actors, a deteriorating public sector and a dysfunctional economy. Protracted and new displacements have been a recurring issue in Libya. Due to the fragility of the context, DRC has primarily focused on basic needs and protection programming, however the organisation recognises that components of durable solutions programming are needed to safeguard dignity, safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable and at risk IDPs, returnees, host communities, migrants and refugees. DRC programming currently includes protection, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), cash transfer programming for basic needs, and smaller shelter and WASH components, which are implemented in Tripoli & Al Jabal al Gharbi. In 2020 DRC is starting up economic recovery programming. Programme activities include information provision on market trends; life and vocational skills training, job referrals and/or support to home-based small businesses (business development services, capital investment, etc.); promotion of financial inclusion. This will be complemented by basic needs programming (multi-purpose cash programming). DRC has submitted a proposal to EU Trust Fund which is due to start in September 2020. As part of the inception period, DRC will carry out an assessment of the viable business sectors which people of concern can engage in. DRC is looking for a consultant to lead this assessment and support project setup.

Overall purpose of the role: The Consultant is responsible for the initial set-up phase of DRC’s economic recovery programming for all populations of concern. Core responsibilities will include, 1) review of existing DRC livelihoods feasibility assessment that was conducted in 2019 and strategy and provide recommendations 2) developing the methodology for and leading the labour market assessment, 3) providing recommendations for which sectors / markets DRC intervention should focus on as well as recommendations on resource allocation required to fully establish economic recovery activities in the EUTF project and including staff capacity building. All work should be aligned with existing DRC programming priorities and principles, with particular linkages to DRC’s multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) programme and other programming sectors, with considerations of gender, protection and conflict sensitivity.

I. Key Tasks

The Consultant will be expected to provide the following deliverables: 1) Inception report including work plan, 2) Labour market assessment methodology, 3) Data collection tools, 4) presentation of the preliminary findings 5) written assessment report with recommendations. These deliverables are expected to be provided over the following phases:

Preparation

• Review DRC’s global economic recovery resources and standards
• Conduct a desk review of existing DRC and external sources to inform the market assessment
• Identify any information gaps in existing market information
• Develop the assessment methodology and field data collection tools, including an interview and data collection schedule (Note: requests to DRC programme staff to support with any required large-scale data collection must be requested/justified well in advance.)
• Identify and contact key stakeholders required for field interviews

Data collection and analysis

• Train enumerators on data collection tools and techniques as required and on-the-job training of the relevant Livelihoods staff.
• Supervise data collection timeline and quality, consolidating findings on an ongoing basis.
• Analyse data collection into an initial set of findings, supporting additional data collection as required to fill identified gaps following a presentation and discussion of the findings, with DRC, other key stakeholders as well as feedback to target communities (i.e. municipalities) to validate findings.

Deliverables

· Inception report including work plan; the brief inception report (maximum of 7 pages) to be delivered within 15 working days of the contract starting date. The inception report will detail the consultant’s understanding of the work and will include a concrete action plan for delivering the outputs.

· Labour market assessment methodology and data collection tools and appropriate training to the enumerators and DRC staff.

• Summarize the assessment analysis findings into a single draft report. The report is expected to include recommendations to the Economic Recovery Coordinator and incoming Manager on the establishment of Economic Recovery activities in alignment with the EUTF proposal and EcRec strategic direction that includes activity budget for each type of services delivered, HR capacity that DRC needs to develop, the SOPs and tools required for each activity.
• Presentation of the preliminary findings and recommendations to DRC stakeholders including the target communities.
• Final labour market assessment report. Along with the final report, the consultant is expected to submit a list of all the documents that were consulted along with other relevant details such as details of key informant interviews, existing legislation in force relating to labour, available statistics on labour and any other material relevant to the assessment.

Throughout the phases, as part of the capacity building, the Consultant will be expected to collaborate with the DRC staff as necessary for field data collection activities, and ensure the latter are conducted in a sensitive, safe and harmonized manner. Coordination with the Livelihoods Working Group, and/or other livelihood actors may be required. (Note: the candidate will be provided with the Livelihoods feasibility report developed by DRC, as well as EUTF proposal upon selection).

Methodology

The labour market assessment will be conducted according to industry standards, in particular the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS). It will use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods to answer the following key questions, bearing in mind that all information should be disaggregated by gender and status when applicable:

1. What are the main gaps / needs for goods and services in the local markets?
2. What are existing and/or likely growth sectors? What are, if any, the value chains with high potential for the people of concern?
3. What skill sets and competencies are in demand in the growth sectors / identified value chains?
4. What factors facilitate or prevent people of concern from attaining meaningful employment or self-employment opportunities in growth sectors (e.g. state of the local economy, level of education, policy and regulatory framework, quality of available jobs / working conditions, etc.)?
5. What is the people of concern’s motivation / willingness to participate in the market?
6. What are the market-based opportunities for diversification of people of concern’s livelihoods in the targeted areas?
7. What would be appropriate means of assistance (i.e. objective of the support as well as delivery method) from DRC?

Note: this list of questions is not exhaustive, and the selected consultant will be expected to revise it based on the objectives of the programme.

II. Timeframe

The Consultant(s) will be expected to work over the course of 2-3 months (depending on the size of team), starting in September 2020. While the exact dates and number of working hours will be flexible, adapted to operational requirements, and finalized during the application process, a suggested breakdown of the work schedule is as follows:

· Onboarding 1 day

· Desk review and analysis 5 days

• Assessment methodology and tools 5 days
• Testing and Training on the data collection tools 2 days
• Data collection 10 days
• Data analysis, and report drafting 5 days
• Report revision and finalization (post DRC review) 3 days
• Total working days: 31 days

In advance of each phase of work, the Consultant will be expected to confirm with the DRC Technical Lead that the number of days outlined above remains appropriate; these maximum figures can be reduced or increased as required, at the discretion of the DRC Technical Lead. Accordingly, deadlines for all deliverables (inception report, and presentation and final report) will be finalized based on consultation with DRC. The first draft of the report will be expected no later than 15th October 2020.

Consultant(s) profile and technical competencies

· The Consultant is expected to be based in Tunis; experience in the MENA region is preferred.

· At least 5 years senior experience in the field of economic recovery/market-based activities in complex conflict/fragile/ displacement settings; experience designing and establishing economic recovery/market-based programming is highly preferred.

· Experience in business development, market/value chain analysis, etc

· Solid technical capacity developing assessment methodology and conducting data analysis.

· Self-motivated, able to take initiative, resilient and able to work independently. **

· Excellent teamwork and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to motivate, inspire and organize individuals and teams

· Demonstrated knowledge of protection/gender and conflict sensitivity mainstreaming in economic recovery programming

· Ability to produce timely and high-quality written reports, with the ability to present concepts clearly and concisely**

· Fluency in written and spoken English is required; Arabic is an asset.**

III. Roles and responsibilities

Consultant

· It is expected that the Consultant will be able to conduct most desk and preparatory work from Tunis while supervision of field work in Tripoli will be done remotely.

· The Consultant will present the findings to DRC’s programme team and target communities for validation.

· The consultant will be required to adhere to DRC rules and procedures for the duration of the consultancy, including safety and code of conduct etc.

DRC:

· Will provide background information/documents as well as contact details of external KII

· Will facilitate Tunisia visa application. The consultant’s travel from home-base to Tunis and accommodation in Tunis will be covered by DRC.

· Output documents will be reviewed for quality and final payments will be made upon submission of all agreed deliverables.

Due to covid-19 travel restrictions, DRC is open to remote consultancy

IV. Process for application

Interested applicants must include in their application a detailed technical and financial proposal including the following components:

A short technical proposal (max. 7 pages) which covers

a. Understanding and interpretation of the TOR

b. Methodology to be used and design issues in undertaking and achieving the above objectives and deliverables

c. Time and activity schedule

d. Consultants daily rate in US dollars – Tranches of payments will be linked to deliverables agreed

Personnel Capacity Statement

e. CV(s) for Evaluator(s) – which includes relevant experience related to the assignment (where possible include evidence of work done)

f. Contact references for relevant previous work done.

EVALUATION AND AWARD OF CONSULTANCY

DRC will evaluate the proposals and award the contract based on technical soundness and financial feasibility. DRC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals received. Due to the large volume of applications we normally receive, only shortlisted applicants will be responded to.**