Terms of Reference (ToR) for Feasibility Study MAP for Youth Employment: Co-Creating and Sustaining Employment Opportunities in Ethiopia

Background and Rationale

SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit Hermann-Gmeiner Fonds Deutschland (HGFD/CVW) and SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia (SOS CV Ethiopia) have agreed upon the development of a joint application to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for public funding of a project with a focus on youth employability and employment ecosystem strengthening.

The MAP for Youth Employment project aims to address high levels of youth unemployment in Ethiopia, particularly in Addis Ababa, through multi-actor partnerships that strengthen policy, improve labor market information systems (LMIS), and enhance institutional capacity. The project targets 500,000 disadvantaged youth (direct and indirect beneficiaries), with a focus on women, returnees, and persons with disabilities. Aligned with national priorities and BMZ criteria, the project seeks sustainable, inclusive solutions to structural, meso, and micro-level challenges.

Purpose and Objectives of the Feasibility Study

The study will assess the new approach (MAP), the feasibility, relevance, effectiveness, sustainability, and added value of the proposed intervention. It aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for project design and possible partners, ensuring compliance with BMZ guidelines and alignment with Ethiopian development frameworks.

Key Objectives:

• Assess context-specific challenges and opportunities for youth employment, with a focus on the target groups (young women, youth with disabilities, returnees, unemployed graduates, entrepreneurs).
• Analyze the institutional, regulatory, and socio-economic environment, including relevant governmental and non-governmental actors and define the gaps
• Analysis of the planned project and the target group concerning cross-cutting issues like gender, MHPSS (Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support), ecology, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Examine the capacity and positioning of SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia (SOS CVE) and its partners vis-à-vis project delivery, coordination, and sustainability.
• Identify partners for the multi actor partnership dialog groups and levels
• Identify potential risks, safeguarding issues, and mitigation strategies, considering political, environmental, social, economic, and legal factors.
• Evaluate alignment with national strategies, BMZ requirements, DAC Criteria and the SDGs.
• Recommend enhancements to project logic, implementation modalities, and sustainability/exit strategies.

Scope of Work

The consultant/team will address the following:

A. Context and Needs Analysis

• Assess the scale, nature, and drivers of youth unemployment in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia.
• Analyze structural (macro), institutional (meso), and individual (micro) barriers to decent employment, including gender and disability exclusion. (shortly based on existing report).
• Review available data sources (ILO, World Bank, national statistics, partner studies).

B. Stakeholder and Institutional Mapping

• MAP relevant actors (public sector, CSOs, private sector, academia, youth groups) and their current roles/initiatives.
• Outline existing local services, response systems, and interventions, highlighting any proven best practices, coordination mechanisms, and opportunities for partnership to enhance project effectiveness and sustainability.
• Analyze existing collaborations and identify gaps where MAP can add value.

C. Project relevance and Added Value

• Assess the alignment of the project with governmental priorities (e.g. PASDEP IV, National Youth Policy) and BMZ criteria, especially MAP approach
• Examine complementarity and avoid duplication with ongoing initiatives (e.g. RAYEE, Selam TVET, CSPW).
• In-depth analysis of the current state and functionality of the Labor Market Information System (LMIS) in Ethiopia, including fragmentation, technical capacity, coordination, and resource constraints.
• Analyse the underlying assumptions, results framework, and pathways of change that contribute to the achievement of project objectives or theory of Change.

D. Institutional Capacity and Readiness

• Assess SOS CVE’s and main partners’ capacity, governance, ownership, and relationships with beneficiaries.
• Assessment of the capacity and political will of Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) and regional bureaus to sustain and operate the LMIS
• Identify capacity gaps and propose measures for strengthening local partners (training, coordination, MEAL systems).
• Assess technical feasibility of the proposed project and provide evidence-based recommendations for its design, implementation, and sustainability.

E. Risks and Safeguarding

• Identify and analyze risks (economic, social, institutional, environmental, political, legal).
• Review child safeguarding mechanisms and other relevant safeguarding standards.
• Propose mitigation measures, especially for vulnerable youth.

F. Implementation Modalities

• Assess the appropriateness of MAP structures: Steering Committee, Technical Working Groups, Coordination Unit, Dialogue Forums, Advisory Councils.
• What dialogue and negotiation structures or formats already exist in the field of youth employment, and how are they utilized? What other approaches, projects, or measures exist in the sector?
• Implement a due diligence of potential project application and implementing partners
• Evaluate mechanisms for inclusion, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Assess governance, coordination, and compliance systems to determine their adequacy for effective project formulation and implementation.

G. Sustainability and Exit Strategy

• Assess the project’s approach to structural, financial, social, and ecological sustainability.
• Evaluate the feasibility of exit strategy: institutionalization of MAP structures, transition to government/partner ownership, ongoing private sector and civil society engagement.

H. Recommendations for Project Design

• Propose evidence-based improvements to intervention logic (impact, outcomes, outputs), activities, monitoring and reporting, and resource allocation.
• Suggest indicators for measuring success and sustainability.

Methodology
The consultant/team will apply a mixed-methods approach:

• Desk review of relevant policy documents, project reports, evaluations, and statistical data.
• Stakeholder interviews (government, CSOs, private sector, youth beneficiaries, SOS CVE leadership).
• Focus groups with target youth (including women, returnees, persons with disabilities).
• Institutional capacity assessments of SOS CVE and main partners.
• Risk analysis and safeguarding assessments.

Deliverables

• Inception Report with methodology and work plan (within 2 weeks of contract start)
• Draft Feasibility Report, structured by BMZ criteria (mid-term)
• Final Feasibility Report, including executive summary, recommendations, and annexes (max. 35 pages excl. annexes)

Timeline

• Total Duration: 5 weeks
• Inception phase: 1 weeks
• Fieldwork, stakeholder consultations, data analysis: 2 weeks
• Draft report submission: 1 week
• Final Report and Feedback 1 week

Preconditions for the involvement of an external expert:

• Must have proven experience in conducting feasibility studies or similar assessments
• Must be well acquainted with the core SOS policy documents, especially the ones related to child protection
• Must interview key SOS program staff for better understanding of SOS programs and policies
• Must ensure that the interests and approaches of the organization are well represented
• Must be independent and not have conflicts of interest with the project or partners
• Must have good regional knowledge and understanding of the Ethiopian context
• Must be fluent in English (the report will be in English). Knowledge of Amharic or other local languages is an advantage.
• Legally registered firms with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number

Composition of Research Team:

The team should include:

• Team Leader (with expertise in youth employment and feasibility studies)
• Gender and Inclusion Specialist
• LMIS/Labor Market Specialist

Reporting and Coordination

The consultant/team will report to the Project Steering Committee (SOS CVE, MoLS, private sector, academia, CSOs). Regular coordination with the SOS CVE Coordination Unit is expected.

Budget and Resources

A detailed budget proposal is required, covering consultant fees, travel, fieldwork, stakeholder engagement, and reporting.

Qualifications

• The applicant consultant team leader shall have at least MA degree in a relevant field of study such as Sociology, Social Work Law, development studies, Economics, Project Management, social pedagogy, psychology and social research, monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment.
• At least 5 years’ work experience & proven competency in assessment of the same nature, impact assessment, feasibility study, labor policy, labor market research or organizational/program evaluation.
• Proven experience with BMZ project feasibility studies and evaluation frameworks
• Expertise in youth employment, inclusive programming, institutional development, and safeguarding
• Knowledge of Ethiopian context and labor market dynamics as well as the Labor Market Information System (LMIS).
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills; fluency in English required