Call for Individual Consultancy-Livelihoods Programming at VSO Ethiopia

Background

VSO Ethiopia is currently implementing a project aimed at improving market-based livelihood options for refugee and host community youth in Assosa through access to relevant skills. The project promotes the development of commercially valuable skills for refugees and host communities while supporting Ethiopia’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in creating employment through increased local, regional and national business. Through this project, SMEs receive support to activate market linkages, source goods and services from refugees and host communities and provide them with the necessary technical training to meet buyer specifications. The sector code, livelihood opportunities and skills targeting Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for youth was chosen based on gaps identified by a recent need assessment and its relevance to the priorities of the government of Ethiopia for the target beneficiaries. The project targets conflict-affected youth with particular attention to young dropouts, girls, people with disability (PWDs) and child-headed households.

Description of the Assignment

The consultant will get the full support of VSO Programme team/staff and volunteers/ both at the head office and field level. However, it is will be the entire responsibility of the consultant to formulate the required assessment/research tools, analyse data and produce reports in respect of each deliverables which meet the required quality standards. Overall in collaboration with the VSO Programme team the consultant is expected to deliver on the following.

•  Establishment of a Business Process Outsourcing /BPO/ board of management and asses the gaps to equip the BPO centre with the required materials
• Create online marketing platforms for the BPO centre to market goods and services
• Introduce the provisions of business/ entrepreneurial advisory services at BPO centre
• Conduct capacity gap assessment of the established fifteen Self-Help Groups/SHG/ and produce report with practical recommendations
• Identify and select eight small and medium enterprises within and outside Assosa in collaboration with the field team and link graduates for internships, apprenticeships, volunteering and employment opportunities
• Establish regional level stakeholder platforms and networks to discuss skills development and refugee youth engagement
• Conduct market assessment and identify eight business types and produce market requirements /value chain/ for each business type

Location and Duration

• Based in Assosa Town with frequent travel to the four Refugee Camps and Host Communities which are Tsore, Gure Shombolla, Bambasi & Sherkole, the assignment is expected to be completed in a period of ninety days between November 2021 and January 2022.

Reporting / Working relationship

• The Consultant is expected to work with VSO Ethiopia’s Livelihoods Programme team and line reports to Project Manager-Livelihoods.

Employment Contract Type: consultancy service

Requisite Expertise/Consultant Profile

• The ideal consultant has advanced degree in Economics, Agriculture, Business Administration or other related social science field of studies and acquired a minimum of five years of professional experience in designing and implementing similar Livelihoods Development programming in humanitarian sector or NGO environment. Additionally the Lead Consultant must have
• Demonstrated expertise in the formation, operationalization and strengthening a BPO, on-line marketing platform and SHGs
• Technical skills in conducting market assessment, labour assessment and exploring job creation alternatives in humanitarian/refugee context
• Skills in customer need assessment and satisfaction related with goods and services availed by target businesses
• High level of understanding of the region’s socio-economic context, livelihoods opportunities, youth engagement platforms, and the private sector, and experience of conducting related assessments in the local context
• Knowledge of successful livelihoods initiatives/opportunities, youth networks, and linkages with markets for the local community
• Strong ICT background to design and put in place online marketing platforms
• Experience in gender transformative and social inclusion approaches
• Knowledge of the national TVET training programs, associated strategic issues and assessment outcomes