Terms of Reference: Assessing LIWAY’s Contribution in Addressing Operational Space Constraints for MSEs

• Review relevant project document(s) including but not limited to, Intervention concept notes, relevant literature, updated Adopt, Adapt, Expand, Respond (AAER) and result chains for all/selected interventions under access to operational space.
• Design and validate an appropriate impact assessment methodology (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) with careful attention to the in-depth qualitative approach, as it is crucial for understanding the programs overall contributions, particularly regarding access to operational space.
• Study and analyse interventions business models, their level of implementation (Adoption, Adaption, Expansion and other market actors’ responses with respect to scale, sustainability and resilience).
• Conduction field work to collect data from:
• Women and youth beneficiaries (targets).
• Implementing Partners.
• Public and private key stakeholders and partners.
• Other significant actors influenced by LIWAY operational space interventions (bazaar, ecommerce, outsourcing) activities, such as non-partners and other relevant market actors who replicated the business models.
• Other similar development organisations that might provide comparable contributions in terms of access to operational space.
• Analyse data to assess:
• Changes resulting from LIWAY interventions. (i.e. serving MSEs to get physical and digital market area, Behavioural changes in executing business, MSEs business environment, policy influence, incomes).
• Changes in employment or business outcomes.
• Access to market resources and services including access to operational space.
• Policy level achievements and stakeholder influences.
• Social norms and gender/youth dynamics (changes in decision-making, agency, and confidence) with respect to access to operational space.
• Produce a comprehensive contribution assessment and market system change results report (with respect to the operational space intervention area) including recommendations and lessons learned, including some best-practice and case studies.
• Present preliminary findings to LIWAY and key partners for feedback.

Proven experience in market systems development (MSD), particularly within the Ethiopian employment sector. In-depth knowledge of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), climate-responsive programming, and conflict-sensitive approaches.