CONSULTANCY- NRC KENYA BASELINE SURVEY ON REFUGEE EMPLOYMENT SKILLS INITIATIVE (RESI), DADAAB, KENYA

Term of Reference (ToR)

1. Background

   The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent, humanitarian non-governmental organization which provides assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees and internally-displaced persons in Kenya.

• Our Vision: Rights Respected, People Protected
• Our Core Values: Accountability, Dedication, Inclusiveness, Innovation.
• Overall Strategic Objective for Kenya: Reach more vulnerable people among displaced populations that are underserved or not reached by others

  NRC has been operational in Kenya since 2007. NRC Kenya programme has field offices in Dadaab, Kakuma and Mandera. NRC has expertise in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Livelihood and Food Security(LFS), Education and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA).

   

  NRC in partnership with International Trade Centre is implementing Refugee Employment & Skills Initiative (RESI) project in Dadaab. The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN) through the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). ITC’s work to foster inclusive and sustainable economic development, and contribute to achieving the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development. ITC works towards creating ‘trade impact for good.

   

  Building on the successful ITC/NRC joint pilot initiative carried out in Dadaab in 2016, RESI harnesses market-based incentives to enhance livelihood opportunities for refugees during their displacement in Kenya while contributing to the economy of the host communities.

  Central to RESI’s approach is its two-fold intervention; the project promotes the development of commercially viable skills for refugees and host communities alike while supporting Kenyan small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) - social businesses in particular - in creating value and employment in the host countries through increased national, regional and international business.

   

  The project focuses on sector value chains with confirmed potential and demand, namely digital services, and facilitates access to direct freelancing work. Furthermore, the project will explore home décor as a potential sector to be confirmed through value chain and market analyses.

   

  The ultimate aim of the project is to enhance sustainable livelihood for refugees and host community to promote self-sufficiency and increase resilience, both in host country and in case voluntary repatriation.

  2. Context

In June 2017 Kenya hosted 489,071 refugees in the camps of Dadaab and Kakuma and in urban settings, mainly Nairobi.  The refugees are from over nine countries of the Horn and Great Lakes regions, but the overwhelming majority are from Somalia (285,705), many of whom have been in Kenya since the early 1990s. Civil war, insecurity, drought and dire humanitarian situation engendered by the collapse of the Somali state and fighting in South Sudan has led to need for provision of humanitarian assistance including diversification of livelihood opportunities.

The decrease in refugees in Kenya since late 2015, is attributable to the Refugee Population Fixing Exercise undertaken in Dadaab  in August 2016, and the increase in numbers who have joined the Voluntary Return Programme (more than 30,000) in 2017.

In the context of voluntary return and limited livelihood opportunities in drought stricken Dadaab camps and its environs in Kenya, there is  need for long term solutions that require development of commercially viable skills for alternative livelihoods while supporting Kenya Small and medium size enterprises in the Camps and in host communities.

NRC in Partnership with ITC will continue to focus on diversification of livelihoods through sector value chains with confirmed potential and demand, namely digital services, and access to direct freelancing work. Furthermore, the project will explore home décor as a potential sector to be confirmed through value chain and market analyses.

The ultimate aim of the project is to enhance sustainable livelihood for refugees and host community to promote self-sufficiency and increase resilience, both in host country and in case voluntary repatriation.

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3. Reasons for the Baseline Study

3.1.Rationale

In the context of the protracted and dynamic situation in Kenya and intervention by NRC in provision of vocational and livelihood opportunities to displacement affected population, Kenya programme seeks to understand better the impact of its vocational training in creating employment and income generation  for youths in Dadaab through the current RESI Project. .

3.2.Overall Objective

The overall objective of the study is to undertake a baseline assessment to identify the value of indicators before or at the start of project. The baseline will fill in information gaps concerning provision of employable skills and links to income generation opportunities for refugees and host community youths in Dadaab. . This is critical to inform NRC and ITC targeting, type of skills offered at the vocational centres and post-training monitoring and evaluation of the project. . The baseline values will be compared to end line values to understand the impact of the RESI project to displacement affected populations in Dadaab.

3.3.Specific Objectives

The overall objective of the study will be to undertake a baseline assessment among the refugees and host communities in Dadaab and come up with estimates that will help in generation of baseline data for measurement of NRC and ITC impact and to help in the targeting process of vulnerable populations.

The specific objectives of the baseline survey will be:

a)   Establish the current socio-economic situation of the target groups. This include profiling of youth based on their livelihoods activities, income status, and level of vulnerability.

b)   Develop benchmarks for measuring key project indicators based on the intended project outputs  such as youths with skills for employability and self-employment, capacity of youth groups (self-help groups) to create value and employment for themselves and others and linkages to business opportunities either as self-help groups or individual freelancers. .

c)   Identify key barriers and challenges to livelihoods opportunities faced by youth trainees and self-help groups from both refugees and host communities.

4. Methodology

The study methodology will employ both primary and secondary data collection methods. The primary data collection will consist of field visit lasting approximately  one week in Dadaab where the baseline data collection instrument will be administered across the four refugee camps and affiliated host communities based on a pre-determined sample size. The baseline survey will be supplemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews from refugees, host community, NRC staff and other stakeholders. Secondary data collection shall include desk review of project documents, previous assessments, and other strategic documents and external reports on livelihoods both internal and external to NRC.

At the end of the Dadaab field visit, the consultant will provide a debrief to the area management and team on the data collection exercise. Presentation of initial findings will be done in Nairobi to the Programm Unit and feedback provided should inform the drafting of the baseline report. The final report is submitted to the Head of Programme for review and approval.

5. Deliverables

• Instrument for baseline data collection
• Training of data collectors/enumerators
• Revised/updated workplan
• Debrief in field office
• Presentation of findings in Nairobi – Programme Unit
• Baseline report not exceeding 15 pages excluding annexes

   

6. Evaluation Team

The baseline will be undertaken by an external consultant. The consultant will collaborate with M&E, programme and support teams  to ensure successful delivery of the baseline. The consultant reports to the Head of Programme.

7. Location

The Baseline study will take place in Dadaab

8. Timeframe

The evaluation is expected to last 20 days

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

9. Experience

• At least 5 years’ professional experience in research and evaluation.
• A minimum of 7 years working in the education and livelihood programs in the region. A focus on vocational skills training and creation of value chains would be d be an added advantage
• At least 3 years’ experience working with communities in rural/remote areas.
• Strong knowledge of monitoring and evaluation techniques
• Applicable knowledge in the use of the Personal Initiative Approach in training
• Strong capacity to capture and articulate nuances that will inform the project during its cycle
• Desirable previous experiences in Kenya refugee’s context and / or familiar with refugees programming.

   

10. Personal skills

• Capacity to establish and maintain productive relations with a range of actors from different national and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and communicate effectively
• Keen attention to detail
• Excellent analytical skills and a constructive approach to problem solving
• Ability to deliver outputs by agreed deadlines – sometimes at very short notice
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required, with knowledge of Kiswahili an added advantage.

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Methodology: Applicants should provide a description of their proposed methodology for meeting the objectives of the assignments as part of their technical expression of interest.

• Applications should include:

• A cover letter detailing interest in the project and relevant experience
• CV(s) of consultant(s)
• Description of deliverables and proposed methodology and which should include full justification for procedures to be adopted
• Work plan (dates and activities)
• Financial proposal with all costs to conduct this assignment.

At least three referees for similar or related work done