Market and Skills Gap Assessment Consultant

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.  

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.  

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. 

Operating since 2004 in Lebanon, DRC has addressed the needs and rights of vulnerable populations, working initially with Palestinian refugees (since 2004), Iraqi refugees (2007-2010), Lebanese IDPs (during the 2006 conflict), migrant domestic workers (since 2009) and, since 2011, responding to the Syrian refugee crisis.  

DRC Lebanon is currently delivering programming in protection, housing, infrastructure, basic assistance, livelihoods, and community development interventions. This myriad programming seeks to address the immediate needs of displaced populations and concurrently support vulnerable host populations. DRC has five offices spread throughout Lebanon in, Beirut, the Bekaa, Saida, Tripoli and Qobayat.

 

About the job 

Provide the organization with the information and analysis that will allow identifying adapted livelihoods activities in support to displacement and conflict affected population in Saida.Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

 

A - Market assessment: 

• What is the general market situation in the targeted area? 

• What are the main sources of income for the population per type of income (employment, daily workers, IGA, remittance, etc.), per socio-economic profile, per sectors type (business to business (B2B)/business to consumer (B2C) and formal/informal), per sector (agriculture, Craft, quarry, food, services, etc.)? 

• What is the unemployment situation in the targeted area? What are the different demographic profiles? (youth, women, elderly). 

• What are the main barriers to employment and/or business creation? 

• Based on the requirements and priorities, what would be the sector, value chain and type of economic activities to be prioritized? 

• What are the soft skills (literacy, household management, etc) and technical skills of the targeted population? Including education level. 

• Based on the market assessment, what are the main skills missing for the current labor demand? What are the key skills necessary to support development of future market opportunities in the area and/or for potential return (internally displacement persons and refugees)? 

• What are the current service providers of skills development in the area? Do they offer skills trainings on the identified skills? 

• What are the potential feasible soft/life skills and technical skills suitable for the project? Short cycle curriculum, low technical requirements, etc.

 

The study will be divided into two phases: 

• Desk review (Secondary data): the consultant will review existing resources to identify trends and macro-data to feed into the analysis; 

• Data collection (Primary data): the consultant will use a mix of key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys and market observations in order to answer the evaluation questions outlined above.  

Note - the methodology for primary data collection will be defined by the consultant and DRC focal point at the inception phase based on available resources and capacity.

 

Deliverables 

• A brief inception report (maximum 5 pages), which details the consultant’s understanding of the work, methodology and includes a concrete action plan for delivering the outputs. 

• A short preliminary findings brief that will be validated before the development of the final report (maximum 5 pages); 

• A first draft final report which clearly and concisely presents the findings and actionable recommendations (maximum 20 pages). 

• A final report taking into account the feedback provided by DRC with the different tools and processes used for this study (maximum 20 pages).

 

Timeframe

This timeframe is tentative and will be revised based on the consultant’s proposal.  

Tasks	# of days	Deadline
INCEPTION (2 days)
Inception report and methodology	2	April 8th 2018
DATA COLLECTION Part I (10 Days)
Desk review and tools development	4	April 15th2018
Field data collection	5	April 20th2018
Preliminary finding brief	1	April 25th2018
DATA COLLECTION part 2 (2 Days)
Field data collection	2	April 27th2018
FINAL (4days)
First draft of final report	2	May 7th 2018
Final presentation	1	May 10th 2018
Final report	1	May 15th 2018
TOTAL	18 days

The assessment should commence no later than April 4th 2018. DRC will pay consultancy fees at a mutually agreed rate.  DRC will provide recommendations for travel and accommodation with logistical arrangements. Flights, accommodation and local transportation will be covered by the consultant and should be included in the proposal. DRC will provide safety information/support and the evaluation team is expected to follow DRC safety/security procedures. DRC staff located in the assessment areas will provide necessary support to the consultant. Deadline to submit the expression of interest is March 29th, 2018.

About you 

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a post graduate degree in development, economics, business, marketing and/or related discipline. Moreover, we also expect the following:

 

Required  

• An experienced consultant with demonstrable extensive experience in business development and market assessments; 

• Knowledge of formal and informal economic and market of the South highly advantageous; 

• Knowledge of agriculture advantageous; 

• Willingness to travel to the  South and ability to work under challenging circumstances; 

• Ability to produce high quality analytical material in English 

• Fluency in English is compulsory. Proficiency in Arabic is also essential, otherwise the consultant must hire a translator.

 

 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.   

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.   

Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values. 

 

We offer 

Contract length: 18 days consultancy  

Level:  Daily ate will be based on experience  

Duty Station: Beirut with frequent travel to Saida 

Start date: April 2018