Conducting project set-up assessments in Nigeria for the Youth Employability Booster project At Young Africa International

1. Background

Young Africa International (YAI) acknowledges the significant potential of Nigerian youth, who constitute 67% of the country’s population and play a vital role in its future development. This initiative is designed to implement contextually relevant activities aimed at uplifting Nigeria’s socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged, employed youth. With a staggering 35% of youth aged 15 to 35 unemployed and 28% underemployed, many young Nigerians face numerous barriers in securing employment, including lack of experience, limited professional networks, and insufficient market-oriented skills.

To address these challenges, YAI proposes the “Youth Employability Booster” (YEB) pilot initiative, which aims to enhance the capacity of 9,225 Nigerian youth to secure and retain dignified employment. The primary objective of YEB is to bolster the socio-economic empowerment, self-reliance, and resilience of Nigerian youth aged 15-35, with a particular emphasis on young women, who will comprise approximately 75% of the initiative’s participants ensuring a successful transition to employment for both genders.

Our educational innovations and partnership strategies are structured around a Franchise Business Model and an inclusive mobile Integral Technical Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) model. We aim to foster sustainability through collaboration with local private sector actors, ensuring a demand-driven, market-informed, and youth-centric design from the outset. We will prioritize at least 75% participation of young women in our intervention packages, focusing on the most underserved youth as direct beneficiaries of the project.

The YEB initiative is based on the following shared goals and impacts:

1. Focus on Female Entrepreneurship: YEB aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to supporting female entrepreneurship, providing tailored training, mentorship, incubation, market linkage, financing, and life skills training for female-led nano and micro-enterprises.
2. Enabled Access to Tailored Mobile Skills Training: YEB will empower educationally and socio-economically disadvantaged Nigerian youth, particularly female entrepreneurs, in high-employability sectors such as climate resilience, the digital economy, agriculture (across various value chains), and creative industries.
3. Prioritizing Data-Driven Approaches: YEB will customize skills development modules for self-employment and work readiness by leveraging rapid market needs assessments, gender analysis, and youth needs assessment data. This ensures that entry points, target groups, and youth priorities are informed by and validated through local insights.

The proposed intervention packages to alleviate barriers to youth employment include:

• Intervention Package 1: Implementation Readiness – Establishing robust pilot inception for informed program delivery.
• Intervention Package 2: Roll-Out of Mobile ‘Integral’ Technical Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) for 2,500 youths.
• Intervention Package 3: Tailored Business Development Support Booster Training for 5000 young entrepreneurs.
• Intervention Package 4: Establish a YAI ‘model centre’ to reach 9000 young people.
• Intervention Package 4A: Dissemination of YAI’s innovative models for youth economic empowerment to 9 private TVET providers reaching 9000 young people.
• Intervention Package 5: Strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Evidence Generation for scalability and impact.

Of note is that the project target reach should constitute 75% adolescent girls and young women between the age of 15-35 and 5% should be people living and working with disabilities.

Through these targeted interventions, YAI aims to create significant pathways for youth employment and entrepreneurship.

To achieve this, a comprehensive assessment is required to understand the current landscape, including baseline data, market needs, specific needs for female-led nano and micro businesses, and the overall feasibility of the initiative. Based on a scoping assessment we undertook, the assessment will be done in the following states Lagos, FCT Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Anambra Imo state and Edo state. Specific locations or regions will be discussed on engagement.

1. Baseline Survey

Objective: To establish baseline data on the socio-economic conditions of the target population, measuring key indicators that will inform subsequent project activities and monitoring.

Scope of work

• Survey Implementation: Conduct quantitative and qualitative surveys to collect data on the demographics, education levels, skills, employment status, income sources, and living conditions of youth (ages 15-35) in the designated areas.
• Stakeholder Perception Analysis: Assess the perceptions of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) among various stakeholders, including the private sector, youth, community members, and government officials.
• Employment Outcome Data: Analyse and report on employment outcomes for TVET graduates, including the rates of formal and informal employment and the prevalence of entrepreneurs among this group.
• Baseline Measurement of Youth Work Quality: Establish and document baseline metrics related to project-defined criteria for “youth in dignified and fulfilling work,” focusing on at least two of these four indicators: reliable income, reputable work, respect in the workplace, and a sense of purpose.
• Gender and Disability Inclusion Assessment: Assess the current status of gender and disability inclusion in TVET programs and opportunities for youth, identifying barriers and recommendations for enhancing inclusivity in training and employment.
• Assessment of Knowledge Levels: Evaluate baseline awareness and knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV, and issues surrounding Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) among youth.
• Baseline Indicator Reporting: Provide comprehensive baseline data on key project indicators and recommend revisions to the results framework as necessary.
• Project Design Recommendations: Based on collected data, propose adjustments to the project design to enhance its effectiveness and alignment with identified needs**.**
• Capacity Assessment of TVET Centers: Evaluate the capacity of TVET centers to adopt and implement the proposed framework of best practices (FBM).

Deliverables:

• A detailed baseline report summarizing findings, including graphs, charts, and tables for clear presentation of data. The report should also highlight differences in circumstances for young men and women, contributing to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by different demographics.

2. Market and Needs Assessments to Inform Courses Offered Per Site

Objective: To analyse local employment and entrepreneurial markets to tailor the training and courses offered under the YEB mobile training initiative.

Scope of work

• Conduct market assessments in targeted locations to identify current labor market trends, local employer needs , and available job opportunities suitable for youth.
• Engage with local private employers (both formal and informal) and government agencies to understand their expectations regarding skills and competencies.
• Identify the specific training needs based on skill gaps that hinder youth employment and underemployment and entrepreneurship in the local context.
• Compile and analyse data to create a list of relevant short-term and long-term vocational training courses including soft skills trainings to be offered at each site,

Deliverables:

• A comprehensive report detailing market trends, skill shortages, and recommended curricula for courses offered at each site, including data-driven recommendations to align training with industry demands.

3. Needs Assessments for Tailored Interventions for Female-Led Nano and Micro Businesses

Objective: To assess the unique challenges and support needs of female entrepreneurs operating nano and micro businesses, to inform course content and identify necessary support mechanisms.

Activities:

• Conduct focused group discussions and individual interviews with female entrepreneurs to understand their specific needs regarding skills development, access to resources (finance, mentorship, market access), and barriers they face in business.
• Identify the types of training that could benefit female-led businesses, focusing on financial literacy, marketing, operational management, digital skills, and emotional intelligence.
• Explore existing support structures and gaps, including access to childcare for young mothers and networking opportunities.
• Design interventions that may include mentorship programs, business incubators, and networking events, specifically tailored for female entrepreneurs.

Deliverables:

• A targeted report outlining the needs and challenges of female-led nano and micro businesses, recommending specific training content and support services to empower these entrepreneurs effectively.

4. Feasibility Study

Objective: To assess the potential for success of the YEB interventions and determine optimal sites for implementation based on the findings from the preceding assessments and the identification of six pre-considered sites.

Activities:

• Analyse data collected from the baseline survey, market assessments, and the needs assessments for female-led businesses to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed interventions in all six identified sites.
• Evaluate these six sites based on criteria such as socio-economic conditions, existing infrastructure, local support networks, community readiness, and potential impact on youth and female entrepreneurs.
• Utilize a scoring or ranking system to objectively determine which four sites have the highest potential for impactful intervention based on the assessments.
• Identify key success factors for implementing the training and interventions, evaluating community engagement and the presence of local partners to enhance sustainability.
• Recommend the most viable four sites for intervention based on a balanced consideration of data and community dynamics, including expected challenges and strategies to address them.

Deliverables:

• A comprehensive feasibility report that includes a refined site analysis, recommendations for the four most suitable locations for implementing the YEB initiative, and strategies for maximizing impact.

E. Methodology

The consultant is expected to develop a robust methodology that will comprehensively address all aspects of the assessment as outlined in this scope of work. This should include, but is not limited to, a detailed description of the sampling method to be used, data collection techniques (such as surveys, focus groups, and structured interviews), and the analytical approaches for both quantitative and qualitative data. The proposed methodology should be designed to ensure reliability and validity, while also considering ethical standards and inclusivity, particularly regarding gender and disability. The consultant should leverage the information provided in this document, as well as any additional relevant context encountered during the planning phase, to formulate an effective and contextually appropriate methodology.

F. Consultant Requirements

Qualifications:

• A post-graduate degree in Social Sciences, Business, Economics, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience in research, labor market studies, and youth employment initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting baseline surveys, market assessments, and feasibility studies, ideally with a focus on gender and entrepreneurship.
• Proven track record of working with youth, particularly women, in entrepreneurship and employment settings.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong analytical, communication, and report writing skills.
• Familiarity with local socio-economic contexts and challenges facing youth and female entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
• Experience working with stakeholders, including local government agencies, non-profits, and private sectors.
• Ability to work collaboratively and adaptively in a diverse environment.

G. Timelines

The entire assessment process should be completed within 8 weeks from the commencement date. The outline of key milestones is as follows:

1. Week 1-2: Planning and baseline survey preparation
2. Week 3-5: Data collection for baseline survey, market assessments, and needs assessments
3. Week 6: Data analysis for all assessments
4. Week 7: Draft report writing
5. Week 8: Review, feedback, and final report submission

H. Proposal Submission Guidelines

Interested consultants or consulting firms are expected to include the following in their proposals:

1. Technical Proposal:
   • An understanding of the ToR, proposed approach and methodology, and how it meets the project’s objectives (maximum 10 pages, excluding annexes).
2. Work Plan:
   • A detailed work plan with timelines for each phase of the assessment process.
3. Company Profile:
   • Background information on the consulting firm (if applicable), including relevant experience in similar projects and a brief CV of key personnel involved.
4. Budget:
   • A detailed budget breakdown, including daily rates and other expenses.
5. References:
   • At least three references from previous relevant projects.

All proposals should be submitted electronically to yebassessments@youngafrica.org by 10 November 2024, before close of business. Since these assessment are highly time sensitive, review of applications will be done on a rolling basis.

Kindly note that interested candidates or consulting firms can apply for one or more of the four assessments mentioned above depending on their capacity. If applying for all assessments, clearly show the teams