RFP-RO01-003691_Consultancy on Market Systems Development (MSD) Technical Support At Danish Refugee Council

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Short-Term Consultant for Market Systems Development (MSD) Technical Support

1. Background

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO with specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities. DRC works at all stages of displacement: in the acute crisis, during displacement, settlement and integration in a new place, and upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance, supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included in hosting societies, and collaborates with civil society and responsible authorities to promote rights protection and peaceful coexistence.

The Market Systems Development (MSD) approach has been a central strategy in DRC’s programming and implementation to foster systemic change by engaging private sector actors, strengthening value chains, and creating sustainable economic opportunities in the borderlands regions of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. This consultancy will build on program outcomes and activities, supporting the design and rollout of tailored MSD interventions and strengthening the capacity of implementing partners to drive impactful and sustainable results.

2. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to support one of the DRC Cross-Border programmes in enhancing resilience, fostering sustainable economic opportunities, and strengthening livelihoods in the borderland areas of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia through targeted Market Systems Development (MSD) interventions. The consultant will design and implement context-specific MSD activities in key sectors such as livestock value chains, climate-smart agriculture, water management, and other climate adaption interventions. By collaborating with implementing partners and providing mentorship, training, and technical support, the consultant will build local capacity and ensure the effective integration of MSD principles and practical industry lesson learned to help achieve the below programme objectives:

• Disaster risk reduction and conflict prevention capacities of cross-border stakeholders and communities are strengthened.
• Peacebuilding is enhanced through stronger linkages between communities and local, national, and regional authorities:
• Women and youth in marginalised borderland communities have improved access to income generation opportunities.
• Borderland communities are better able to adapt their livelihoods to climate change and environmental degradation.

Additionally, the consultant will document critical success factors and develop a framework to guide future programming, contributing to inclusive, impactful, and sustainable development in the region.

3. Objective of the Consultancy

Danish Refugee Council is currently in search of a consultant to build the capacity of its implementing partners and stakeholders through mentorship, technical support, and knowledge-sharing, ensuring the effective application of MSD principles and promoting sustainable, impactful, and inclusive development at the borderlands.

The consultant is responsible for:

1. Enhancing the technical capacity of implementing partners and stakeholders by providing mentorship and on-the-job training in Market Systems Development (MSD) principles
2. Providing MSD interventions design support to ensure sustainable and inclusive development in the programme target locations of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

4. Scope of Work and Methodology

The scope of work for this consultancy focuses on designing and implementing targeted Market Systems Development (MSD) interventions to address systemic challenges and foster sustainable economic opportunities in the borderland areas of Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The Consultant will work with the technical implementing staff to conduct a comprehensive market analysis in key sectors such as livestock value chains, climate-smart agriculture, water management, and climate adaptation interventions to help in understanding the current market dynamics, key actors, challenges, and opportunities.

The Consultant will also be responsible for engaging with the appropriate local stakeholders, including implementing partners, government agencies, local communities, and private sector entities, to ensure a collaborative approach in designing and implementing MSD activities. Context-specific interventions will be developed to address the identified market gaps and constraints, which may involve improving market linkages, enhancing access to finance, promoting technology adoption, and providing capacity building for local actors.

Furthermore, the consultant will offer technical mentorship and capacity-building support to partners’ teams, ensuring the effective application of MSD principles S/he will also provide mentorship, training, and technical support to local actors to enhance their capacity in implementing interventions aimed at addressing systemic constraints at scale. This will empower them to sustainably manage their businesses and adapt to changing market conditions.

The consultant will document critical success factors and develop a framework to guide future programming, contributing to the programme’s overarching goals of resilience-building, conflict prevention, and inclusive development. Continuous learning and adaptation will be crucial to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of the interventions.

More specially the consultant will work on the following key tasks:

MSD Activity Design

1. Review DRC programme MSD strategies, value chain analysis reports, past interventions, and learnings.
2. Based on constraint analysis, support the design of MSD activities tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the programme’s target locations in the Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia borderland areas.
3. Support the operationalization of the Business Transformation fund facility planned under the programme.
4. Develop catalytic models and Standard Operating Procedures aimed at enhancing coordination and scaling of some of the DRC cross-border planned interventions by other donor and government-funded programs operating in the region.

Roll Out MSD compliant Activity Design with Partners

1. Work with implementing partners (DRC and its Local Implementing partners) to contextualize and guide the implementation of the designed activities with the specific goal of building the capacity of the technical teams to implement future MSD compliant interventions.
2. Develop detailed work plans, tools, and resources to support effective rollout and monitoring.
3. Facilitate co-creation and coordination meetings with partners and stakeholders, including the private sector and the government.

Team Mentorship and Implementation Support

1. Provide hands-on mentorship and technical support to programme technical teams during implementation to enhance their understanding and application of MSD principles.
2. Guide teams in monitoring, evaluating, and adapting activities to ensure their effectiveness and alignment with objectives.

Mapping of Key MSD Success Factors

1. Identify and document critical success factors for the planned/implemented interventions.
2. Work with the program team to develop a implementation frameworks, implementation protocols, and recommendations to guide future MSD programming.

5. Deliverables

Based on the detailed scope of work outlined for the consultancy, the key deliverables for the consultant conducting the assignment include:

1. Activities design Terms of Reference (TORs) documents outlining tailored interventions for Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia borderland areas, specifically for key anchor value chains such as Financial Inclusion, Smart Agriculture, Livestock, Water systems, and Climate adaptation interventions.
2. Catalytic models and Standard Operating Procedures for enhancing coordination and scaling of cross-border interventions.
3. Three/five-pager strategy document on the operationalization of the Business Transformation Fund Facility, including supporting the roll-out of the facility.
4. Develop 3-5 pages sector-based success factors documents to be shared externally with program stakeholders.
5. A final assignment report summarizing achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, including a summary of the capacity-building sessions conducted with partners’ teams.

6. Duration, Timeline, and Payment.

1. The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 60 working days
2. The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 18th April 2025.
3. Payment shall be made based on milestones achieved as detailed in the Terms of Reference

7. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required for the Consultant

The assignment is only open for an individual consultant possessing the following qualifications:

1. A master’s degree in economics, Agricultural economics, Development Studies, or a related field.
2. At least 5 years of experience in implementing Market Systems Development (MSD) approaches, preferably in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
3. Demonstrated understanding of the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of Somalia and the broader tri-border region.
4. Proven ability to mentor teams and support capacity-building initiatives.
5. Fluency in English and Somali is preferred.
6. Excellent analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.

8.Technical supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

• The programmes’ Inclusive Markets Coordinator (IMC)
• The programmes’ Chief of Party (CoP)

9. Location

The consultant will be based in Mandera with frequent field visits to the borderlands of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. This could be reviewed based on need.

10. Travel

Travel will be required, and DRC will therefore be expected to arrange for the consultant’s transportation and accommodation. The consultant will be required to organize for his/her own insurance and food. Per diem costs will not be covered by DRC.

11.Submission process

Refer to the RFP for the submission process. All applications should be done on or before 18th February 2025 at 5.00PM EAT. Applications submitted after the stated time will not be considered.

Please indicate “RFP-RO01-003691 – Consultancy for Market Systems Development (MSD) Technical Support” as the subject head.

12.Additional Information

For additional information regarding these terms of reference, please refer to the RFP Invitation Letter or email the Supply Chain Manager through the following email address; procurement.ro01@drc.ngo.

13. Evaluation of Applications

For additional information regarding these terms of reference, please refer to the RFP Invitation Letter.

Please find complete bidding documents in the following link: RFP-RO01-003691 – Market Systems Development (MSD) Technical Support

PS: This consultancy is only open to individuals and not firms