Search for a consultant or consultancy house for the market study for the socio-professional reintegration of young people in Ituri, Republic of At Norwegian Refugee Council

1 Context

1.1 Context overview

The humanitarian situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains considerably worrying, complex, and deteriorated following armed and intercommunity conflicts as well as acts of violence to which civilian populations are frequently victims. In view of the increasing security crises in the DRC, the country will not achieve its development objectives linked to SDG 4 (Access to quality education), SDG 5 (Gender equality) and SDG 10 (Reduction of inequalities). ) without profound reforms accompanied by strong mobilization of internal resources and substantial external support. According to the African Development Bank, the DRC should be able to create 2 to 4 million new jobs per year to meet the needs of its young demographic. Demographic pressures cause enormous problems in finding work due to the limited number of jobs . But also for most employees, there is a mismatch between training and the skills sought by employers. There are few options after primary school available for youth, leading to a market flooded with unskilled youth. The shortage of jobs thus contributes to increasing the size of the informal sector and the weakness of support structures, such as the National Institute of Professional Preparation (INPP). More than 70% of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed, particularly in urban areas. With the context of armed conflicts, the unemployment situation is worsened in urban areas, being areas welcoming displaced people from insecure localities. This also leads to increased competition in the labor market.

On the basis of these elements, NRC obtained funding from the European Union for the implementation of a project in the province of Ituri aimed at addressing professional training needs with the aim of facilitating their socio-economic integration. economic and their social commitment within their communities.

This market study will provide lessons, practical guidance and relevant recommendations to support the planning and implementation of youth initiatives, as well as other future projects supporting youth employability and entrepreneurship.

1.2 Activities and presence of NRC

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) operates in the DRC in the areas of Education, Shelter, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation, Information, Advice and Legal Assistance, Livelihoods and Food Security. In Education, the strategic areas of intervention are: educational response in the first emergency phase, non-formal education, education and professional training of young people.

NRC’s 2022-2025 strategy in the DRC aims to provide adapted assistance to people affected by crises in all phases of displacement, including emergency assistance for displaced populations (phase 1), medium-term programming and term for protracted displacement and return situations (phase 2), as well as recovery programming for returnees and locally integrated people (phase 3). NRC has therefore been deploying its intervention strategy for several years across the entire travel cycle affecting many vulnerable people.

NRC is operational in Ituri province from an office in Bunia with permanent presences in Tchomia, Linga, Djugu, Gety, and a strong presence in Mahagi. NRC activities in Ituri include both emergency response (with dedicated teams) and transition activities. Through these past and current programs, across all of its technical areas of expertise, NRC has good relations with the authorities and communities in Ituri. As part of its action in favor of education and training, NRC aims through this project to offer technical and vocational education and training opportunities to adolescents and young people (15-24 years old) affected by the crisis in its area of ​​intervention.

1.3 Scope (geographical groups and target groups)

Study date: July 15 to August 15, 2024

Area to cover: Province of Ituri (territories of Mahagi, health zones of Angumu, Aungba and Rimba, and territory of Djugu, health zones of Fataki, Tchomia, Linga and Bunia Ville).

Target population: idle young girls and boys aged 18 to 24. The study should also take into account the needs and opportunities offered to adolescents/young people aged 15 to 17 who are out of school or not in school. Taking gender into account would be an essential consideration, with young women probably being over-represented in intervention areas.

Stakeholders: vocational training centers, local trainers and mentors, civil society actors, state education, employment and vocational training services, economic operators, local businesses, local and international NGOs, educational institutions.

Funder: INTPA

1.4 Rationale

The Elimu Kwanza Consortium aims to establish integrated professional training and socio-economic integration programs for the benefit of adolescents and young people from host communities affected by the conflict and the resulting population displacements in the province. of Ituri. To do this, a market study is necessary to identify professional training opportunities and income-generating activities that align with the interests and desires of young people, helping them to integrate into the economic fabric. of their communities. The market study will be the first analysis of the context, opportunities and barriers regarding young people’s access to these opportunities as well as the first market study conducted by the Elimu Kwanza Consortium in Ituri.

2 Objective of the results and intended use

2.1 General objective and expected results

Main objective: the general objective of this study is “to identify and analyze the promising sectors and the employment and self-employment opportunities available in the intervention areas to facilitate the adaptation of the offer professional training and guide the strategy to support the integration of the project. This will help inform programming of the Elimu Kwanza Consortium in Ituri regarding the capacity of vulnerable displaced youth and those from host communities to engage within key market systems, by identifying key value chains that present potential for employment or self-employment opportunities, as well as vocational education and training opportunities that prepare them to engage in these opportunities. In doing so, The Elimu Kwanza Consortium will be able to develop appropriate, market-based youth programs in coordination with the broader community, local governance structures and the target population.

Expected results :

• The Elimu Kwanza Consortium has in-depth knowledge of the access of displaced youth and those in host communities to markets, essential goods and services;
• The Elimu Kwanza Consortium understands the skills and capacities, as well as the interests of displaced youth and those of host communities in accessing various training and livelihood opportunities;
• The Elimu Kwanza Consortium has identified specific sectors, markets and value chains that can increase employment and/or self-employment opportunities for youth in Ituri, taking into account how specific constraints of the context in terms of mobility of goods and people affect the economic dynamism of several traditional sectors.

2.2 Objectives

The Elimu Kwanza Consortium made up of DRC, FECONDE, AJEDEC and NRC as Lead wishes to conduct an analysis of the employment market for young people aged 15 to 24 to provide evidence based on primary and secondary data. This will make it possible to understand the economic and social context in the localities targeted by the action in order to identify the promising sectors which offer sustainable, relevant and innovative employment opportunities (paid and self-employed employment) for young girls and boys. This will allow informed decisions to be made on the typology of professional training most suited to the economic empowerment of young people. To do this, this study will:

Regarding the request:

• Identify existing or potential market opportunities for youth in formal employment or self-employment and the skills and attributes needed in the market (by employers and consumers).
• Examine opportunities in the geographic areas where targeted youth are currently based, as well as opportunities at the Ituri province level given their freedom of movement.
• Focus on value chains that are accessible to young people with additional training and professional development support.
• Detect growing areas of activity that can provide sustainable employment opportunities for young girls and boys in Ituri by meeting existing employer demand for skills and identifying self-employment opportunities.
• Map professional opportunities by identifying economic sectors, value chains, types of jobs available, potential employers (profile) and requirements associated with jobs to effectively direct young girls and boys towards these opportunities.

Regarding the offer:

• Identify the level of education, skills and capabilities existing within the target population, including financial and digital literacy, as well as market knowledge, in this analysis.
• Identify the needs and preferences of adolescents and young people in the geographic area of ​​the project, including their preferences for employment and continuing education, as well as the value chains and services they wish to engage with.
• Identify barriers that prevent young people from accessing goods, services or employment opportunities, such as lack of necessary inputs, cultural and language barriers, gender discrimination, limited education or lack of recognized qualifications, or even lack of information.
• Identify their capacity and availability to engage in livelihood opportunities (e.g. number of hours they could work per week, additional supports needed for them to engage in work , such as childcare assistance, etc.).
• Identify areas of specific training for the local job market with a view to better matching training and employment of learners within the framework of the project.

Regarding the market environment:

• Identify barriers and opportunities for adolescents and youth to engage in economic activities.
• Consider the legal and regulatory framework, including labor law, accreditation and skills recognition, and informal norms and customs that govern access to markets.
• Also examine formal and non-formal education and training opportunities, as well as barriers and opportunities to access capital and financial management.
• Analyze competition and market practices to understand the dynamics of the market and key players in order to strategically position the identified training programs.

Regarding the partnership:

• Carry out a mapping of key partners relevant to market-driven youth programmes. Public actors could include the Ministry of Vocational Training and Small Trades, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Youth, as well as formal institutes such as the INPP, accredited vocational training centers, etc. Non-public actors Governments could include international and national NGOs engaged in youth programming. Private sector actors could include companies that host apprentices, as well as sector- or trade-specific unions.
• Carry out a mapping of other professional programs and business creation programs for young people in the DRC and in particular in Ituri, in order to understand the different approaches already used by other partners and their possible success.

Regarding strategy/program development:

• Provide recommendations on program design based on market research results.
• Determine the skills and qualifications demanded by the local labor market to adapt training programs accordingly.

These results will also enable the Elimu Kwanza Consortium to identify new partnerships to strengthen the project. These opportunities will include training courses, apprenticeships and mentoring. Finally, these results will facilitate the development of a technical skills development project for youth in the DRC and will better respond to the well-being and aspirations of young people.

2.3 Expected results

The deliverables expected at the end of this study are articulated as follows:

• Inception Report : Before the actual study, the consultant will have to submit an inception report to the Study Manager for approval after consultation with the other members of the steering committee. This report will describe: the methodology, the limitations of the study, the details of the people targeted, the updated timetable, the data collection tools including the key informant interview guides, the observation guides and focus group guides, the quantitative survey questionnaires, etc. All these tools will be approved before their use to ensure that they will collect the most relevant data.
• Study report plan : will serve as a starting point for writing the study report and will be validated by the steering committee to ensure the relevance and quality of the final report.
• Interim report : containing the results of the study starting with an executive summary (in French and English) emphasizing lessons learned, conclusions and recommendations.
• Final report: in French (max. 40 pages, without annexes) taking into account the comments and observations of the Elimu Kwanza Consortium, including annexes including:
• Mapping of promising sectors and value chains (visualization of promising sectors of activity and employment opportunities for young people);
• A directory of required skills (list of skills and certifications necessary to access identified jobs);
• An inventory of existing companies and artisans in promising sectors, including profiles and potential for job creation (immediate and short term);
• Action plan emerging in particular from the recommendations (SMART) for training programs and the professional integration of project targets on:
  • The strategies and measures to be put in place to facilitate the socio-economic integration of the people supported according to salaried employment opportunities (existence of employers) and entrepreneurial opportunities in relation to expected employment, the needs and challenges of each sector and the different successful approaches already used by other partners.
  • Key local partners who can take action at each link of the results and their roles.
• Raw data collected in digital format and used in the production of the report;
• Images of activities carried out as part of the study;
• Specific recommendations on program design based on the results of the market study.
• The list of key informants met, accompanied by telephone contacts and email addresses, if possible.
• A Power point presentation of the results of the study in French serving as a basis for the final restitution.

Report format

• Cover page, list of acronyms
• Table of Contents that identifies page numbers for the major content areas of the report.
• The summary (2 to 3 pages in French and English) should be a clear and concise stand-alone document that gives readers the essential content of the study report in 2 or 3 pages, pre-visualizing the main points to allow readers to build a mental framework for organizing and understanding the detailed information contained in the report. Additionally, the executive summary helps readers determine the main findings and recommendations of the report.
• Methodology: sampling method including the strengths and weaknesses of the method used, inclusion of stakeholders and staff, timeline of activities, description of any statistical analysis undertaken including rationale and software package used. Discussion of any random sampling used should include details of how random respondents were identified and invited to participate. This section should also address the constraints and limitations of the data collection process and rigor.
• Results: Think about how best to organize this based on the study and research questions. In some cases it is helpful to organize the report in relation to the project objective, but in other cases it makes more sense to organize the report in relation to the study questions.
• Appendices: PowerPoint presentation of preliminary results of the study (if PPt used), PowerPoint presentation of final results of the study, data collection instruments in French; list of stakeholder groups with number and type of interactions; statement of work, interview protocols developed and used, all data sets may be provided in electronic format, references to secondary sources of information reviewed, any required photos, participant profiles or other special documents needed .

Notes

• Results should be disaggregated by status (refugee/HC), age (adolescents: 15-18 / youth: 18-24), gender, disability and other relevant criteria such as family situation, support given to children and/or other family members.
• Reports must be submitted in French in Microsoft Word format, with an executive summary in French and English.
• All text must be unformatted.
• Charts or other graphical devices must be editable (i.e., they must not be images).
• All references must be cited and detailed in a bibliography, using the Harvard system as defined in the UNESCO Style Manual.
• Any textual quotations must appear in quotation marks and must not be too long.
• All data collected as part of the consultancy must be submitted with the deliverables, in a widely recognized format such as Microsoft Excel.
• Everything submitted must be the original work of the consultant. Any plagiarism in any form or other violation of intellectual property rights will automatically result in the Consultant being excluded from any further payments under the Contract by NRC and the Consultant will seek to recover all payments already made.

2.4 How will the results be used and by whom?

The results of this study will serve as a basis for the members of the Elimu Kwanza Consortium with regard to the orientation of the activities of the training and socio-professional integration component of young people within the framework of the project. The study will serve as a basis for the design of vocational training and self-employment pathways, the types of technical education and training that members of the Elimu Kwanza Consortium will offer to targeted adolescents/youth, value chains and services with which these organizations help young people engage, the additional supports they may need to succeed in their economic activities, as well as the types of partnerships needed with public, private and voluntary institutions.

3 Methodology

3.1 Lines of inquiry

Regarding the request:

1. What employment and entrepreneurship opportunities are offered to young men and women in the intervention area? Quantify demand and at what stage will demand be met? What skills/knowledge/certifications are required to access employment and self-employment opportunities in the intervention area?

• Are there cultural or social perceptions or misconceptions that may limit young people’s access to employment or self-employment opportunities?

Regarding the offer:

1. What are the backgrounds and educational levels of the young people targeted in the intervention area?
2. What levels of life and employability skills do young people in the intervention area have?
3. What is the desire, willingness or ability of young people to travel in search of economic opportunities?
4. What are the interests of young people regarding livelihoods, employability and entrepreneurship?

Regarding the market environment:

1. What are the obstacles that prevent young men and women from accessing the means of subsistence?
2. What opportunities exist to enable young people, men and women, to access the means of subsistence?
3. What are the main differences between displaced youth and youth from host communities regarding access to livelihoods (employment, entrepreneurship)?
4. What are the main differences between young men and young women regarding access to livelihoods (employment, entrepreneurship)?
5. What government policies, incentives or programs promote or hinder youth employment?

Regarding the partnership:

1. Which government bodies regulate youth access to livelihoods (employment and entrepreneurship)?
2. Are there professional bodies or unions that govern specific professions and could support young people’s access to economic opportunities?
3. Who are the public and private sector actors operating in the intervention area and who could help displaced young people and those from host communities to access the means of subsistence?
4. Are there professional training centers (public or private, formal or non-formal) in the intervention area? If so, what is their capacity to: a) accept new students, b) provide quality training in marketable skills, and c) provide quality training in life and employability skills?

Regarding strategy/program development:

1. How can the Elimu Kwanza Consortium help young men and women, refugees and members of the host community in the intervention area to access sustainable livelihoods (employment and entrepreneurship)?
2. What education and training opportunities or approaches should the Elimu Kwanza Consortium focus on?
3. Which value chains should the Elimu Kwanza Consortium’s training and socio-economic integration programs for young people address?
4. How can the Elimu Kwanza Consortium address the specific barriers faced by young men and women from displaced and host communities in the market environment?
5. What approaches, justified by documented examples from other NGOs or consortia, could be reproduced by the Elimu Kwanza Consortium?
6. How the DRC government, donors and all relevant actors in the response can/must respond to the identified needs of young people and minimize the harmful impacts of displacement, as well as sustain the longer-term benefits from a solutions perspective sustainable?
7. What recommendations and programmatic activities could enable members of the Elimu Kwanza Consortium and other organizations/agencies to best meet the needs of young people with a particular focus on education, training and employability?

   3.2 Methodology and steps

The consultant will propose a proven and industry-known methodology in the inception report and justify why these tools were selected. The items listed below should be considered. Additionally, the study should be participatory (youth-centered) and take into account displacement status, gender, age and disability. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods should be developed and used to collect data. An iterative approach should be applied to the data collection and analysis phases, to ensure data quality and relevance for the target groups.

Preparation and inception reporting phase

1. Initial meeting with the steering committee, including sharing of key internal documents.
2. Initial meeting with NRC support/HSS teams to finalize travel plans;
3. Secondary data review – literature review and review of internal documents of Elimu Kwanza consortium members;
4. Preparation and submission of an inception report. The inception report should include the following: introduction, including a summary of the findings and information gaps from the literature review, proposed methodology, sampling methods, research tools (quantitative and qualitative data) and information on how they will be used.
5. Provision of feedback and comments from the steering committee.
6. Incorporation of feedback and finalization of inception report.

Data collection (field visits) using qualitative and quantitative methods and approved tools.

• The consultant will recruit and train interviewers and data entry staff. Investigators must come from the target community and must respect gender parity. The Elimu Kwanza consortium may make available to the Consultant the databases of investigators in the targeted areas, if any exist;

1. The Consortium’s field staff will facilitate their work in targeted locations;
2. Data collection tools should be gender, age and disability sensitive, field tested and reviewed before data collection begins;
3. Raw data must be shared as an annex to the final report.

It is recommended that the consultant establishes an exhaustive list of economic opportunities available to young people. A detailed analysis must then be carried out on a restricted selection of 5 to 10 value chains. The proposed selection criteria include income potential, accessibility for young people, accessibility for women, accessibility for displaced people, job creation potential. This list may be adjusted by the consultant.

Data analysis (sharing first results)

1. Initial data analysis through an iterative process to identify and continue exploring additional themes;
2. Use of data to develop case studies/profiles/quotes etc. to complete the data analysis;
3. Sharing results with stakeholder representatives, including young people, to validate results and refine recommendations.

Writing of the report

The consultant will prepare his report highlighting the results and proposing recommendations in accordance with the format to be agreed with the Study Manager during the inception phase.

Debriefing phase (including the development of PowerPoint and 2-3 page executive summaries in French and English)

1. The consultant will present his draft report to the study steering committee for comments and reactions;
2. The consultant will integrate the comments of the steering committee into his project and finalize the report;
3. The consultant will ensure the relevance of the recommendations, which must be achievable, linked to the focal point concerned and accompanied by a timetable.

More specifically, this will involve conducting semi-structured interviews with key informants, focus group discussions and a pre-tested structured survey in the targeted localities.

The study defines youth as individuals aged 15 to 24 years. It should include the following activities:

• Private sector mapping: companies and vocational training centers must be mapped in coordination with local and state partners to identify those to be investigated;
• Interviews with key informants: these are semi-structured interviews to be conducted with young people, government officials, business leaders, members of the Congo Business Federation (FEC), local leaders, managers vocational training centers, services or ministries supervising training centers, NGOs, local artisans and trainers;
• Business survey: Using stratified random sampling, a number of businesses in the target localities will be surveyed. The purpose of this survey is to collect data on the operational challenges and constraints of starting a business, as well as potential growth areas. This will include capturing the challenges, gaps and employment opportunities of young people (girls and boys), such as mentoring, apprenticeships, placement and desired qualifications and skills and continuing education needs ;
• Discussion groups with young people: this will involve organizing structured discussions with groups of young girls and groups of young boys (numbers to be determined). The aim of the focus groups is to measure young people’s perceptions of their professional skills, their employment opportunities and their attitudes regarding employment prospects.

3.3 Study, Monitoring and Learning

The consultant to be recruited will be autonomous in the management of the study. The Study Manager, with the support of the steering committee, will, however, have a close eye on compliance with the dual methodology by the consultant and will ensure that the latter benefits from appropriate support at all levels where this is required. proves necessary to achieve the objectives assigned to the study. The results of the study will be immediately integrated into the planning of the project in favor of young people and will also be shared with all stakeholders in the project such as the project teams of the members of the Elimu Kwanza Consortium, all their state services of support, the humanitarian community in the DRC via OCHA and the donor.

Consultant(s) for the study

NRC is seeking expressions of interest from consultants with the following skills/qualifications:

Knowledge/skills:

• Advanced degree from an internationally recognized university in social sciences, economics, education, business administration, international development, local development or other related fields;
• Extensive skills in market assessment and analysis, including value chain analysis and inclusive market systems analysis.
• Knowledge of cash and voucher assistance programming and market-based approaches.
• Experience in youth livelihood programming, preferably in humanitarian contexts.
• Good understanding of humanitarian principles, standards and codes of conduct.
• Understanding of gender issues and protection of displaced populations.
• Knowledge of internally displaced persons policies, frameworks and guidelines for humanitarian actors.
• Computer proficiency and good working knowledge of remote meeting tools and approaches.
• Strong remote/virtual group facilitation and interview skills.
• Ability to build relationships with people of all levels and backgrounds.
• Willingness to travel and work in remote, difficult and sometimes unsafe areas.
• Very good level of spoken and written English.
• At least 3 years of experience in the education/youth development field, preferably with a focus on employability programs.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and strong analytical skills.
• Fluency in local languages ​​is an asset for team members.

Experience :

• Minimum of 4 years of experience conducting research, including market assessments and analyses, desk reviews or evaluations. Experience organizing, collecting and analyzing data using participatory methodologies including qualitative and quantitative tools.

The following elements are an asset:

• Prior experience in DRC/Ituri;
• Experience working/researching youth issues;
• 3 equivalent study reports in the market research field;
• Experience in the humanitarian or development sector with people affected by displacement.

The study team will be guided by the following ethical considerations:

• The opinions expressed in the report will be the independent professional opinion of the consultant;
• Transparency – information given, as far as possible, to all parties concerned;
• Broad participation – interested parties should be involved where relevant and possible;
• Reliability and independence – the study should be conducted in such a way that the results and conclusions are correct and trustworthy for good decision making.

Application procedure and requirements

Interested candidates are invited to send a technical and financial offer to the following address: CD.TENDER@NRC.NO.

The title of the email should be “ Consultancy for Youth Market Programming Study – NRC DRC ”. Submission deadline: 07/09/2024 .

Applications must include the following:

• 01 technical offer:

In this chapter, the bidder is expected to explain/present:

• His analysis and understanding of the ToR;
• The way in which it envisages the achievement of the objectives of the mission, the activities proposed;
• The methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the results;
• The Work Plan presenting the nature, duration, phasing and interrelationships of activities including the preparatory/scoping phase, workshops, field data collection, data analysis and reporting, review and validation of the report, restitution of final results;
• His added value as head of this study.
• O1 financial proposal:

A detailed price offer presented in euros will include the following sections:

• Fees of the main consultant/firm and per diem of the data collection teams;
• Travel, accommodation and catering expenses
• Airport taxes if relevant
• Other expenses (translation, reproduction of documents, communication, etc.).

NB: The financial proposal must be locked by password and transmitted separately upon request.

• Organization and staff

In this chapter, the structure and composition of the team will be explained by the consultant. A list of the team members’ main disciplines/areas of expertise or specialization will be provided. This chapter will include the following elements:

• Structure, composition and organization of the implementation team;
• CVs of team members;
• Photocopies of diplomas;
• Key staff calendar (total days per team member, key activities and availability period).
• References

In this chapter, several relevant references from the consultant/firm will be presented. Each reference sheet will include the following information: i) mission details (mission name, country, location, sponsor, contract value, duration, key personnel, number of team members), ii) description of the project, the main services provided and the main expected results, iii) contacts of the sponsor (email + Skype/Teams + telephone).

• 01 or 02 examples of market research previously carried out by the consultant.

SELECTION PROCESS ANALYSIS CRITERIA

The selection of the consultancy will be made on the basis of an open call for tenders.

The analysis criteria for the offers submitted will be as follows:

• 30% for methodology
• 20% for CVs
• 20% for technical references
• 30% for the financial offer

Preference will be given to applicants who include at least one or two examples of similar work performed.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.