1.Background

 ‘Hope and Opportunities for People in Ethiopia’ is a project to be implemented in and around four urban areas, namely Shire/Axum, Jigjiga, Dollo Ado and Addis Ababa by a Consortium of four international NGOs, namely, International Medical Corps UK (IMC-UK), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Plan International (Plan) and ZOA – Relief |Hope Recovery (ZOA) from 2016-2021. Overall, the program aims to create conditions and opportunities for Ethiopian youth and migrants from Eritrea, and Somalia who intend to migrate or are on route to generate their own livelihoods and to settle down.

The program assumes that most people that enter into irregular migration do so because they see, themselves forced to and do not undertake the journey out of free will. Most of the migrants would prefer the option to stay in the place where they are, but they cannot stay as conditions are not favourable or compatible for their aspirations. Moreover, migrants in Ethiopia are seriously hampered in their ability to build their lives due to legal restrictions and lack of access to basic services. Therefore, ARC program aims to address these gaps by enhancing the youth’s (both Ethiopian and migrant) access to employment opportunities and proposes to deliver the following four outcomes:

• To contribute to the improved legal status for refugees that allows for increased freedom of Out of Camp movement;
• To ensure Youth at risk of migration have market driven local economic opportunities that correspond with their aspirations
• To contribute to increased knowledge and access to quality basic services for Youth at risk of migration. Youth at risk of migration have an increased awareness of potential risks of migration
• And have access to trustworthy sources of information on opportunities in Ethiopia and possible destination countries – enabling them to make informed decisions

2. General objective:

• The general objective of the assessment is to conduct labour market needs and business opportunities for Dollo Ado host communities Melkadida, Kobe refugee camps for target refugees in the operational area.

2.1. Specific objectives of the assessment and the livelihood survey

• To identify feasible and promising and potential business opportunities for refugees and host communities of the project’s operational areas;
• To identify the existing market and business opportunities and challenges to start individual and Group business (IGA);
• To understand the livelihood situation of the target women & men in a comprehensive manner using the livelihood framework that will be used as baseline information to improve their livelihood condition;
• To understand the existing policies, institutions and processes that have an implication on livelihoods of the target group.

3.METHODOLOGY

Technical Approach and Methodology

3.1 Scope of work

• The market assessment shall cover different trade, business and market opportunities and challenges for refugees and host communities who are at-risk potential migrants;
• The assessment must use sample representatives of target groups in the operational three areas including Dollo Ado, Melkadida & Kobe and relevant government departments and local institutions from each target wereda based on the theme;
• The market assessment shall provide an informative and analytical base for the target communities to sustainably and profitably harness economic opportunities - through marketing feasible business;
• The market assessment must identify the overall market and business conditions for youth especially for the target groups, map local potential business and markets;
• The market assessment aims to provide information on the overall business environmental under which youth are operating with current market trends in terms of market demand and supply, price-scheduling mechanisms, market determinant factors, supply chains and government market regulatory and control mechanisms and it will explore and analyze government opportunities like market place, loan for refugees and related;
• The market assessment will analyze possible potential risks the project beneficiaries may face in market and suggest possible mitigation measures;
• The market assessment must come up with innovative and possibly market accepted packing and packaging and marketing models that the target groups can adopt;
• Analyze the prospects on the Labour market and employment rates;
• The livelihood study will mainly focus on the targeted Melkadida and Kobe refugees and Dollo Ado host communities in the target area and it will assess the status and level of livelihood assets/strategies that the target group have access to identify factors and constraints that affect their livelihood assets.
• The market assessment will discover different business and market opportunities and challenges for refugees and host communities at-risk of irregular migration.
• The assessment shall provide an informative and analytical base for the target communities to sustainably and profitably harness economic opportunities through operating feasible businesses.
• The market assessment shall identify market and business conditions for youth and especially for the targets, map local potential business and markets.

3.2  Data Collection and Sampling Technique

• The market study shall utilize the classical approach to conducting market assessments which among others will include Desk review (secondary data collection), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for primary data collection, data analysis and report writing.
• A deeper understanding of the rule of the game in the market is crucial to be able to decide on how to equip the vulnerable youth and women with requisite skills, physical resources, information and networks to support them improve their livelihoods. Hence, the following methods are identified for the market assessment.

3.2.1. SECONDARY SOURCES OF INFORMATION

• Various publications including but not limited to research and working papers, proceedings and books will thoroughly be reviewed. Pertinent data will be extracted from these documents identifying information to be collected from field in due course. Any additional relevant data will be elicited from IMC, Woreda partners and other stakeholders through interviews. Based on document review, focus questions will be identified and checklist will be prepared for data collection at community and woreda levels as well as field observations. The content of the questionnaire/checklist and their style must vary depending on to whom they are intended but should all help in facilitating the acquisition of pertinent information. The assessment instruments will also try to address the different actors across the marketing system.

3.2.2 PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION

The consultant shall conduct a field assessment within the operational areas in addition to desk reviews to fulfil missing, but relevant information. The following questions will have to be answered for a market assessment and livelihood survey of this type (involving vulnerable youth and women) to meet its objectives.

• What are the prevailing livelihood conditions of vulnerable refugees and the business sectors the youth are operating currently?
• Which business sectors are more attractive?
• Who are key actors in these sectors?
• Are vulnerable youth and women engaged in these sectors directly or indirectly?
• If vulnerable youth and women are engaged; are they engaged on more profitable segments businesses chain or vice versa?
• What are the reasons for success or failure?

What type of skill and knowledge are required to be competitive in the sectors identified? Is there such skill training/upgrading centre or program in the area in question?

• What other supports and enabling environment are available?
• What is the cost and benefit of engagement to promote the sector in money terms for women operators as well as supporters and enablers?
• What other economic activities are vulnerable women & men can engage in? Why?
• What are the factors for success and or failure of youth and women entrepreneurs?
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These questions shall be addressed through key informant interviews, focus group discussions with vulnerable youth and refugees, women and youth in business, government and other development agents and stakeholders.

4.  Schedule and deadline of the service

• Time frame for the consultancy is 30 days. The whole process will take approximately 30 days to be completed. This will include: Interaction with the project team, beneficiaries, key stakeholders and report writing. The expected start date of the work is mid-March, 2020 and the final report will be produced by End of April, 2020

5.Target groups for Market Assessment

• The target group for this assessment/research will be SHG members and Vocational skill trainees who reside in Melkadida and Kobe refugee camps and Dollo Ado host community beneficiaries, will be the focus group of this assessment.

6. Key qualifications and skills required for the consultancy

• The Consultant should have appropriate postgraduate qualification in Social Science (Economics, Marketing, Business Administration and related discipline) with a minimum of 10 years of related experience;
• Have demonstrated experience of Market assessment, Business analysis, Market linkage and Livelihood survey, assessing incomes based on value chain for small traders;
• A multi-disciplinary consultant(s) with experience covering the key objective area of this action, increase access to resources for women with a focus on improving livelihood, exploring the existing country trade and youth economic empowerment framework and opportunities, and working in empowering women is recommended for this assessment.

7.  Expected Output from the Market Assessment

After the assessments we expect the following outputs;

• Identify feasible, promising and potential business opportunities for refugees and host communities of the project’s operational areas
• Identify the existing market and business opportunities and challenges to start individual and Group business (IGA)
• Understand the livelihood situation of the target women & men in a comprehensive manner using the livelihood framework that will be used as baseline information to improve their livelihood condition
• Understand the existing policies, institutions and processes that have an implication on livelihoods of the target group.

8.  Informed Consent

• Informed consent is essential for research/assessment, so that, the consultant will prepare informed consent form for this need assessment.

1. Responsibilities of IMC

Ø  The organization will arrange the vehicle & fuel, meeting venues, stationeries and other administrative services

 i. Schedule and deadline of the service

·  Start date of the consultancy is March 23, 2020.

9.     Mode of Payment for all the above services

 The total consultancy fees will be liable to government tax(es). The payment will be made as follow: 40% in advance, 20% on submission of the draft report and 40% on submission of the final report.  The organization will not be responsible for any further expenses incurred by the consultant during the consultancy visits and for any loss and/or damage to him/her.

The eligible team consultants should prepare and submit detail technical and financial proposals with separate sealed envelope. The technical proposal should contain background of the consultant, proven successful performance and engagements in similar activities, license and required certificate, CV, program schedule of the activities within the time allotted for the task.

N.B: International Medical Corps (IMC) reserves the rights to:

• Not evaluate any or all proposals if the information is incomplete or if the proposal is received after the deadline.
• Request bidders whose proposals meet essential criteria to provide additional information.