Introduction and Background

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) is an international scientific research institute, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya that works towards improving lives and livelihoods of people in Africa. icipe is partnering with the Mastercard Foundation to implement the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (MOYESH) program. The purpose of this partnership intervention is to secure fulfilling and dignified employment and income for unemployed young women and men by scaling up integrated beekeeping and silk farming businesses, building on lessons learned from the YESH project and leveraging the public-private partnerships that are already created. MOYESH aims to secure decently employment opportunities and income for 100,000 (of which 60% are female) unemployed youth and women in four (Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray) regions of Ethiopia through technology-based entrepreneurship financial innovation and capacity building in silk and honey.

To achieve this, MOYESH program proposes a detailed market assessment and value chain analysis for honey and silk sub sector. To achieve its well determined goal and objective the program identifies the need for having a comprehensive commodity value chain for the predetermined two high value (honey and silk) insect commodities. Which further enables the program to peruse for navigating alternative opportunities in realizing creation of dependable jobs and decent income for young Ethiopians.

Objectives

The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out a Value Chain Analysis of apiculture and sericulture commodities (Amhara, Tigray, Oromia and SNNPR) to provide evidence-based information towards identifying key bottlenecks along with proposing practical and impactful intervention for MOYESH program in the aforementioned for program implementation region. In particular, the Value Chain Analysis should shed light on the status and viability of existing and potential markets and determine which hold promise of employment opportunities, product expansion, market viability, value addition opportunities, quality improvement and input availability to young women and men producers mainly organized youth enterprises.

 The specific objectives are:

Review existing Value Chain Analyses reports and other relevant project documents on apiculture and sericulture commodities under MOYESH program implementation regional boundaries.

Draft an appropriate (mixed method) methodology for primary data collection and develop data collection tools (e.g. market survey, interviews with market actors, key informant interviews and FGDs) that will be used to conduct the Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Analysis (to be reviewed by the program). The methodology should specifically consult, and identify opportunities for, young women and men, as well as young boys and girls.

Plan and conduct a Value Chain Analysis focusing on:

• Identification of major local, regional, national and international markets
• Assessment of size of markets, volume of sales, market integration/segmentation
• Local market structure and enabling environment (e.g. security issues or policies affecting market access)
• Market actors (consumers, sellers, traders, middle-men, employers) behaviours
• Market requirements (standards, conditions for delivery) and prices, wage rates and employment conditions
• Other areas as identified by the methodology and data collection

Data collection for value chain analysis at macro, - meso- and micro-level

• For each level (macro, meso and micro), what are the institutions, organizations and individuals involved?
• Which ones are advocates of gender equality issues?

What actors have the potential to work towards the achievement of gender equality goals/impacts in the value chain?

• What financial and technical partners have a strong commitment for and dedicate resources to gender equality issues?

Gender-sensitive value chain mapping: a process that follows the regular value chain analysis method plus for each level of analysis, gender-sensitive indicators are used and gender-disaggregated information collected on: 

• Participation in the chain (gender roles) 
• Access to and control over productive resources (gendered access to and control over resources)
• Control over benefits (gendered control over benefits)
• Gendered influence on enabling factors

Identifying gender-based constraints at the various levels and in the different nodes of the value chain

 A checklist of questions will be developed to collect relevant data on each one of the above listed elements.

 (4)  Draft A Value Chain Analysis report, which includes an executive summary and practical recommendations that can be used to inform the MOYESH program management team’s insight for the upcoming years intervention for youths based enterprises to be flourished in Sericulture and Apiculture commodities vis-à-vis to ensure viability, appropriateness, and ultimately in creating dignified and fulfilling jobs for Ethiopian youths in four program implementation regions.

Process & Deliverables

 Phase 1: Plan of Action

 Based on this TOR the consultant will draw up a Plan of Action (3-5 pages). The Plan of Action will be sent to the MOYESH program, Senior Deputy Program Coordinator by the end of the first week of the assignment. The Plan of Action will include the proposed approach of the candidate, methodology, a broad time frame and budget. It will also explain how the involvement regional, zonal and woreda focal, program woreda technical assistants and inclusion of stakeholders will be ensured. The Plan of Action will include a clear description of the different enterprise groups to be analysed.

 Phase 2: Desk Review

Based on the desk review a revised Plan of Action will be presented. This plan of action includes an inception report presenting the initial results, information gaps and the proposed approach to fill these information gaps.

 Phase 3: Fieldwork and Draft report

The consultant will deliver and present the draft report covering the key findings and results to MOYESH Program team, and to other relevant stakeholders. Feedback on the draft report will be incorporated into a final version of the report.

 Phase 4: Dissemination of final report

 The final VCA report will be circulated to key stakeholders as identified by the MOYESH program.  

 Note

As stated above in the deliverables section the final document must clearly and explicitly indicate:

The added values the MOYESH Program could bring to these value chains

Define the challenges and the opportunities the selected value chain holds for young women and men entrepreneurs organized in groups. This includes, at least:

•  Identification of the types of value chain(s) that offer better opportunities in the local and distant markets and what requirements must be met to exploit those opportunities
•  Areas of improvement for better production and productivity to increase competitiveness of the young women and men entrepreneurs engaged in the value chain
•  Opportunities for better employment and income for the young women and men entrepreneurs. 
•  Identification of sustainable development potentials in the value chain of apiculture and sericulture targeted commodities of the MOYESH Program.

Prepare a complete value chain map showing who are the chain actors, stakeholders, supporters and influencers, how many they are, values and volumes handled, all units disaggregated by gender including a detailed stakeholder’s analysis.

The potentials for integration of young women and men entrepreneurs in the value chain of the two program targeted commodities. 

Identification of possible improvements that can lead to significant increases in employment and income for the program young women and men entrepreneurs

Provision of analysis of potential risks that may hamper reaching to meet the MOYESH Program mission of creating dignified and fulfilling jobs for 100k Ethiopian youths in four implementation regions under value chains of the above mentioned two economically important insect commodities. 

The analysis should provide narratives if the bottlenecks are critical (i.e. the program would fail to increase opportunities for young women and men produces if the bottlenecks are not removed as planned and the level of risk that the bottlenecks identified will not be removed on short-term , with in the program life span

A recommendation on how the program shall pursue its interventions in the face of findings on the ground. 

Reporting

The final report submitted to SDPC will include separate recommendations and an implementation plan, in a separate 5 to 10 pages document, which outlines where MOYESH Program contribute most based on the program activities to alleviate the bottlenecks identified in the value chain analysis within the time span of the program. The consultant will work closely and in coordination with the MOYESH VCM team.

Ownership and Beneficiaries of the study

Any and all documents produced under this assignment shall be the sole property of MOYESH Program and may be used for any purpose whatsoever without the need to consult with the author.

The key beneficiaries of the study are the local communities within the program area, as the study will support them in understanding the local value chain and market dynamics and support those interested in value chain of the two important insect commodities of the Program. Besides the assessment report will be aimed at a range of stakeholders such as donors, public policy makers and other stakeholders including other INGOs working on job creation in Ethiopia. The findings of this study will also be used to raise the awareness level of the policy makers at the strategic, tactical and operational levels and propose alternative mechanisms for better livelihood and decent wage for young Ethiopians.

Final Report Submission Date

This consultancy activity is subjected to time constraint and awarded consultants are required to submit their final value chain analysis report within two months’ time from the award. 

Job Requirements

Competencies

• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to work under pressure in challenging environments
• Capacity to dialogue with different sectors
• Excellent communication skills
• Tigrigna and Oromiffa Language skill is a plus.
• Determination and focus on goals and results
• Sound management and effective facilitation skills

Skill and knowledge base requirements

• Excellent knowledge of value chain analysis in Ethiopia particularly in Sericulture and Apiculture commodities in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and SNNPR program implementation regions. 
• Strong analytical, research and presentation skills

How to Apply

Interested and qualified professionals/firms may send/submit their proposals, along with the following information: 

• Profile, giving background and experience of the organization  
• Technical Proposal consisting of:
• Understanding of the scope of work (ToR)
• Proposed detail plan to undertake the assignment.
• Time period needed for completion of the contract.
• Key persons of the assignments.
• Copy of renewed Registration Certificate, License or Work Permit.
• Experience and Other relevant supporting documents.

Financial proposal: qualified consulting firms will be invited separately to submit the total price with detailed breakdown on a separate notice. Consultants are not expected to submit financial proposal at this time.

Interested and qualified consulting companies should send/submit their proposal with a covering letter explaining how their experience addresses the requirements of the TOR to Mr. Esayas Mulatu, icipe, MOYESH Program, Senior Deputy Program Coordinator: emulatu@icipe.org within 10 days from the announcement.