Consultancy for Conducting Business Needs Assessment & Mapping Relevant Business Development Services at Danish Refugee Council

The Objective of the Consultancy

The consultant is expected to identify and assess the capacity of BDS providers in Nairobi and Mandera to benefit refugees and host community enterprises.

The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

• To identify the business needs of entrepreneurs supported in the SDACKED project with a view to matching those needs with the services offered by the identified BDS providers.
• To identify, interact, engage and assess the work and capacity of various and relevant BDS providers in Nairobi and Mandera, to provide services that can enhance financial inclusion and economic participation of entrepreneurs from both refugees and host community members within the framework of the SDACKED project
• To create a comprehensive directory of BDS providers operating in Nairobi (and its environs) and Mandera.

Responsibilities

The general responsibilities of the consultant are:

• Propose a sound methodology, questions, and tools in line with the stated objectives.
• Develop a consultancy work plan.
• Review the programme documents, prepare the Inception Report, data collection tools for review and feedback.
• Review existing secondary literature to inform the development of a conceptual framework.
• Conduct focus group discussions and key informant interviews which will include engaging relevant project staff from both Nairobi and Mandera.
• Conduct data collection in line with data protection regulations and perform data quality checks to ensure its accuracy, validity, and integrity.
• Conduct primary data collection through field visits and interviews both in Nairobi (including its metropolis, where the project is being implemented) and Mandera.
• Conduct data cleaning, processing, and analysis.
• Prepare and submit a draft final report for review and feedback.
• Validate findings with DRC i.e. preliminary presentation of the reports. A validation workshop shall be conducted in Nairobi.
• Submit a comprehensive final report and annexes.

The general responsibilities of DRC and its partners are:

• Provide access to project documents, reports, and relevant data for the exercise.
• Provide an office operation desk where the consultant would operate from during the duration of the assignment.
• Facilitates the consultant’s access to project sites, respondents, and key informants.
• Brief stakeholders about the purpose of the exercise.
• Participate in key informant interviews and discussions as required.
• Review the methodologies, including data collection tools designed by the consultant.
• Review and provide feedback on the draft reports.
• Act on the recommendations provided in the final report to improve future project planning and implementation.
• Prepare and effect payment for the consultant in instalments as agreed upon and upon completion of the assignment.

Essential:

• The consultancy firm / individual consultant is registered under the Laws of Kenya.
• Must have at least 5 years’ experience in financial/business management, with proven experience in mapping and assessing BDS providers or similar consultancy projects.
• Advanced degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related fields, with extensive experience in research.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of Somali language is a plus.
• Good data analysis, presentation, and visualization skills.
• Excellent skills and ability to articulate ideas clearly and accurately including the ability to prepare reports.