Consultancy Services to Conduct a Livelihoods and Markets Assessment- Kajiado at Johanniter International

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Johanniter International Assistance Programme Manager, the consultant will conduct secondary data review and primary data collection using a variety of methodologies including FGDs and KIIs with key stakeholders. He/she will be responsible for carrying out the following functions and tasks;

1. Conducting desk reviews of livelihoods assessments (e.g., socio-economic, gender, youth, etc.) and market studies commissioned by government ministries, development partners, or civil society in the identified counties.
2. Designing all data collection tools required to collect the assessment data;
3. Validating methodology and data collection tools according to sector guidelines;
4. Collecting data through focus group discussions and individual interviews at county and sub-county level (face-to-face or virtual);
5. Provide a clear breakdown of the key barriers to climate resilient and sustainable livelihoods (including social norms, legislative, institutional capacity, political will etc.);
6. Conduct a mapping of actors (including county and national level advocacy networks) working in the Livelihoods sector (NGOs, donors, International Organisations, International Financial Institutions, line ministries, gender equality national structures, etc.);
7. Recommend clear and tangible suggestions for addressing livelihood challenges in the areas of JIA programming;
8. Analysing data, validating findings, write and submit a report with recommendations.

Due to the requirements in terms of qualifications and expertise required for the livelihoods and the market assessment, the consulting firm/individual will be expected to demonstrate that they have the capacity and experience to conduct both assessments. The section below provides a detailed breakdown of the scope of work for each of the assessments.

Livelihoods Assessment

Conduct a desk review to understand the local context, national policies and priorities, and key stakeholders. This will entail understanding of, among others:

• The economic context - income inequality, housing, formal and informal employment, labour, and skills development.
• The policy context - social protection programs and legislative framework.
• The social context - health, education, gender, crime linked to access to livelihood opportunities or lack thereof, natural resource related conflicts, welfare and development. The assessment should also identify the challenges women and youth encounter in accessing livelihood options.
• The poverty context - drivers, poverty, food security, vulnerable groups.
• The environmental context - infrastructure, disaster events, energy access. The consultant is also expected to review and assess how livelihoods activities have directly, indirectly, negatively or positively impacted the environment, including climate change.
• Conduct a household as well as community livelihood and resource assessment to gain detailed understanding on the needs and vulnerabilities experienced by the poor and marginalized populations, the types of assets and opportunities available to them, as well as to understand the successes and gaps in key basic rights provision. This includes assessing for successes and gaps of previous interventions aimed at addressing the needs and vulnerabilities of the poor and marginalized populations.

Market Assessment

• Conduct a localised market assessment with value chain analysis of livelihoods and an analysis of a variety of the most promising market systems and value chains, including enterprises/self-employment, vocational and salaried jobs. This should include:
• Collection and analysis of micro-level data to understand the local market systems, the environment and interplaying dynamics, as well as its consumers, opportunities and bottlenecks in the value chains.
• An assessment of the current and future demand for the core products and services in the identified market systems and value chains.
• Identification of current and potential future or emerging risks for engaging in these market systems and value chains, particularly trends or developments affecting rural and urban poor households.
• Identification and assessment of policies, institutions and other key elements governing markets and value chains that may affect local market systems and engagement of communities in the design and implementation of development interventions aimed at livelihoods promotion, small and medium enterprise (SME) development, and community economic development in rural and urban contexts.
• Livelihood options should take into consideration a relatively short-term window for income generation (6-8 months).

Map actors supporting the recommended markets for which linkages or partnerships that may be beneficial to the proposed livelihood interventions.

NOTE: The final document/report should not be more than 65 pages.

Expected Output and Deliverables

• The final output will be an analytical and operational report based on qualitative and quantitative analysis. The report to should include livelihoods profiles for the counties and recommendations for program interventions, and should contain (but not limited to) the following sections:

Methodology

1. The methodology should be clearly elucidated showcasing the path to the development of the final report. At the inception meeting stage, all the approaches and tools to be utilized during the study such as interview guides, focus group guides, list of documents and institutions/ persons sampled for the analysis should be provided by the consultant.

Context Analysis

• This section will provide an overview on the current country and situation in the aforementioned counties. The analysis will consider the various interrelated causal factors, and will highlight trends and forces which could contribute to the overall change in the prevailing conditions and context.
• The Consultant should provide an overview and analysis of livelihoods and markets with context specific challenges in the 6 counties.
• Under each section, the Consultant shall provide information and analysis of what is currently being undertaken for promotion of livelihoods and markets in the country and in the specific counties, the shortcomings and main challenges to be addressed.

Specific issues and response strategies

• In this section, the consultant will provides proposals to contribute to existing JIA programmes and the overall strategy

Johanniter International Assistance (JIA) Responsibilities

1. The JIA Programme Manager and Johanniter’s implementing partners will provide the consultant with the available internal documents such as the JIA strategy, relevant data, project reports, etc.
2. JIA and its implementing partners will provide contacts for the relevant Ministry Departments in Laikipia, Kajiado, Turkana, Isiolo, Wajir and Mandera Counties if needed.
3. JIA will provide the necessary logistical support required for this assignment i.e., vehicle hire, accommodation, meals etc.

Minimum Qualifications

1. ESSENTIAL: A Bachelors’ degree in the fields of agriculture, food security and livelihoods, economics, social work or development studies.
2. ESSENTIAL: Over 10 years of work experience in undertaking livelihood and market programming in Kenya.
3. ESSENTIAL: Extensive experience conducting social protection, poverty alleviation, development programming, community level engagement, community research for INGOs and development partners, within the past 5 years.
4. ESSENTIAL: Demonstrated capacity in programming on livelihoods and markets programming in ASAL contexts in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
5. ESSENTIAL: Experience in developing gender action plans for NGOs and demonstrated knowledge and experience in gender programming.
6. ESSENTIAL: Sample of your 2 most recent assignments undertaken within the last 3 years.
7. ESSENTIAL: Full contact details of your most recent references for similar works (within the last 3 years).
8. Experience working with International NGOs in Kenya is an advantage.
9. Experience working with Local NGOs and County Governments is also an advantage.
10. Ability to meet the agreed timelines and provide feedback during the implementation period.
11. Excellent communication skills, written and spoken.
12. Excellent Computer literacy skills.
13. Knowledge of the local language(s) is desirable but is not a must