Terms of Reference - Development of a Waste Management and Circular Economy Strategy at Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA)

Purpose of this assignment:

• Hand in Hand is seeking for firm/institution with Technical Experts in Waste management to lead in formulation of a strategy that will equip the organisation with a clear and practical approach to integrate sustainable waste management practices in its projects and programmes. The objective of the assignment is to deliver the strategy, tools and identify institutional capacity necessary for Hand in Hand to achieve positive, long-term sustainable impact to establish and nurture enterprises in the waste management sector to be profitable, contribute to improved waste management and sustainability, and at the same time overcome gender-based barriers to our members.
• The assignment is open to applications from firms only.

Key objectives include:

• Lead the development of key inputs (research, advice, and capacity) for the development of a Waste Management Strategy for Hand in Hand, via activities including desk and field research, strategy workshops, organisational audits and staff training in waste management.
• Ensure initial data and analysis feeds into the development of a working Hand in Hand model for waste management activities as well as a possible new waste management curriculum for Hand in Hand entrepreneurs.
• Advise Hand in Hand on how to tailor this strategy for implementation at scale and in different contexts and regions.
• Develop an implementation framework for the waste management strategy.

Key Activities

• This assignment will be led by the firm’s Technical Expert/s with significant input and oversight from Hand in Hand EA and Hand in Hand Sweden. The work intertwine will feed into the overall objective of the projects of managing waste on local and country level in Kenya, contributing to reduced poverty and improving local environment through circular economy and entrepreneurship. The specific areas of the assignment are as detailed below.

Areas of Work

Scoping Work

• Desk Research
• Planning and training
• workshops
• Primary Research
• Market Scan

Approximate No. of Working Days: 5 Days

Location: Remote

Strategy Development

• Developing/underpinning a waste management theory of Change, Organisational capacity assessment and strategy formulation.
• Packaging capacity building needs for HiH
• Approximate No. of Working Days: 20 Days
• Location: Nairobi and Field locations in Kenya – with a possibility of most of the engagements being virtual
• Final editing of the strategy (with back & forth) and holding a validation meetings/workshop with HiH
• Approximate No. of Working Days: 10 Days

Location: Remote (staggered)

Key Deliverables:

• Scoping Study: The technical expert/s, working closely with Hand in Hand Eastern Africa and Hand in Hand Sweden, will lead this study. The technical experts will review Hand in Hand’s existing model and operational areas to identify the sub areas of waste management where Hand in Hand can deliver the greatest impact. The analysis should equally look at opportunities to introduce sustainable waste management focusing on different value chains where Hand in Hand members operate. The scoping study will include several sub-deliverables:
• Desk Research: This initial research that will provide a background and an introductory chapter will seek to answer several questions:
• What streams of waste management and circular economy is/are existing and which one would fit the country and geographical locations context
• What structures and organisations promote or influence landscape and waste management approaches across Kenya, and in prospective implementation areas?Do women have decision-making roles in these organisations? What scope is there for engagement or partnership?
• Who are the key stakeholders and duty bearers in reference to waste management in the country, counties and the target locations?
• What constraints exist for proponents of waste management (policy, geographical etc. constraints)
• Which organisations and stakeholders beyond Hand in Hand’s existing network already support waste management and circular economies in Kenya? What approaches are they using, and what areas of partnership/collaboration do exist?
• What policy spaces and gaps exist and should be the organization’s contribution/role on the policy and policy advocacy space
• Planning and Training Workshop: The technical experts will present findings from the desk research to the Hand in Hand team at a capacity building and strategy development workshop. The workshop will support greater institutional understanding of waste management, its gender implications, and the approaches that Hand in Hand seeks to apply.
• Primary Research: Primary field research will take place in two operational areas - Mombasa and Nairobi, assessed as high potential for waste management projects by the Technical Experts and the Hand in Hand team. Research will rely on a participatory approach, charting resources and the current state of landscapes in target areas. The assessments will help us to understand the status quo and help in redesigning project interventions. Gender analysis will be a key component of the primary research, with a situational analysis mainstreamed into the primary fieldwork activities.
• Market Scan: A market scan and waste value chain analysis will complement the primary field research. The scan will seek to identify high potential waste streams in different implementation areas and define the value chains thereof. The scan should also provide insights around the waste management that Hand in Hand members should focus on and highlight enterprise opportunities (for both individual entrepreneurs and CBOs) supporting waste management and circular economies.

Strategy Development

• Theory of Change (ToC): The technical experts will facilitate development of a waste management ToC and propose ways of adapting the same to HiH EA’s current organizational Theory of Change. The ToC will guide HiH EA to articulate waste management programmes. The ToC will also provide the underlying framework for an organisational waste management strategy.
• Organisational capacity assessment: This brief assessment, undertaken together with Hand in Hand should map relevant waste management knowledge and skills within Hand in Hand, and identify gaps that may act as barriers to enacting the waste management strategy once finalised. The assessment will include Hand in Hand Eastern Africa and should identify areas where future capacity development may be relevant both on organisational level as well as to the entrepreneurs participating in Hand in Hand waste management related projects and programmes.
• Waste management and circular economy Strategy Document: The document should expand on the Theory of Change, presenting Hand in Hand’s implementation model for achieving change. The strategy will set out what Hand in Hand seeks to achieve in its waste management work, the organisational changes this will require, and the indicators of progress. The strategy will also set out a timeline and key actions for operationalising the strategy within the organisation. Finally, the strategy will set out Hand in Hand’s implementation model, presenting the diagnostic tools, training materials and practical applications that the organisation will rely on to achieve its waste management goals.

Profile of Technical Experts:

Hand in Hand requests that Technical Experts submit proposals responding to the Terms of Reference as outlined. We expect the Technical Expert to demonstrate excellent skills and experience according to the criteria below:

• Demonstrated expertise and record of accomplishment of waste management circular economy work through both programme implementation and research. Clear understanding of relevant techniques and approaches, as well as experience of training and capacity building in these areas, ideally in Sub Saharan Africa.
• Excellent record of accomplishment conducting scoping research, including designing a methodology, collecting data, providing detailed analysis and delivering actionable, practicable recommendations.
• Strong record of accomplishment conducting waste management and market analysis in an East African context, ideally across in both Kenya and Tanzania.
• Experience with participatory and mixed research methods, combining techniques and tools for quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Previous experience working with projects targeting grassroots entrepreneurs and enterprises, self-help groups, and financial institutions.
• Demonstrated experience of successfully advising on training approaches (curricula, training materials and practical capacity building) for waste management focused programmes. Previous experience providing Training of Trainer (ToTs) will also be essential.
• Proven experience of working alongside international and national teams within civil society organisations; NGOs, academic institutions, social enterprises, etc.
• Presence or ability and willingness to travel to and/or within Kenya. The project/assignment will be in Nairobi (reference point – could be remotely done for the bigger percentage of the time) with travel to Mombasa as shall be necessary.
• Fluency in verbal and written English, Kiswahili considered an advantage.
• Previous experience providing research for or designing waste management strategies or programmes will be an advantage.