UNDP Jobs - 52494- Consultancy on Market Assessment

Consultancy on Market Assessment

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

24-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 days

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

In response to the present crisis, the Government of Jordan has requested the support of the donor community and the United Nations Development Programme to address the impact of the Syrian refugees on host communities, particularly in the Northern Governorates.

UNDP’s Program – Mitigating the Impact of the Syrian Refugee through Support to Host Communities – is funded from various United Nations agencies, the Swiss Development Corporation, the World Bank, DANIDA and the Governments of Japan and Kuwait as well as the USA. The program seeks to support the immediate livelihoods stabilization for vulnerable Jordanians in host communities as well as to provide the sustainable livelihoods opportunities to build resilience in host communities.

Towards this objective, UNDP-Jordan adopts a three-phased approach called “3X6 (three-by-six)”. The 3x6 is an innovative UNDP programme approach to promote sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable groups living in transition countries and/or affected by crises triggered by disasters or violent conflicts. The approach builds on elements of socio-economic interventions – putting both women and men to work, injecting money into local economy – while introducing innovative dimensions: promoting individual savings and engaging emerging entrepreneurs in joint economic ventures based on compulsory savings, promoting social cohesion by encouraging members of the community in all their diversity to organize themselves into collective economic activities and creating ownership at both individual and community levels through sharing risk investments.

In Jordan, the 3X6 approach is currently implemented in three municipalities in Mafraq governorate with targeting a total of 300 men and women. These selected three municipalities are the most affected municipalities as they are neighboring to Za’atari Refugee Camp which accommodates 54% of refugees out of a total of 158,296 refugees in Mafraq (UNHCR, June 2014). UNDP Jordan plans to expand the 3X6 project to additional two municipalities in Mafraq.

In this context, UNDP-Jordan aims to conduct livelihoods and economic opportunities mapping through an in-depth market assessment to identify the areas/sectors for the feasible and sustainable microbusiness development and employment creation in the targeted local communities in Mafraq. The list of promising commodities/sectors will be provided to the 3X6 project’s beneficiaries to develop their own business ideas based on such a feasibility study. At the same time, it will help employment creation through the sector-targeted vocational training in partnership with the private sector.

Objectives of the assignment

The overall objective of the assignment is to provide support to UNDP-Jordan within the framework of the 3X6 project and other employment creation such as the sector-targeted vocational training under the programme of “Mitigating the Impact of the Syrian Refugee Crisis on Vulnerable Jordanian Host Communities” through conducting a market assessment with the involvement of primary and secondary stakeholders in the targeted communities in Mafraq. The scope of the study includes the following:

Assess the main demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the targeted areas in Mafraq;
Assess and analyze the current situation of the existing microbusinesses in the targeted areas, including the sectors/types, business nature, and geographical concentration within these areas.This includes the analysis of risk and successful factors for microbusiness types and models with a consideration to engage and support women and youth;
Map potential commodities, sectors and types of businesses for both microbusiness development and employment creation based on the community and local market needs; private sector’s current engagement and future needs and investment; and potential/innovative ideas-e.g. green-jobs, employment creation opportunities;
Conduct SWOT analysis on the identified feasible economic sectors for establishing sustainable microbusinesses and employment creation with a special attention to gender consideration.Include the conditions/required support for the sustainable growth, including concrete ideas for market access;
Conduct a rapid value chain analysis on the commodities identified as feasible sectors to develop microbusinesses around;
Map and analyze the primary and secondary stakeholders for the market services including MFIs, Business Development Services, extension centers, and other relevant microbusiness and entrepreneurship actors at both national and local community levels, including the access to finance and access to market providers;
Research the preferences of the 3X6 project’s beneficiaries towards entrepreneurship microbusiness types.

Duties and Responsibilities

Report of Desk review for the relevant national & international data reports and documents, including Doing Business Report, and Labour Market: The Case of Vocational Training in Jordan;
Questionnaires for interviews and Focus Group Discussions developed in consultation with UNDP Project Team;
Report on the current situation of the existing microbusinesses in the targeted areas, including the sectors/types, business nature, and geographical concentration within these areas.This includes the analysis of risk and successful factors for microbusiness types and models with a consideration to engage and support women and youth;
Mapping of potential commodities, sectors and types of businesses for both microbusiness development and employment creation.
Report on SWAP analysis on the identified feasible economic sectors for establishing sustainable microbusinesses and employment creation with a special attention to gender consideration. Include the conditions/required support for the sustainable growth, including concrete ideas for market access;
Report on a rapid value chain analysis on the commodities identified as feasible sectors to develop microbusinesses around.
Analysis on the primary and secondary stakeholders for the microbusiness and entrepreneurship sector at both national and local community levels, including the access to finance and access to market providers;
Final report on the preferences of 3X6 project’s beneficiaries towards entrepreneurship and microbusinesses types;
Final report outlining the methodology used, Meetings & Interviews conducted. key findings and recommendations for follow up.

Competencies

Ability to work under pressure against strict deadlines;
Ability to think out-of-the-box;
Ability to present complex issues persuasively and simply;
Strong research skills and ability to produce policy options accompanied with actions and deliverables.
A track record ofproblem-structuringand problem-solving skills as demonstrated in policy, strategy or research projects;
Have strong communication skills with strong presentingand drafting skills;
Ability to build credibility and influence senior audiences on complex topics;
Comfortable with both working independently and as part of small multi-disciplinary teams, displaying interpersonal and leadership skills and utilizing resources effectively; and
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain discretion and use initiative;
Ability to contextualize global trends in accordance with the dynamics of the operating (working) environment;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree in economics, sociology, development, social development, social psychology, business administration, or any related field. A master’s degree is a plus.

Experience:

7 years of relevant experience in community-based development programming including the entrepreneurship development, and market assessmentand market assessment;
Extensive experience in livelihoods/employment, community development local governance and development;
Previous experience with working with private sector, entrepreneur and market development; and
Familiarity of various methods of needs assessment methodologies and tools, and project frameworks including UNDP’s.

Language:

Fluency in English and Arabic.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants mustsubmit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications

2-3 page proposal:

Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work (if applicable).

Financial proposal (which includes a breakdown of consultancy fees).

Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.