Position Title: Consultancy on Local Market Assessment and Skills Training Opportunity and Capacity
Assessment
Type of Contract: Consultancy service
Duration of Assignment: April 2021 to May 2021 (30 working days)
BACKGROUND:
International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been advocating for the adoption of sustainabilityoriented reintegration policies that respond to the economic, social and psychosocial needs of returning migrants while also benefiting communities of origin and addressing structural challenges to reintegration. With the aim to support sustainable reintegration of returnees who continue to come back to Lesotho affected by COVID-19, as well as host communities in migration affected areas, the Government of Japan has provided financial support to International Organization for Migration (IOM) under the project called ‘’Socio-Economic Reintegration of Returnees and other vulnerable members in migration affected areas severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.’’ The project will be
implemented from March 2021 for 12 months.
In this project, IOM intends to apply part of the reintegration assistance modality which proved to be effective and productive based on the global IOM Reintegration project which will be modified and tailored to the Lesotho context and the urgent needs of returnees pressured by continuous challenges of COVID-19. The project has three outcomes. Outcome 1: GoL has improved its ability to successfully implement reintegration programmes; Outcome 2: Vulnerable Basotho returnees impacted by COVID19 have enhanced their livelihoods through restoring their dignity, income generating opportunities and enhanced their living conditions in the district of origin; and Outcome 3: GoL (Local Government) has improved its ability to enhance social unity / cohesion through community development initiative.
These activities are designed to improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods through maximizing incomegenerating opportunities and enhancing their living conditions while addressing the returnees’ immediate needs to restore their livelihoods and ensure their safety from being infected/affected by COVID-19. This project will be implemented in close collaboration with Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), local government in target districts/community, among others.
In this project, IOM will provide skills training to 200 beneficiaries in Leribe, Mohales Hoek, Mafeteng,
Quthing and Qacha’s Nek districts. As the first step, IOM is looking for a local consultant who will conduct local market assessment and skills training opportunity and capacity assessment.
OBJECTIVE:
The specific objectives of the assignment are as follows:
Conduct labour market assessment in selected districts and identify the most marketable trades which have community demands (i.e. tailoring, knitting, hairdressing, catering, basket making, decoration, welding, electricity, mechanics, carpentry, masonry, brickmaking and manufacturing etc.);
Identify and conduct capacity assessment and profiling available local skills training institute (VTC), Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) or individual trainers
This assignment will contribute to Outcome 2: Vulnerable Basotho returnees impacted by COVID-19 have enhanced their livelihoods through restoring their dignity, income generating opportunities and enhanced their living conditions in the district of origin, and specifically, Output 2.1: Livelihood support programs are tailored to the identified beneficiaries’ needs and market opportunities.
SCOPE
Under the overall guidance of the IOM Lesotho Head of Office and under the direct supervision of National Project Officer, and Regional Thematic Specialist (RTS) based in IOM Regional Office in Pretoria, the consultant will be responsible for the following:
Labour Market Assessment
Propose the assessment methodology and the implementation plan
Conduct a desk research on national development plans, labour supply and demands, national skills audit specifically on any marketable skills opportunities, including analysis of existing assessment reports at national and district level (specifically target five districts) from Ministry of SMEs, BEDCO, Ministry of Education (TVET)
Conduct field assessment to identify profitable trades / marketable skills in five districts and interview district officials SMEs, private sector and local community
Assess the Lesotho’s market and identify the products which has potential business opportunity, and identify key sectoral skills gap in the labour market at the community level
In connection with labour market opportunities needs assessment, recommend relevant training courses that emerged during the field work which are market-driven to be taught in the skills training institutions to project beneficiaries.
Recommend business start-up assistance package to transition the reintegration project participants from training into the labour market
Develop an overall sustainable strategy for the economic reintegration of returnees and other vulnerable groups based on the training needs, skills acquired, their relevance to the local market and the expected outcomes of the training program.
Skills Training Opportunity and Capacity Assessment
Map out/identify the full range of available skills training service providers (including VTC, SMEs and on-the-job training) in five target districts, i.e. public and private, including cooperatives; and identify the types of training programs offered and any gaps
List the existing skills and/or vocational facility/institution per district, identify the following information: admission requirements, terms, conditions and fees (whether private or public), duration of course(s), course description, eligibility, contact details etc.
Inquire into the equipment and human resource adequacy of skills training institutions, centres functionality, and infrastructure suitability of the various training facilities and make recommendation on how to increase the capacity;
Assess the capacity of the training service providers to train and position graduates of their programs in the labour market and provide recommendation to overcome any shortage if identified
Assess specific information on training options for women and men are needed and determine which trainings are particularly suitable for female trainees
METHODOLOGY
A. Desk-based research: Conduct a desk research on national development plans, labour supply and demands, national skills audit specifically on any marketable skills opportunities, including analysis of existing assessment reports from Ministry of SMEs, BEDCO, Ministry of Education (TVET). During this phase, the methodology – including interviews questionnaire template and field assessment guidelines- for data collection and analysis.
B. Field Research: Interviews will target relevant stakeholders from district officials, private sector, NGOs and local communities in five districts. Disaggregation by gender and age will be ensured throughout the data collection and analysis phase. Where possible, IOM will ensure gender balance in the sampling. In addition, the researchers will adapt the questions to capture the specific perspectives of both women and men.
C. Stakeholder Interview: The Consultancy will hold some consultations with Government, UN, IOM, NGOs and civil society at national level.
DELIVERABLES
The Consultancy will produce a final document – Report on Local Market Assessment and Skills Training Opportunity and Capacity Assessment – with key policy recommendations.
A typed final version of the Report on Local Market Assessment and Skills Training Opportunity and Capacity Assessment is expected to be approximately 30 to 35 pages, excluding annexes. The proposed structure is as follows;
• Acronyms
• Executive Summary
• Section 1: Assessment Background
• Section 2: Methodology
• Section 3: Labour Market Assessment Findings (including findings per district)
• Section 4: Skills Training Capacity Assessment Findings
• Section 5: Conclusion and Recommendations
The following Annexes should be attached to the final documents:
o Annex 1: Terms of Reference for the assignment
o Annex 2: Survey questionnaire
o Annex 3: List of people interviewed (organization, title)
o Annex 4: List of skills training provider identified
The consultant can add other Annexes as appropriate.
The following does not have to be included in the report but shall be shared with IOM Lesotho:
• All notes from meetings with stakeholders, including a list of all respondents in consultations, interviews, and other meetings.
• All references and sources consulted.
• Any other material relevant to the assignment.
Deliverables Duration
1 Initial meeting with IOM Lesotho virtual meeting 2 April 2021
2 Submit the inception report which includes research methodology, timeline, stakeholders to be interviewed and draft
questionnaire 14 April 2021
3 Desk review of the relevant documents and conduct interview at national level 15 April – 25 April 2021
4 Field research / interview in five districts 26 April – 7 May 2021
5 Analyse the data collected from the field and draft a report 8-15 May 2021
6 Submit the first draft report to IOM 15 May 2021
7 Submit the final report to IOM after incorporating the feedback 31 May 2021
Qualifications and Experience
The successful consultant should have the following qualifications and experience:
a. Completed advanced University degree from an accredited academic institution preferably in Economics, International Development, Business and Entrepreneurship, and other relevant field
b. Experience working in market assessment, Vocational training, including small business / livelihood project identification implementation and administration;
c. Experience analyzing demographic data and leading qualitative interviews
d. Capacity to collate and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data in a comprehensible manner
e. Proven previous working experience consisting of substantial involvement in assessments, research and/or policy reviews in related areas
f. Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships.
g. Proven analytical and drafting skills, capable of working under pressure
h. Familiarity with basic concepts of forced migration, return and reintegration
i. Language(s): Fluency in English and Sesotho is required.
Payment Schedule
Total fee, inclusive of all travel and related costs, not subject to any deductions, will be paid to the consultant as follows;
• 30 % upon submission of the Deliverable 1 and 2
• 50 % upon the satisfactory completion of Deliverable 3, 4 and 5
• 20 % upon satisfactory completion of the Deliverable 6 and 7
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit an Expression of Interest which should include the following:
- Technical proposal which summarizes a proposed workplan and proposed methodology for
the assessment on labour market assessment and skills training capacity assessment - Financial Proposal with a breakdown of costs
- Updated Curriculum Vitae of key individual(s) who will undertake this assignment
- Sample work done in the area of research, evaluation or assessment
Applications should be sent to [email protected] not later than 17:00 hours (Lesotho Time), 18 March 2021 with a subject line “Consultantcy – Labour Market Assessment and Skills Training Opportunities and Capacity Assessment – Lesotho 002/2021.’’
Both local consultant (individual) and consultancy firm are eligible for this assignment.