Consultant - Systems Labour Market Assessment,THRIVE Program - Borno State, Nigeria

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

For over a decade, populations in NE Nigeria – particularly the three states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) - have grappled with a prolonged conflict attributed to the violent insurgency by AOGs. Of the BAY states, Borno continues to bear the brunt of the conflict’s ramifications. MMC/Jere in Borno State has enjoyed relative security and attracts the majority of IDPs. With 300,142 individuals, MMC has the highest proportion (18%) of IDPs in Borno followed closely by Jere with 297,233 individuals – cumulatively 36% of all IDPs in Borno.

The impact of the protracted humanitarian crisis in MMC/Jere requires a more holistic and integrated response that layers life-building interventions onto ongoing lifesaving and life-sustaining responses to enable affected individuals to transition to early recovery. Improved and more effective area-based coordination are critical to eliminating siloed, sectoral approaches that are inherently less efficient.

The Transitioning Households to Recovery from Vulnerability (THRIVE) consortium possesses the operational capacity and technical expertise to deliver a multi-sectoral, integrated and coordinated response, informed by participants, that leverages experience and best practices to address the multi-faceted needs and aspirations of vulnerable people in Jere

Purpose / Project Description:

The purpose of this activity is to conduct a high-quality SLMA in MMC & Jere LGA, with a focus on a market-based approach to the development of income-generating activities. We anticipate the SLMA will focus on (the attached sectors). The consultant is expected to follow Mercy Corps’ SLMA guidance and processes.

Consultant Objectives:

The objectives and activities for this contract for services include:

1. Develop profiling of the target population through reviewing available data, workshops to analyze population data with the team, and designing primary research tools to validate identified population segments and clusters.
2. Develop a labor market scan by leading a literature review and producing a long list of high-potential sectors in cooperation with the program team.
3. In coordination with the Mercy Corps, CRS, and other consortium teams develop a sector selection criterion and facilitate the selection of the highest potential sectors, and support in developing preliminary market actor lists and market donuts for these sectors.
4. Develop a research plan and tools, including interview guides and other research tools. Prepare Mercy Corps staff and enumerators for field research through pre-research training workshops.
5. Compile and jointly analyze primary research assessment data with Mercy Corps team members, identifying key market underperformance factors and root causes of the underperformance.
6. Develop a theory of change for each selected sector including preliminary intervention ideas and business models.
7. Draft the final SLMA report, including:
   1. Profile of target group: Identify the key characteristics and segments following Mercy Corps’ SLMA profiling guidance.
   2. Description of macroeconomic environment and trends, and summary of process and criteria used for sector selection
   3. Market mapping: Develop market system maps of the target systems, including core value chains, primary market system donuts, and secondary market system donuts of key functions or rules.
   4. Capacities, constraints, and incentives: This analysis should include for each market system an analysis of core functions, relevant supporting functions, and the relevant rules and norms. Across these elements, an analysis should be provided of the existing capacities, constraints, and incentives of key market actors.
   5. Inclusion analysis: An assessment of potential barriers that target population segments may face in accessing jobs in the targeted market systems.
   6. Opportunities for market system change: Using the market assessment analysis above, identify opportunities for systemic change in the target market system that will benefit our target group.
   7. Recommendations for intervention areas/portfolios: Identify intervention areas and approaches that will achieve the desired market system changes, including intervention plans and preliminary business models.
8. Review the final findings and report in a workshop with program team members and revise the draft according to team member feedback.
9. Build the assessment and analysis capacity of the Mercy Corps teams through coaching, targeted training, and technical advising.

Further activity notes

• Throughout this process, the consultant will follow recognized MSD methodologies and refer to Mercy Corps’ internal Youth Employment and MSD resources and templates.
• The consultant will review previous assessments conducted by Mercy and partners that align to the context/scope across THRIVE program locations

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

• Target group profiling report
• Labor Market Scan report (includes a long list of potential sectors)
• Sector Selection matrix
• Detailed market assessment plans for the target market systems (including sampling process)
• Final market assessment tools (e.g., interview guides tailored to the local context)
• Preliminary assessment findings (presentation with market donuts, root cause analysis, and proposed intervention design to discuss with Mercy Corps team)
• A market assessment report with final market donuts, root cause analysis, and sector selection recommendations
• Team Capacity Building Plan

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

• Target group profiling report
• Labor Market Scan report (includes a long list of potential sectors)
• Sector Selection matrix
• Detailed market assessment plans for the target market systems (including the sampling process)
• Final market assessment tools (e.g., interview guides tailored to the local context)
• Preliminary assessment findings (presentation with market donuts, root cause analysis, and proposed intervention design to discuss with the Mercy Corps team)
• A market assessment report with final market donuts, root cause analysis, and sector selection recommendations
• Team Capacity Building Plan

Timeframe / Schedule:

The following table identifies the key activities and estimated timeframe for the contract:

Phase one: 3 Days- labor market scan – this should be done through desk research and a few key informant interviews – the output can be in slides, plus a long list of sectors

Phase two: 2 Days - sector selection phase – this should include primary research and review of sector selection criteria

Phase two: 3 Days - The external consultant will prepare the research plans with the team and develop data collection instruments

Phase two: 5 Days - The external consultant with support from the MC MEL team, will train enumerators/surveyors; pre-test data collection instruments

Phase two: 10 Days - Primary research, overseen by the consultant

Phase two: 5 Days - Analyses of data, including hosting an analysis workshop by the external consultant

Phase Three - Market assessment and root cause analysis phase led by the external consultant

Phase Three – 5 days – The external consultant will lead the Preparation of research plans with the team and develop data collection instruments

Phase Three – 14 days – The consultant will oversee the Primary research

Phase Three – 6 days - The external consultant will do an Analysis of findings, including hosting an analysis workshop

Phase Three – 7 days Finalize the report, produce a presentation of findings, and share it back with MC (not more than 40 pages – all other additions can be included as annexes)

The consultant will deliver this service across the phases for a maximum of 60 Days and will be supported by the MEL team/lead and sector leads.

The Consultant will report to:

Mercy Corps Country MEL Manager

The Consultant will work closely with:

Mercy Corps THRIVE Associate Director, Country MEL Manager, MEL Team, Mercy Corps Sector Leads, the Social Protection and Research Specialist.

Required Experience & Skills:

• 5-10 years of ex-pat experience in the relevant technical field (required)
• Strong experience conducting major research exercises in support of major development programs – preferably in early recovery and resilience – in challenging operational environments, previous experience in northeast Nigeria is desirable.
• A strong approach to assuring quality assurance of data collected.
• A strong ethical approach to data collection – while still being able to meet the objectives of the consultancy.
• Demonstrable experience in leading evaluations of humanitarian programs responding to major disasters, with a specific emphasis on agriculture, youth empowerment, conflict management, and social protection in emergencies.
• Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations, and prepare well-written reports on time.
• Demonstrated experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and data analysis techniques, especially in emergency operations.
• Data visualization skills are highly desirable.
• The firm is expected to have strong skills in survey form design for mobile data collection (ODK, Ona, or CommCare)
• Experience, knowledge, and clear understanding of Nigeria’s humanitarian context.
• Good people skills and understanding of cultural sensitivities.
• Readiness to travel to northeast Nigeria and conduct direct standard assessment activities as well as field visits to program sites. Having a presence in West Africa or Nigeria is desirable but not essential.
• Fluency in English is required.

**Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
**Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment OpportunityWe are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & EthicsMercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.