Consultancy: Livelihoods and Labour Market Assessment in Borno State. at Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

. Introduction

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is looking for a local consultant to carry out a rapid livelihoods and labour market assessment to identify employable vocational skills trade, profitable small-scale businesses to support, considering target population and local community dynamics and cultural preferences. The main objective of the assessment is to define, develop and provide NRC with tailor-made and market driven information and findings on viable livelihood interventions and vocational skills trade based on quality verifiable data, in order to ensure that NRC’s support is informed by the availability of opportunities within the wider consumer and job market. The aim of the assessment is to contribute to the design of both on-farm and off-farm livelihood intervention and vocational skills development for Internally Displaced Population (IDPs), returnees and host communities in locations within Borno state where NRC is implementing the response, recovery and resilience project supported by the European Union DEVCO fund.

2. Background and context

The conflict in Northeast Nigeria entered its tenth year in 2019 exhibiting the common characteristics of a humanitarian crisis that has become protracted. Many people still remain stuck in displacement camps that has stretched into years, while continued fighting creates fresh displacement, perpetuates an environment of general insecurity, destruction of livelihoods infrastructure as well as loss of livelihoods assets for both IDPs and the host communities. With increased exhaustion of personal and community resources, and erosion of livelihoods, many IDPs continue to live in deplorable state of poverty, while many host communities continue to support large numbers of displaced family members albeit diminishing livelihoods opportunities due to the fact that the situations continue to eat up on the personal resources beyond what families can sustain.

NRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2015, initially to respond to emergency situation in Borno state following the humanitarian need of the conflict affected population. In 2018 NRC received financial support from the European Union (EU) to support response, recovery and resilience building efforts of the conflict affected communities in Borno state. NRC intervention is focusing on addressing livelihoods and food security needs of targeted households in specific LGA’s within Borno state. The intervention is supporting both on-farm and off-farm livelihoods activities to address food insecurity and livelihoods needs of the affected targeted households. This is done through small holder irrigation farming, rain feed agriculture, business and vocational skills trainings and start up grant support. The action is building on emergency relief efforts implemented by NRC and other humanitarian partners, linking relief with early recovery and resilience building.

3. Scope, geographical coverage and time frame

The purpose of the livelihoods and labour market assessment is to identify employable vocational skills trade, profitable small-scale businesses to support, considering target population and local community dynamics, cultural preferences and market demand. The overall objective is to define, develop and provide NRC with tailor-made and market driven information and findings on viable livelihood interventions based on quality verifiable data, in order to ensure that NRC’s support is informed by the availability of opportunities within the consumer and job market. The assessment should aim to inform on self-employment opportunities to enhance livelihoods opportunities and self-reliance for youth and women headed households.

The assessment will cover the 7 LGA’s where NRC is currently implementing the EU funded, response, recovery and resilience action. The LGAs are categorized into zones; Zone 1 (Hawul, Biu Damboa, and Askira Uba), Zone 2 (Jere/ Maiduguri MMC) while Zone 3 (Mobbar and Kukawa).

These assessment data collection, analysis and submission of the final report, is expected to be completed within a period of 30 working days upon signing of the contract by the consultant.

4. Specific objectives of the assessment

Identify and map out both on-farm and off-farm livelihoods opportunities existing in the area of NRC intervention coverage for support through business and vocational skills training and grant support.

Assess the vocational skills trade required, identifying both the existing skills and skill gaps to venture into livelihoods opportunities identified.

Assess the agriculture produce value chain and identify potential value addition business viable in the targeted area putting into consideration the target population and local community dynamics and cultural preferences and the market demand.

Provide information to inform on vocational course to be offered and the training content based on the identified skill gaps and demand in the market. This should include post-training linkages and placement opportunities to broaden beneficiaries’ prospects for a sustainable self-employment and enhanced livelihood.

5. Methodology

The Consultant(s) will work with NRC to expand upon the ToR as required. The methodology adopted should, be gender sensitive, and cover all LGAs (Hawul,,Biu Damboa, Askira Uba, Jere/ Maiduguri MMC, Mobbar and Kukawa) where the project is being implemented.

The assessment should include a mixed method approach comprising of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The methods suggested can include e.g.: document review, household surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Triangulation shall be done in the analysis phase. The assessment should take place in three phases:

i) Inception report

The Consultant(s) will develop an inception report, including an assessment matrix, work plan and data collection tools. These documents will be validated by the project manager prior to the data collection phase.

ii) Data Collection and Analysis

The Consultant(s) will coordinate with NRC to employ enumerators to undertake relevant quantitative data collection, under the control and responsibility of the Consultant(s). FGDs, interviews and other qualitative methods should be carried out by the assessment team. The assessment team is fully responsible for data cleaning, as well as quantitative and qualitative analyses.

iii) Assessment Report and Validation workshop

• The Assessment team will draft the report, present and share with the programme team. The final assessment report shall be validated by the project manager.
• Expected deliverables by the Consultant/s
• The consultant/s is responsible for the timely delivery of the following:
• An inception meeting report, assessment matrix (maximum 5 pages), data collection tools, methodology and timelines for all the deliverables.
• Databases in excel or other software for qualitative and qualitative data and corresponding analysis;
• A feedback workshop/ presentation meeting with NRC team to highlight on the major findings and recommendations of the assessment.
• A draft report (maximum 50 pages with an executive summary of no more than 3-4 pages) including findings, conclusions, and recommendations for concrete actions to be taken in the implementation of the business and vocational skills support in the selected LGA’s in Borno state.
• A final report that incorporates comments from NRC livelihoods and food security team, alongside a response matrix detailing how each comment was handled in the revising of the draft report.
• Databases with quantitative and qualitative evaluation data

NRC Obligations

The LFS Project Manager will be the key contact person for the consultant to ensure that the assessment takes place as planned. The Project Coordinator- Business and Vocational skills training will coordinate the process and schedule all the logistic arrangement including field trips and respondent identification for the assessment. The Project Coordinator will be the key contact on logistic arrangement for the consultant to facilitate the assessment.

NRC will support the consultant through the following:

• Compilation of background documentation and relevant data;
• Scheduling and logistics support for initial interviews and inception work planning;
• Arranging accommodation requirements for the consultant/s during the duration of the fieldwork;
• Rapid review and commenting on outputs and deliverables. NRC Livelihoods and Food Security Manager will provide feedback and comment within 7 days of receiving the draft report;

Scheduling and logistics support for the review/ validation workshop/meeting.

Ethical considerations
The consultant/s will make it clear to all those participating in the assessment as respondent that they are under no obligation to participate in the assessment if they don’t wish to. All participants will be assured that there will be no negative consequences if they choose not to participate. The consultant/s will obtain informed consent from the participants to go ahead with interviews.

Consultant/s will have to receive prior permission for taking and use of visual still/ moving images for specific purposes, i.e., ‘for assessment report and presentations. Consultant/s will assure the participants’ anonymity and confidentiality and will ensure the visual data is protected and used for agreed purpose only.

9. Consultant’s qualifications, skills and experience

• NRC seeks expressions of interest from individual/ companies with the following skills/qualifications
• Lead consultant/s with advanced university degree or equivalent in either Entrepreneurship, Business studies, statistic or other fields related to micro and small enterprise development and or vocational training;
• At least 5-10 years of relevant experience and proven expertise in conducting assessments and studies in relation to micro and small enterprise development and vocational skills training and placement;
• Demonstrated strong quantitative and qualitative research skills and writing skills;
• Knowledge of the Borno state, small and micro enterprise sector and vocational training and placement.
• Ability to work independently and achieve quality results with limited supervision in a complex and security sensitive environment; Proficient knowledge and ability to understand and speak the following local language; Kanuri, Hausa.