ToRConsultancy services to Conduct Market assessment to determine viable livelihood opportunities to support reintegration initiatives which is Gender and Age Sensitive at Plan International

Consultancy services to Conduct Market assessment to determine viable livelihood opportunities to support reintegration initiatives which is Gender and Age Sensitive in Pulka, Bama, Damasak, Rann, Nguru, Yusufari, Yunusari, Mubi North, Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States North East Nigeria.

Background:

Now in its tenth year, the Boko Haram crisis is adding to the long history of marginalization and chronic under-development as well as high rates of poverty, illiteracy and un-and underemployment in North-East Nigeria. The North-East has experienced chronic under-development where poverty indicators continue to worsen with each year of the conflict – despite an overall poverty decrease in every other region in the country. Boys, Girls and young women are facing increased risk to separation from families, association with the armed force and armed groups, GBV, including sexual violence, exploitation, child labor, early pregnancy and forced marriage in North-East Nigeria. Gender norms and socio-economic inequalities severely undermine the role of children in the community and society.

In Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, Livelihood activities have been severely hampered over the last 9 years of the conflict, with commercial and other economic activities becoming paralyzed. The ongoing hostilities in North-East Nigeria has resulted in severe restrictions on population movements, which has had a massive negative impact on trade and markets, devastating livelihoods and rendering a significant portion of the civilian population extremely vulnerable and dependent on external assistance for survival.  In general, Livelihood activities in the North-East Nigeria are hampered by five critical structural barriers as a result of the insecurity: a) restricted movement of goods and people; b) restrictions on marketplaces and economic activity; c) limited access to financial services; d) limited access to inputs and extension-related services; and e) the effect of aid on markets This is from ‘Joint Nutrition and Food Security Assessment in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States of Nigeria, May 2019’

Lack of employment and livelihood opportunities, particularly for youth, is a significant cause of hopelessness and frustration with the State, and has been identified as a potential “push factor” for radicalization and violence.  With a high proportion of IDPs currently separated from their families, there is increasing pressure on children especially women as on average 30% of households (up to 54% in some areas) are now female-headed.  In North-East Nigeria there are entrenched gender biases when it comes to engagement in certain livelihood activities – cultural and religious context of a significant population of the proposed areas of intervention is not favorable to children and caregivers working outside the home. Types of work are gendered as well; for example, 60% of farmers reportedly prefer hiring young men as casual laborers and men are also preferred for on-farm irrigation work, while women are considered for small-scale processing such as grinding and simple tasks such as weeding, picking, collection and harvesting. While such biases present a challenge, it also provides the opportunity to educate communities on this topic and train vulnerable adolescent children and caregiver’s   in those sectors which have not yet been dominated by entrenched gender norms.

Recognizing the fact that lack of livelihoods opportunities can increase vulnerability to children and cause other forms of violence and as part of ProSPINE  project, Plan International will obtain information through KAP survey to determine the direction of skills acquisition intervention through the Provision of vocational training, apprenticeship and income generation services to Child Associated with Armed Force and Armed Groups ( CAAFAG) CAAFAG and other children affected by armed conflict (Startup kit) in Bama, Rann, Damsak, Pulka, Yusufari, Yunusari, Nguru, Michika, Mubi North, and Madagali LGAs of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe  states.