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Since 1979, we have helped people grappling with the toughest hardships survive - and then thrive. That’s the heart of our approach: We help communities turn crisis into opportunity.
Throughout our history, Mercy Corps has demonstrated innovation, timeliness and the ability to adapt quickly to changing realities.
Job Description
The focus of this assignment is to develop a market access study to determine the extent to which product value chain upgrades will be required for beneficiaries in technical and vocational skills, micro franchising agricultural production, and processing to competitively identify and take advantage of local market opportunities.
Specifically, the Study will:
- Provide a detailed market analysis of industries relevant to the project (formal and informal sector): fashion, textile, agriculture, and consumer goods (including, but not limited to, food, personal and home care divisions).
- This must include assessing market needs, particularly product types and specifications/quality standards, and the nature of bargain taking place between different market players in the study area (relationships, attitudes, and behaviors).
- Understudy 400 individual beneficiary enterprises and the products produced in order to map the supply and value chain, including primary and secondary market actors.
- Assess and profile businesses and products that are capable of meeting market needs, including resources, skills, capacity related to procurement of input, production and supply of products.
- Analyze the capacity of profiled businesses to access credit, information and resources.
- Determine aspects of product value and supply chains to upgrade for successful direct linkages with market as well as propose a detailed plan of interventions to address constraints identified in chains.
- Determine all regulatory requirements that market suppliers (beneficiaries) and the market must meet.
- Determine and draft market terms and conditions for trade.
- Propose alternative strategies for forward and backward linkages to markets based on findings.
- Construct scenarios of the economic impact (change in market share, increase in local trade, profits, jobs, and wages) that the market linkage would bring about.
- Identify investment needs, and opportunities for potential investors to enable businesses scale up to meet market demand.
- Identify opportunities for interested private sector players in the industries relevant to the project as off-takers and/ investors in the expansion of individual micro-enterprises within broader industries.
Key Deliverables
- A comprehensive market access report that addresses the objectives above, with a specific focus on the following sectors: Agriculture, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Textile, Fashion and other sectors as identified during research.
- An investment analysis report and deck for potential investors in each industry.
- Organize a stakeholder workshop including presentations on proposals for upgrading and introducing innovations into the value and supply chain to meet market needs.
- Conduct weekly progress sessions with project team.
- Data collection instruments.
- Hire enumerators at Mercy Corps rate.
Required/ Preferred Skills and Experience
- A Master's Degree in economics, business or other relevant field.
- Prior experience conducting market access studies.
- Demonstrated strong understanding of value and supply chains, market and investment analysis.
- Excellent command of English.
- Excellent communication, organisation and teamwork skills/
- Working experience with international non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations/
Project Locations:
- Federal Capital Territory Abuja (4 communities from 1 LGAs)
- Kebbi State (8 communities from 2 LGAs)
- Sokoto State (16 communities from 4 LGAs)
Resources
Prior to and during the evaluation, the Mercy Corps FFNLP staff will provide the consultant/evaluator with the following resources:
- Relevant documents
- Access to project communities
- Logistical support
Period of the Assignment
The assignment will be for a period maximum of 35 days. A work plan may be:
- Week One and Two: Data collection, beneficiary interviews, field work.
- Week Three: Data analysis and meetings with Mercy Corps and partner organizations.
- Week Four: Draft report and review by Mercy Corps for comments.
- Week Five: Final report, investment analysis deck, presentation to Mercy Corps and partners.
Evaluator Response
The Evaluator will respond to this scope of work providing a detailed work plan, methodology, detailed work schedule and budget. In addition, the evaluator will provide the following:
- CV of lead researcher with evidence of prior market access studies.
- Key personnel working on the study together with their qualifications and experience.
- An individual or company profile.
- Evidence of working experience in Africa, and preferably in Nigeria is desirable.
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Project Details
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in partnership with Mercy Corps (MC), the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) and eight (8) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) is implementing the Feed the Future Nigeria Livelihoods Project (FFNLP), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project employs a multi-sector approach that will help 42,000 vulnerable households (HHs) in rural communities in northern Nigeria’s Sokoto and Kebbi states, and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) grow their agricultural and non-agricultural incomes.
Job Description
The Evaluation Consultant will conduct an in-depth and accurate evaluation of the performance outcomes of the various IR2 sub-interventions on beneficiaries’ abilities to successfully manage and grow businesses for which they received technical and financial assistance. Along with predefined indicators developed below, the evaluator will use the following elements in the performance of this task to determine:
- Relevance: Has the intervention(s) and overall approach been adequate and appropriate to help beneficiaries manage and grow their business enterprise?
- Efficacy: To what extent i.e. how effective are the financial interventions provided (conditional cash grant vis-a-vis micro-franchising/loan product) vis-à-vis technical assistance and gender in enabling beneficiaries start and improve their business
- Sustainability: Are the project beneficiaries likely to continue to manage and grow their enterprises long after the intervention is over?
- Lessons Learned: What key lessons can stakeholders learn based on findings gathered from the outcome performance evaluation study?
Key Evaluation Questions
The following questions should guide the evaluator and be addressed in the assessment:
- Were the project strategies, interventions and areas appropriately targeted?
- Did the intervention activities properly target the needs of beneficiaries already in business, and those new to business: providing them with the adequate skills, and finance to start and manage a business, providing them with the markets to help their businesses increase their revenue and in turn income.?
- Was the program’s aim to enable the beneficiaries above to start and improve on their businesses, and access finance options in order to diversify revenue sources while increasing income levels an appropriate response to the needs in target communities?
- Did the program target and reach the intended beneficiaries?
- Were there unintended consequences, both positive and negative, that arose from the project strategies, interventions and targeting?
- To what extent have the grants, product loans, business and TVET trainings, as well as SILC groups formed individually and collectively enabled targeted beneficiaries access finance and appropriate trainings to start and manage a business, identify and link up with new markets in order to help them businesses increase their revenue and in turn income assisting vulnerable households escape the poverty trap?
- What evidence is there to determine whether the project achieved its objectives?
- Which elements of the 5 intervention activities above individually and collectively saw the greatest impact since the beginning of the program?
- What lessons can be learned regarding the approaches used by the project?
- Which delivery mechanisms were most effective? Conditional grants or loans or none at all, the case worker model etc.
- What were the major challenges looking across the various project stakeholders?
- What did the program do to address these challenges?
- What recommendations can be made towards similar projects in Nigeria?
- To what extent are results achieved likely to be sustainable?
- Will vulnerable households be able to maintain economic stability based on their current business, savings and investment status after the close of the grant period?
- Did Mercy Corps sufficiently engage with local partners, government, community stakeholders and beneficiaries themselves to ensure knowledge gained in program implementation continues to reach vulnerable populations after program closure?
- How likely is it for the beneficiaries to continue to access affordable credit (cash and products) beyond the life of the project?
- Did Mercy Corps effectively coordinate with the following groups in the implementation of its project activities?
- Beneficiaries;
- Implementing CSOs;
- Local community heads;
- State government; and
- Implementation and donor communities?
- How has such coordination helped or hindered the program in the accomplishment of its objectives?
Impact Measurement:
In addition to the above questions, the assessment will measure impact along the following dimensions and indicators. There is no baseline data using these indicators and a methodology to assess impact must be included in the work plan/methodology submitted in response to this Scope of Work.
Dimension:
Indicators:
- Self-employment rate
- Number of jobs created (direct employment and voluntary skills transfer beyond FtF)
- %age own initial capital invested
- Number of new businesses created post intervention
- Self-employment rate
Dimension:
Indicator:
- Access to loans (bank, SILC, family and friends other sources) per microenterprise
Dimension:
Indicators:
- Microenterprise with new markets that they did not reach before
- Existing market: size and value per microenterprise
- Total Market: size and value per microenterprise
Dimensions
Indicators
- SME introducing new product, and/ service, marketing or organizational innovations
Dimension
Indicators
Specific Tasks to be Accomplished and Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation will be conducted by an external consultant recruited by Mercy Corps. Although the methodological approach of the evaluation depends on the strategic choice of the consultant, it is important that the choice be participatory. Therefore, the consultant must present a detailed methodology on the content, approach, proposed evaluation tools, and the logistical planning of the mission (including proposed travel dates) in her/his bid. Although the development of this methodology will be left to the consultant, it should include, at minimum:
- A detailed and comprehensive outcome performance evaluation plan with appropriate methodology to guide the implementation of the evaluation study.
- Specific indicators and areas of evaluation using the evaluation indicators already developed and approved by Mercy Corps and indicators proposed by the consultant.
- A review and analysis of documents, reports, and other materials beneficial to the impact evaluation, including quarterly and annual review reports from CSOs and MCN
- Extensive field visits to project sites where relevant Feed the Future interventions have been implemented.
- Proposed design of data collection instruments [surveys, focus group discussion and key informant interview] to capture all variables of interest.
- Methodology behind proposed data analysis with qualitative and quantitative evidence of impact, lessons learned and recommendations from the analyzed results.
- Meetings with stakeholders and target groups including local government heads, state governments, CSOs and the project beneficiaries.
Key Deliverables
The consultant is responsible for the following services:
- Detailed outcome performance evaluation plan.
- Data collection instruments and indicator sheet.
- Comprehensive outcome evaluation report with lessons learned.
- A draft and final report submitted to Mercy Corps that includes:
- Cover page;
- Table of contents;
- Executive summary;
- Background;
- Assessment Methodology and Limitations;
- Findings:
- Findings should assess outcomes and impact on vulnerable households;
- Findings should be presented as analyzed facts, evidence and data and not be based on anecdotes, hearsay or the compilation of people’s opinions. Findings should be specific, concise and support by strong qualitative or quantitative evidence;
- Lessons learned;
- Recommendations;
- Annexes/Appendices.
- At least 2 publishable articles in a reputable journal within 6 months post evaluation.
- Weekly project update to the project management office and debrief country staff prior to close of the project on the initial and final findings from the evaluation study.
Place of Performance, Duration and Planning
The assessment will be conducted in the following areas:
- Federal Capital Territory Abuja (2 communities from 1 LGAs FCT: Bwari municipal council)
- Kebbi State (8 communities from 2 LGAs Birni Kebbi and Dankowasago)
- Sokoto State (16 communities from 4 LGAs Dangeshuni, Tangaza, Rabbah, Kebbe)
The consultant is responsible for providing a work plan to Mercy Corps. The entire assessment should not take longer than 35 days. An illustrative work plan is:
- Week 1: Preliminary meetings, document review, preparation of the evaluation plan and finalization of tools and data collection methods.
- Weeks 2 and 3: Field work (collection of primary data in the field).
- Week 4: Data analysis, interim report, and partial sharing of findings. The final report will be delivered within three days of the sharing of findings. Presentation to the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia and Mercy Corps.
Resources
Prior to and during the evaluation, the Mercy Corps FFNLP staff will provide the consultant/evaluator with the following resources:
- Relevant documents;
- Access to project communities;
- Logistical support.
Evaluator Response
- The Evaluator will respond to this scope of work providing a detailed work plan, methodology, and detailed work schedule as well as resume of the lead assessor and his/her project team (if proposed).
- The Evaluator will also provide a detailed cost estimate (professional fee, operational cost of carrying out the evaluation).
Required/ Preferred Skills and Experience
The consultant should have the following qualifications:
- At least a Master's degree in relevant area (Economics, Statistics, Impact Evaluation, Public Policy etc.).
- At least 7 years of experience in research or practice on both experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluation designs.
- Working experience in Africa, and preferably in Nigeria is desirable.
- Excellent command of English.
- Excellent communication, organisation and teamwork skills.
- Working experience with international non-governmental organisations and civil society organizations.
- Prior assessment experience.
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Location: Damboa, Borno
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reports Directly To: Deputy Team Leader, Southern Borno
Works Directly With: Finance, Program and Operation Teams
Program/Department Summary
- Mercy Corps Nigeria’s humanitarian program aims to provide assistance to populations affected by the crisis in Northeast Nigeria.
- With funding from humanitarian donors including OFDA, FFP, and ECHO the humanitarian programs engage in several interventions including but not limited to food assistance, logistics and relief commodities, protection, livelihoods, WASH and capacity building of humanitarian response actors.
- Mercy Corps plans to scale up and expand its humanitarian response in Northeast Nigeria to reach more beneficiaries with additional and varied assistance in a wider geographic area.
General Position Summary
- The program assistant will assist the program teams in the day-to-day implementation of all program activities in the areas of intervention.
Essential Job Functions
- Assist program officers to ensure program progress according to the developed schedule and work plan.
- Assist in the coordination in target geographical areas.
- Support in the process of beneficiary registration, community mobilization and sensitization.
- Assist in promoting community participation and inclusion so as to encourage community ownership over activities implemented.
- Ensure equal representation of various community groups in the implementation of activities.
- Assist in the facilitation of community meetings, focus group discussion and other as required by the program.
- Keep program officers and management updated with regards to security situation in the project implementation area.
- Provide weekly field reports, capturing activities progress, lessons learned as well as general situation and community updates and needs.
- Document lessons learned and success stories on the project.
- Adherence to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
- Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in country of operation;
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in relevant field or equivalent experience is highly recommended
- 1-2 years of working experience. Previous experience in community work is highly preferred.
- Proven ability to develop and maintain good relation with the local communities and project beneficiaries.
- Demonstrated skills in planning, organizing and reporting
- Ability to work under pressure
- Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
- Excellent oral and written skills and computer skills
- Fluency in English; fluency in Hausa is required, ability to speak Kanuri and Shuwa highly desired.
Success Factors
- The successful candidate will be an effective communicator, with dedication towards community work, commitment to work long hours in the field conditions with limited access to resources.
- S/He will be highly motivated, with initiative and capable to work without direct supervision. S/he will be willing to conduct field travels and work in ethnically and culturally diversified and fast growing team
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