Save the Children International has been working in Ethiopia over the past several decades to bring about immediate and lasting change in the lives of children. As one of the largest organizations working in Ethiopia, Save the Children implements programs on child protection, education, food security, health, humanitarian, livelihood, nutrition, WASH programs. As part of the different programs implemented in the country office, USAID’s building the potential of youth conducts different operation researches and surveys to document progress on results/outcomes and encourage evidence-based adjustment and decision to further accelerated changes in the lives of youth beneficiaries and the community at large.
Save the Children International and its partners Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), Facilitator for Change (FC), HUNDEE-Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative (HUNDEE), Professional Alliance for Development in Ethiopia (PADet), Relief Society of Tigray (REST) and are implementing the USAID’s building the potential of youth (POTENTIAL) Activity. POTENTIAL directly addresses youth unemployment and economic activity by increasing access to skills building and employment promotion services. It specifically focuses on young women and builds on youth livelihoods activities implemented in Ethiopia. POTENTIAL operates in 30 woredas of Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray regions. So far the Activity has reached close to 32,000 youth beneficiaries through its targeted intervention mechanism. The POTENTIAL training curricula provide youth with the skills and knowledge they need to clarify their personal and professional goals, find work, and develop healthy work habits and behaviors that will help them to be successful. Youth completing WRN! have been guided and coached to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) that helps them make decisions about what employment pathway they would like to follow.
POTENTIAL aims to reach 34,537 unemployed or underemployed rural youth in the 15–29 age group, POTENTIAL Activity focuses on the most vulnerable sections of the society, particularly women, and those transitioning out of pastoralism. The POTENTIAL is achieving its objectives by:
Youth Economic and Social Groups(YESGs)
The Activity introduced Youth Economic and Social Groups with key intentions of improving the social, cultural and economic status of the members. The objectives of YESGs revolve around sensitization, saving, resource mobilization and information transfer or some form of empowerment of members in response to social economic marginalization. In POTENTIAL, a typical YESG has an average of 15-20 members
POTENTIAL has established youth interventions including YESGs as a kitty through which youths, individually or in organized groups, can borrow funds from MFIs to establish small enterprises. But information lacks on how well this youth led groups continue to perform well and keep on growing.
To date, the Activity has helped the establishment of over 400 YESGs who have more than 5000 members. Each YESG has their own bylaws and undergo regular meetings. Most YESGs have started saving which can be used by members as a startup capital to start self-business.
Different studies have been conducted in the past on youth issues that focused on issues ranging from youth unemployment to factors affecting their initiatives. However, there is a gap of information on how youth self-help group initiatives such as YESGs transform the youths’ socio-economic wellbeing. Without such information, programs aimed at youth groups initiatives could be efforts in futility. Policy and investment decisions are also currently data driven, yet data on youth development and wellbeing is often fragmented, inconsistent, or non-existent, thus, leaving youths’ needs unexposed and marginalized. Earlier studies emphasize that it is essential to review the operational characteristics of youth task force development programs (i.e. barriers, opportunities, and indicators) as a way to evaluate success or at least understand how to attain successful outcomes. Therefore, the present study sought to assess the contribution of YESG initiatives to socio-economic wellbeing of youth in the selected intervention woredas of POTENTIAL.
Purpose of the Study
The study sought to assess the contribution of YESG initiatives to socio-economic wellbeing of youth in in the specified project intervention areas.
Objectives of the study
This study shall be guided by the following objectives:
Methodology
The consultant will design appropriate consultancy service delivery methodologies (quantitative and qualitative) and tools for consultancy service which are aligned with the objectives of the study. The consultant will submit the detailed consultancy service delivery methodology plan and work-plan prior to starting consultancy service.
Scope of the study
The study shall consider taking a representative sample and shall be limited to the total population of the Activity. Geographically, POTENTIAL operates in 30 woredas of Afar, Amhara, Oromia SNNP, Somali and Tigray regions. The consultant will draw a reasonable sample from among the 32,000 trained male and female beneficiaries residing in the target woredas.
The consultant is also expected to conduct at least four individual case studies on selected YESGs and six successful YESG members to capture a more personalized experience, with in-depth approach to interviewing. The underlying assumption for this is that respondents are more comfortable in giving detailed information around sensitive subjects, such as aspirations, frustrations, and other factors driving migration during one-on one interview.
Deliverables of the consultant
· Detailed work plan with milestones.
· Inception report 5 days after the inception meeting
· Documentation of the key lessons for POTENTIAL
· Clear methodology along with qualitative and quantitative study instruments and indicator measurement, analytical approach and robustness check approach
· Draft complete study report and presentation to POTENTIAL
· Final report, incorporating suggestions and recommendations (at the end of the consultancy assignment one week after draft report presentation).
· Submit all data files/ audios/photos in printed and electronic format and completed questionnaires
Time frame
It is anticipated that this consultancy will be undertaken in April 1, 2019 with an effective input of 60 man-days. However, the lead consultant will prepare a detailed work plan that will form part of the contract
Term of payment
Term of payment will be determined later
In general, the consultant or the consultancy firm should have practical experiences at least in the following competency areas;
Education
University advanced degree in sociology, economics, statistics or any related qualifications with:
Experience
· Minimum of twelve years of proven and strong research experience in the development of national youth employment policies and / or national youth policy;
· A good understanding of youth development programs and issues related to youth task force development in Ethiopia would be an added advantage;
· A good knowledge of statistical systems is considered an asset.
· Committed to deadlines
· Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English.
· The consultant is expected to bring at least one team member with excellent knowledge of SPSS, STATA, or other statistical software who has very good experience in coding, entering and processing of the data.
· Experience in managing and analysing qualitative research data.
· Experiences in communication and facilitating learning workshops
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