Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226220
Job Network : Management and Administration
Job Family : MPA
Category and Level : Consultants, CON
Duty Station : GENEVA
Department/Office : International Trade Centre
Date Posted : Jan 19, 2024
Deadline : Jan 26, 2024

Result of Service
EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINES:
1. Inception report after the contract is signed and consultancy assignment is awarded. This will include methodology, a work plan with a timeline, and tools for data collection (by 8 February 2024).
2. Comprehensive report after the completion of the data collection. The report must integrate a contextual analysis as well as political, historical and geographical information pertinent to the business environment of target areas (by 6 March 2024).
3. Documents such as survey tools along with high quality pictures and a list of interviewee categories for each of the survey methods. i.e., Focus Group Discussions, Employer Surveys, and Key Informant Interviews with experts and employers (by 8 March 2024).
Work Location
Home-Based in Balochistan, Pakistan, with possibility of local travel
Expected duration
03.02.2024 – 30.03.2024 (40 workdays)
Duties and Responsibilities
The International Trade Centre (ITC) created in 1964 is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN) with a unique mandate in the UN system to promote increased competitiveness of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing, transition and least developed countries and assisting them to better use trade as a platform for growth, development, and employment creation.

Its mission is to enhance inclusive and sustainable growth and development in developing countries, especially least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition through improving the international competitiveness of MSMEs, including through supporting vulnerable communities in economies in transition.

ITC uses market-led approaches to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in vulnerable forced displacement focusing on (international) trade, as an engine of income generation, job creation, and source of positive spillover effects.

OBJECTIVE: The Refugees Empowerment through Markets Initiative Programme (REMI) is the International Trade Centre’s response to support people affected by displacement. REMI is housed in the Section for Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WVYC) of the Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT).

The approach deploys innovative ways to harness the productive potential of refugees and local communities in the displacement contexts to enhance shared growth through promoting the development of commercially valuable skills and supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creating value and employment in the host countries through increased national, regional and international business.

In line with the new REMI roadmap, ITC continues to scale up its programme in the displacement spaces and will be launching a new project in Balochistan focusing on creating digital entrepreneurship opportunities for refugees and host communities.

In this regard, ITC seeks to conduct a Market Assessment and Value Chains Analysis to inform the design of new livelihood development programmes in Balochistan, Pakistan. The key objective for the assessment is to identify value chains with high potential for employment opportunities, product expansion, market viability, value addition and market connection within digital services, agricultural, artisanal and other market demand-oriented sectors for Afghans and host communities in Balochistan.
ITC will provide the list of districts for study/assessment where Afghans residing in Balochistan, provide technical input in the designing of tools, methodology, and interviewee categories, and coordinate regularly with the service provider firm to provide input and support needed throughout the process, including review and feedback to the reports.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the REMI Project Manager. The Consultant will gather and analyze both primary and secondary data using established data collection methodology to achieve the following specific objectives:

• Map existing and potential value chain activities in digital, agriculture, artisanal and other demand oriented sectors in targeted areas of Balochistan.
• Select key value chains with the highest potential for growth, profitability and employment for Afghan refugees and the host population.
• Analyze existing and missing supporting pillars for making the value chain function, e.g., information, infrastructure, access to finance, and other related services, actors and institutions involved in providing the support services and highlighting the added values ITC project could bring to these value chains.
• Review and clarify the rules and regulations (e.g., standards, laws, informal rules and norms) and existing government policies related to the identified value chains.
• Assess end markets (size of markets, volume of sales, market integration/segmentation) for the selected VCs at different levels and related market access criteria (local, regional and international markets) as well as market actors (consumers, sellers, traders, intermediaries, employers) behavior.
• Assess the competitiveness of the value chain(s) and determine how to create competitive advantages for the targeted sectors in the context of local and regional trends, having in mind the context of the refugee population.
• Recommend value chain development plan(s) that expand wage/self-employment opportunities for both refugees and host communities with particular priority to digital service value chains, providing insights on resources, training and other support needed including working in collaboration with other agencies such as training institutions, UN agencies and other development partners in Balochistan.
• Explore the potential for developing linkage across the value chains (e.g. digital entrepreneurs supporting women in the artisanal sector to digitalize and expand market outreach).
• Identify options for increasing women’s participation in the identified value chains e.g. by working with women’s associations.
• Map and identify potential partners in digital skills training and market connection to specific challenges or opportunities to expand economic opportunities for Afghans and host population.

Copyright Clause: The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required.

ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons – of all genders – equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.
Qualifications/special skills
Master degree in a relevant field such as economics, business administration, international development, or a related discipline is required.
Proven prior experience in designing and conducting market assessments is required.
Demonstrated experience in working with Afghan migrants, marginalized groups, and vulnerable women is desired.
Experience with international multi-cultural, multilingual organizations or companies is desired and will be assessed favorably.
Details of at least three similar projects completed in the past 3-5 years is required.
Technical expertise in tools development, the data collection, and the data analysis is required.
The consubstantial knowledge of non-profit and private sector work including finance, market assessments, livelihoods, and value chain is desired.
Being a local of Balochistan and having good understanding of geography, including pool of data collectors, with fluency in Pashto and Dari languages, are required.
Profiles of experts for each field mentioned in the TORs are required.
Copy of last tools developed for a study is required.
Three references from previous similar assignments are required.
Individual profile with relevant experience is required.
Languages
Fluent Pashto and Dari languages are required.