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Terms of Reference
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The challenges faced by refugees and displaced populations in finding decent economic opportunities have been subject to growing attention in UNHCR operations, across regions. Efforts to strengthen the organisation’s understanding of refugee livelihoods and capacity to deliver adequate support have started and/or are presently ongoing in Yemen, Egypt, Malaysia, Morocco, Bangladesh and Armenia, to name a few. Other operations have flagged their interest in boosting their activities in this area in 2009, including Jordan, India, Nairobi, and several countries in West Africa.
The national, legal and policy environment in reviewed countries places varying degrees of restrictions on refugees' right to work. In spite of these, refugees use many strategies to generate income, mostly through daily labouring jobs in the informal sector. The initial assets that refugees can rely on - such as their skills, access to financial capital, physical health - are critical in widening their options to access safe and productive work or engage in income generating activities. In many cases however, these assets are either insufficient from the start, or have been eroded by years of displacement. Consequently, a significant proportion of refugees including women and children are exposed to various forms of economic exploitation, and to arrest and detention.
Nairobi, as one of the pilot cities for the implementation of the UNHCR urban policy (2009), has a population of some 3.5 million inhabitants, which includes a known (i.e. registered) refugee population of 50,000 refugees, in addition to unregistered refugees and migrants. The urban refugee population is comprised of Somalis, Ethiopians, Eritreans, and nationals of countries from the Great Lakes region (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi).
The majority of refugees have to some extent succeeded in meeting basic needs without direct assistance. However, the level of self-sufficiency is low (cutting on expenses such as education fees) and mechanisms are fragile, with a numbers of refugees engaged in exploitative schemes. Projects implemented so far, aiming at building refugees’ capacity, have evident constraints and limits. General lack of access to work permits (despite legal provisions) hinders refugees’ access to the official employment market. The identification of needs and livelihood opportunities will enable UNHCR and its partners to design a relevant strategy and programme that will help build or expand refugees’ capacity to eventually sustain themselves in a more predictable manner.
PURPOSE
To define a baseline of quality socio-economic data through a consultative process, and inform the design of a comprehensive livelihood strategy in support of durable solutions and protection for populations of concern.
SCOPE AND FOCUS
The assessment to be undertaken will be conducted in regard to the policy environment and social or political processes that enable or inhibit access to work and other livelihood opportunities; diversity in the refugee population, in terms of their socio-economic status, i.e. the livelihood assets and strategies that households and individual men and women use to survive; the protection challenges persons of concern face in the urban and peri-urban settlements.
Institutions and programmes that support or can potentially support livelihood development and create economic opportunities in the hosting areas also need to be identified.
The assessment will cover persons of concern settled in a minimum of three to five locations throughout Nairobi, including urban and peri-urban locations. The locations must be representative of the urban refugee population with regard to the diversity of nationalities, wealth groups and livelihoods strategies.
Information on local communities residing in assessment target-areas will be sought through secondary sources and key informants.
EXPECTED OUTPUTS
Assessment – livelihood baseline:
Together with the lead consultant define and field test the methodology for assessment and strategy formulation.
Activities:
The local consultant, with the support of the lead consultant and OSTS/Livelihoods team, will ensure the livelihood assessment is a consultative process involving the participation and contribution of a Multi Functional Team from UNHCR Kenya office, representatives of the refugee community, the host community and the public and the private sector, as well as relevant organizations such as UNHCR’s Implementing Partners (IP) and Community Organizations (COs). The assessment methodology will draw on established standard approaches, preferably the Household Economy methodology, and will refer to guidance provided by OSTS/Livelihoods and to the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (SEEP, 2010 edition), and will use the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as the main analytical framework of analysis.
Preparatory activities:
• In consultation with the lead consultant, demarcate of livelihood zones; co-facilitate training of data-collection team; field testing; jointly with the lead consultant prepare data collection tools and formats.
• Assist in management of the field team which will be constituted by DRC.
• Assist in the review of secondary information (relevant existing reports / studies).
• Assist in establishing links for Institutional mapping of relevant organizations and institutions (to be carried out predominantly by Field Office staff, in collaboration with consultant), highlighting what organizations are doing and for whom, including both existing and planned programmes that could be directly or indirectly support refugee livelihoods.
• Assist in establishing links for Key informant interviews (relevant stakeholders from local/national institutions related to training, employment, finance, enterprise, agriculture, etc; community leaders; knowledgeable persons in the communities; representatives of trade groups, cooperatives, and special interest groups; UNHCR staff members; staff from partner organizations).
• Organize for a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) as defined by the lead consultant.
Reporting :
The Local Consultant in collaboration with the Lead Consultant shall produce a comprehensive, clear and detailed report that presents outputs described herein. Draft and final reports, and materials to be presented at stakeholder review workshop(s) will be submitted to UNHCR and designated partners for review according to an established schedule.
Indicative report outline:
• Methodology
• Assessment Findings
a. Status of right to work
b. Livelihood Zones
c. Livelihood Groups and Assets
d. Livelihood Groups and Protection Risks
e. Livelihood Strategies
f. Current Livelihoods Support Interventions
• Analysis
• Recommended strategy (scope, objectives, indicative activities and target groups, indicative sequencing/timeframe), including recommended implementation arrangements. N.B A template for the strategic plan, provided by OSTS/Livelihoods team will be available.
KEY PRINCIPLES
The following key principles will underpin the assessment approach and the recommendations defined for the strategy:
• Incorporating an age, gender and diversity lens in the research, analysis and recommendations
• Ensuring recommended interventions empower refugee communities
• Building on what is already being done by UNHCR and partners, where relevant
• Linking potential interventions to national and local recovery and development plans
• Ensuring that recommendations are actionable, include advocacy/policy and programmatic interventions, and practical guidance for implementation
• Ensuring that the views and concerns of local stakeholders, including the refugees themselves, states and host communities are heard and considered
• Considering ways to demonstrate to host communities and local authorities that refugees can be or are of benefit to the host population and the region
• Considering the impact of increased income on access to basic social services and economic and social integration into communities
• It is recommended to employ youth from the refugee and local community inasmuch as possible for these tasks.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The Local Consultant will report to Lead Consultant and will be supported by a locally-recruited team of facilitators and enumerators, to be trained in the data collection methodology, data clerks and interpreters. Together with the lead consultant, the local consultant will also be supported by DRC and UNHCR staff.
DUTY STATION: Nairobi, Kenya
EXPECTED START DATE: Mid-December 2011
REPORTING LINES
The Local Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Lead Consultant in close consultation with the DRC Regional Livelihoods Advisor, UNHCR Protection team and their HQs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Academic:
• Graduate degree in economy, social sciences, or relevant development-oriented subject;
Experience:
• At least 5 years of experience with the UN, International NGOs and/or NGO sector in the design and implementation of livelihood projects; expertise in at least two sectors of livelihoods programming desirable: e.g. small and medium enterprise development; micro-financing; food security; vocational and technical education; employment support; cash-for-work interventions;
• Extensive prior experience in leading and conducting livelihood assessments within Kenya.
• Familiarity with community-based and participatory approaches to project development--preferably with urban populations;
• Broad network of links to NGOs and agencies which may serve as future (implementing) partners for further vocational training and income generation projects desirable;
• Minimum one-year experience working on livelihoods in Nairobi essential, preferably within the urban refugee setting
• Detailed understanding of Nairobi urban and peri-urban settlements
• Understanding of the trends/factors of refugee movements (cross-border and within Kenya) desirable;
• Proven excellent research and analysis skills;
• Excellent written and spoken English. Writing samples may be requested;
• Spoken Kiswahili, Somali, Amharic etc. a distinct added advantage
GENERAL
Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)
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