Terms of Reference – Local Consultancy Service
Market systems assessment for potential economic sub-sectors in oPt
**
Oxfam seeks to hire an external consultant to carry out a market systems assessment of main promising economic sectors/sub-sectors in West Bank including East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.
The overall objective of the assignment is to produce an action-oriented market system assessment of main promising economic sectors/sub-sectors to better inform Oxfam’s strategic priorities and interventions’ strategies specifically to promote youth economic empowerment and integration in line with Oxfam’s Country Strategy and Oxfam’s global Youth Engagement Framework. The assignment is expected to be conducted over two phases; the first phase will include a mapping and rapid assessment for the economic sectors/sub-sectors in each geographical location (WB, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip), including main stakeholders associated with sectors/sub-sectors and market players. Then, 2-3 promising sectors/subsectors will be selected for further assessment including review of existing policies, regulations and barriers that affect economic investments in the selected sectors/sub-sectors, access to capital and technology, provision of finance and insurance, other logistics and value addition for the benefits of small and medium scale youth entrepreneurs, investors, and the employment capacity of young people.
Specific Objectives and Expected Results
To map and conduct a rapid assessment of the economic sectors and sub-sectors in West Bank including East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. This includes main stakeholders associated with sectors/sub-sectors, market players, capacity and economic growth potentials.
To develop evidence-based justifications for the selection of the top 2-3 most promising sectors/sub-sectors. Justifications are based on analyses of pertaining indicators to growth, youth employment and integration within different sectors.
Identify existing role differences of men and women along each selected sectors/sub-sector value chain and identify opportunities to advance the role and engagement of young women.
To recommend to Oxfam clear market systems development models and interventions for each selected sector/sub-sector that include sector-specific investment opportunities and market linkages that can enable small to medium-scale youth enterprises and investors access to domestic, regional and international markets and the youth employments’ capacity within the sector. Each model will inform Oxfam on the status of the present economic activities, proposed interventions for improved market access for small to medium scale investments and entrepreneurs, growth/ scale-up opportunities to enhance youth employment capacity, specific interventions required for policy influence related to market regulation, certification, and promotion of partnerships among stakeholders.
To identify cross-cutting issues in market facilitation approaches, including approaches to promote gender equity, good governance, and increased resilience of small to medium -scale investors and entrepreneurs. These issues must help defining and forming of the recommended models and interventions, as well as recommended general economic development and growth of those selected sectors/sub-sectors.
General guidelines on the study methodology
The assignment is expected to be conducted over two successive stages;
§ The first stage will include a mapping and rapid assessment for different promising economic sectors/sub-sectors, including main stakeholders associated with sectors/sub-sectors and market players. The mapping shall include indicating market share, production capacity, employability, growth, investment, employment capacity, and linkages to local and export markets.
At the end of this stage, and in full consultation with Oxfam, relevant stakeholders and experts, 2-3 promising sectors/sub-sectors shall be selected for further analysis. Sectors/sub-sectors selection criteria will include indicators pertaining to growth, youth employment potential, small to medium investments opportunities, potential integration with other sectors and other considerations that could be recommended through the stakeholders and experts discussions.
The selected sectors/sub-sectors will be validated through consultation with a small group of key stakeholders and market system actors and experts including policy and decision makers, private sector actors, service providers, and relevant development organisations.
§ Within the second stage of this assignment; the selected 2-3 promising sectors/subsectors will go further assessment and focused analyses; including i) description of core functions, ii) revision of existing policies, regulations and barriers that affect economic investments in the selected sectors/sub-sectors, iii) assessment of levels and barriers for access to capital and technology, iv) indication on available finance and insurance, v) identification potential market entries within local and international markets, and vi) indication on logistics, support services, and other value addition for the benefits of small and medium scale youth entrepreneurs, investors, and the employment capacity (employability) of young people.
More specifically, the second stage will include further analysis of each selected sector/sub-sector using a combination of value-chain and market-system analyses approach and agreed upon methodology that will be proposed by the consultant. The analysis should include:
Value-chain competitiveness; looking at unmet market demand, growth potential, potential to differentiate or cooperate with regional and international competitors.
Opportunities for new investments; willingness and capacity of new players to enter the industry, barriers to entry, availability of private sector actors to work with small-medium scale investors, local markets and export opportunities.
Employment potential; current capacity of labour force involved in the sub-sector value chains and potential for increase, potential increase in the engagement of young people including young women in economic leadership, and potential policy and practices improvement vis-à-vis occupation and market constraints/ opportunities.
Enabling environment (government/donor involvement, favourable business environment, functioning support services.
The two stages shall be based on literature review as well as interviews with key stakeholders in each economic sector/sub-sector including policy makers, private sector actors, traders, other market facilitators such as related farmers and sector unions, PalTrade, chambers of commerce, technology suppliers, universities and research centres, development organisations.
A short and pragmatic report including recommendations per selected sector/sub-sector, incorporating in a systematic manner gendered market dynamic needs to be produced.
How to apply:
A detailed description of the assignment, services required by Oxfam and conditions of participating in this bidding is contained in the RFQ dossier and can be downloaded from the following link:
The deadline for submission of bids is February 18th, 2021 at 15:00 West Bank time upon conditions in the RFQ dossier.
Responses (Offers) shall be sent only to (procurement.ramallah@oxfam.org)
Offer shall be sent in 2 separate files - PDF format - (one for Technical Offer and one for Price Offer)
Oxfam does not bind itself to award the tender to the lowest offer and reserves the right to accept the whole or part of the tender.
We look forward to receiving a proposal from you and thank you for your interest in our account