A Market Assessment on Youth Empowerment and Youth Employment in Philippines (BARMM)

Background

BRAC is a global leader developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programs to empower the most marginalized in extremely poor, conflict-affected, and post-conflict states. Founded in Bangladesh in 1972, BRAC now works across 11 countries in Asia and Sub Saharan Africa and touches the lives of more than 100 million people. BRAC takes a holistic approach to alleviate poverty, running programs in education, adolescent and youth empowerment, healthcare, microfinance, agriculture, food security and livelihood, and human and legal rights.

Since its inception, BRAC has understood that including women and girls at the forefront of its development initiatives is critical to achieving our mission and vision. We are determined to root out the systemic causes of poverty, particularly through the empowerment of marginalised women and girls. Centering Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in our youth work is achieved through curriculum development designed with youth and community input, through designated peer groups and mentorship approaches, and by targeting the enabling environment for AGYW, including trainings and advocacy with men, boys, and custodians of power systems, who tend to be male in BRAC’s target areas.

In 2012, BRAC launched operations in the Philippines in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao now Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to implement the alternative Delivery Model Project, a component of Australian government funded Basic Education Assistance in Muslim Mindanao (BEAM) Program. The Project aimed to improve access to quality education in the region, particularly in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao Del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan where there were no government schools. Between 2012 and 2019, BRAC Philippines operated 2,108 learning centres and reached over 65,000 children in the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in partnership with 15 local organisations. Currently, BRAC Philippines is providing technical assistance to support the Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the implementation of the ACCESS delivery model of basic education in BARMM. In addition, BRAC has been implementing an Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) programme in the Philippines, a comprehensive, time-bound and integrated programme, whose foundational pillars include social protection, livelihoods promotion, social empowerment and financial inclusion.

Description of the Project

This project, which the market assessment will inform and support, intends to provide meaningful and sustainable livelihood opportunities for AGYW aged 16-30 from marginalised households in communities in BARMM by providing training towards becoming lighting entrepreneurs and last mile distributors of lighting products, in order to extend local lighting markets (the precise number of girls supported will be defined by the market survey and the capacity of the local markets. It is likely to be between 50 and 100 trainees). By training young people as electricians and lighting technicians, BRAC aims to ensure project participants have long-term sustainable income opportunities (an average of at least 7,500 PHP per month – to be defined by market survey). This work will also provide up to 5,000 households (35,000 people) in target communities with access to affordable electrical and solar lighting technology (targets also subject to market survey findings). In line with the Signify Foundation’s aims, and in support of the Government of Philippines’ National Renewable Energy Plan (NREP) and strategy to achieve 100% household electrification by 2022, this will result in an increased number of lives lit, and livelihoods created in targeted communities in BARMM.

Through this market study, the project will ensure selection of appropriate, specific working locations and beneficiaries based on clear evidence and need. BRAC will use its strong value for money approach and rigorous M&E systems to ensure the establishment of an impactful, sustainable and cost-effective market-based development model in BARMM.

The project will explore two models for ensuring long-term and meaningful income generation for trainees:

• Embedding trainees within existing local markets and supply chains
• Extending local markets into new areas by setting up lighting ‘Hubs’; local single room shops where products can be safely stored and trainees can sell products and the lighting services directly to the community

BRAC is seeking a detailed market assessment to provide initial guidance on the suitability of these models in proposed working areas

Project specific metrics are as follows:

Project impact: create Economic and Social Empowerment opportunities in the lighting sector for girls and young women aged 16-30; contributing to SDGs 5 and 8.

Outcome 1: Sustainable livelihood opportunities for girls and young women aged 16-30 in BARMM, Philippines: (approximately 100 livelihoods created).

Outcome 2: Increased supply of electrician services and lighting products in working districts in BARMM.

Purpose of the Assignment

As part of this project under the Youth Empowerment Programme, BRAC Philippines will conduct a labour market assessment across the BARMM and to its neighbouring regions (particularly regions 10 and 12). A detailed market assessment will provide initial guidance on the suitability of these models in proposed working areas. The purpose of this market assessment is to gain a deeper understanding on local labour market dynamics across the BARMM region in Philippines with a specific focus on economic opportunities for AGYW and the electrician and solar lighting sector. Overall, we want to understand whether / how our proposed model can be viable in BARMM / Philippines.

Scope of Work

The market analysis will examine the economic and labour context in the Philippines / BARMM as relevant to AGYW targeted by BRAC; the available economic opportunities, educational and training facilities/programmes, and opportunities/prospects to inform BRAC’s future programming.

The wider scope of the work will include the following tasks:

• To identify plausible opportunities for and challenges to economic empowerment of AGYW.
• Provide an overview of the country context by mapping key economic, demographic and human capital trends, with a particular focus on AGYW.
• Provide an understanding of labour market supply and demand in Philippines/BARMM, including sectors of greatest economic growth and opportunity for AGYW.
• Provide a mapping of the electrician and solar lighting sector in BARMM and neighbouring regions, including but not limited to; how many existing suppliers and distributors are there in urban and rural contexts; what training programmes exist for electrician training already; who provides these trainings, how long do they last, who are they for, what kind of certification is provided, and what do they cost; and what is the government’s support/are there programmes of work for this sector.
• Provide an assessment of the demand/need for solar lighting – including level of interest amongst households and MSMEs for solar power and products in general, and over traditional lighting methods; demand/need for electrician services; what kind of financing is available for households to buy lighting services/products, or for entrepreneurs to start electrician or solar businesses; competition in the market/how many electricians could be needed.
• Provide a detailed analysis of actual earnings/profit margin across early and mid career electricians in informal/self-employed and employee/waged scenarios. This should be a comparative exercise, using multiple methods and sources.
• Provide an understanding of opportunities and constraints to formal and informal sectors absorbing an increased number of trained AGYW.
• Provide a gender analysis of the challenges, barriers and opportunities for AGYW to work in the lighting sector (and other relevant sectors) in BARMM and neighbouring regions, and assess the viability of various mechanisms, such as independently, with other providers and in small groups.
• Provide a layout of labour/workforce providers/suppliers, such as colleges, schools, any other technical institutes, TVET, and informal learning opportunities (apprenticeships). This should map training and workforce development programs available for AGYW in Philippines/BARMM. It should also identify possible bilateral partners, NGOs, facilitating organisations and private sector players within the youth and adolescent girls’ employment space to benefit from the labour market assessment or act as implementing partners

The more specific scope of the work will include the following tasks:

A detailed market assessment will be carried out to establish the specific communities in which we will work, the profile of the lighting market in BARMM and neighbouring regions and the most appropriate model for ensuring sustainable income for trainees at project end. The market assessment will identify working locations that combine the following:

• Identify the sufficient size of community; population size and population density
• Demand for jobs amongst unemployed youth; unemployment rate amongst youth
• Access to lighting markets and products through either existing suppliers or the set up of a lighting ‘Hub’
• Access to TESDA training programmes
• High poverty rate
• Demand for electrical and solar technology and services
• Demand for electricians, particularly female electrician in the local market
• Standard pay/salary for electricians and how that relates to average household income in BARMM/Philippines
• Qualifying regional differences and how this might affect project viability

The consultant/organisation will:

• produce a very high quality research report in English, and submit to BRAC Philippines within the scope of timeline as mentioned in this ToR.
• provide services in accordance with required deliverables, timetable, and procedures detailed in this document.
• deliver services as an independent contractor and not as an employee.

Use of the study:

This market survey is intended to serve as an internal tool to assess the viability of the project and identify the most appropriate mechanism for delivery. It may also be used to consider opportunities for scale/replication.

Methodology:

While the consultant is encouraged to propose the best fit research methods, there are some broad outlines for consideration. A mixed method cross-sectional study with primary and secondary data from a diverse group of respondents would be preferred

Duration of the task, activities and deliverables:

Duration of this task can be flexible according to the consultants’ recommendation; however, we would prefer to move quickly and suggest that the work could be completed by June 2022.

The activities and deliverables for this contract are listed below:

Activities and Deliverables:

1. Finalise the methodology as co-design, finalised tools – Method & tools need to finalise in discussion with BRAC
2. Secondary data collection – Consultant conducts the literature review/ desk research
3. Primary data collection – Consultant collects primary data to complement the secondary data.
4. Data Validation and Data analysis – Consultant validates data and analyse it for preparing report
5. First draft to be submitted to BRAC – Consultant submit the first draft report
6. Feedback fed into and final report – BRAC provides feedback & consultant submits the final report after incorporation of the feedback

Reporting and performance of Consultant:

The consultant will report to the Project Manager at BRAC Philippines and any other designated key contact as decided.

The consultant agrees to attend regular progress meetings (remotely where necessary), and present a status update, at least once per month.

Consultant’s performance will be assessed along the consultancy duration particularly the quality of research tools and protocols, their timely implementation, time commitment, and meeting the scope and objective of the task. Other conditions like incidental liability, intellectual property, non-disclosure policy, ethical standard and data protection protocol, and safeguarding policy will be applicable as per BRAC’s related policies.

Required qualifications of the Consultant/organisation:

Any organisation or individual that has a professional track record of conducting Labour Market assessment in the Philippines, or multi-country level, or similar studies can apply for this task. Some specific eligibility criteria are as below –

• Track record of strong analytical and publication skills and knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• The applicant should have experience in research in development sectors with special focus on Labour Market Assessment.
• Extensive professional (with at least 6 years) experience in international development, particularly in youth livelihoods and economic empowerment for adolescents and youth.
• In-depth experience, skills, and expertise in youth empowerment, gender mainstreaming in livelihood projects in the Philippines, particularly BARMM.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English

Consultants/organisations engaged in response to this solicitation shall be bound by BRAC’s general standards of conduct.

BRAC International reserves all the rights of the research tools developed, information and data collected and on the final report for sharing and dissemination