Consultancy For Baseline Survey – Solar

Baseline Terms of Reference

Title: Solar Booster 4 a Sustainable Future (SB4SF)

Type of contract: Individual Consultant(s) or Consulting Firm / Institution

Duration of contract: 20 Days

1. Summary

The consultant is required to assist Young Africa Namibia to establish the pre-intervention scenario and provide necessary recommendations to the design and viable implementation sites to the Solar Booster 4 a Sustainable Future (SB4SF) project.

1. Background

According to the UNFPA’s country representative, Namibia is said to have one of the youngest populations in Africa. With this growing young population, it is estimated that youth unemployment could reach a staggering 50,30% rate by the end of 2021. He further asserted that failure to provide education, create decent employment opportunities and access to health services for a youth-dominated population poses a potential threat to the economic and social stability of the country.” Unemployment has slowly and insidiously eroded any sense of dignity and hope the Namibian youth have for a more productive and reassuring future. In response to this ticking-time bomb, Young Africa Namibia through the support of GIZ is implementing 15 months (April 2022- June 2023) project titled Solar Booster 4 a Sustainable Future (SB4SF) which seeks provide high quality theoretical and practical training in green energies as well as create awareness on the growing Namibian solar energy sector. The project will be implemented in the following sites of Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati, Kunene, Kavango East, Kavango West, Omaheke and Karas Regions. It is anticipated that youth trained through the project will have enhanced opportunities for employability and entrepreneurship. To achieve this goal, attainment of the following objectives will critical.

Outcome 1: Increased access to solar-related skills training for at 225 youths in remote unserved areas through set up and roll out of a mobile solar energy training unit. Such training will enhance employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for target beneficiaries.

Outcome 2: Increased awareness by the community members of the different solar solutions and understand how to identify quality products thereby contributing to increased uptake of solar technologies within targeted communities.

The project includes the set of specific interventions that focus on exploring various avenues for solar system adaptation at the community level, buy in by the local business community and mobile outreach by various teams to sites of children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of violence. The project hopes to give a chance to unemployed youths to start their journey towards poverty eradication through securing employment within their communities. It is the project’s intention to teach the youths installation, for the community to install solar systems and afford the youths jobs through installation and maintenance. The project is also riding on what the Government of Namibia has already established and unfinished

1. Purpose and objective of the baseline study

The purpose of the baseline is to set benchmarks at the start of the project and build an evidence base for measuring change realised over the course of implementation. The study will assist YA Namibia in understanding the context in which the project will be implemented in and recommend design adaptations if need be. In undertaking the study, the consultant is expected to take into consideration the following research questions

a) What is the general usage of solar in the specific community and how accessible is it to the ordinary person?

b) What is the rate of youth employment in the specific community? What challenges do young people face in finding employment?

c) The solar installation and maintenance knowledge levels of the youths,

d) What is the community’s attitude and general uptake of solar renewable systems as an alternative source of energy to electricity?

e) Do SME’s have the capacity to train young people in solar and absorb them for employment within their companies?

1. Methodology

In light of the purpose and guiding research questions highlighted above, the consulting firm or individual is required to prepare detailed research methodology which should apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.

The detailed methodology design must include:

• Sample Size and explicitly how it was calculated
• Data collection instruments, protocols and procedures,
• Procedures for analysing quantitative and qualitative data,
• Data presentation/dissemination methods.
• Report writing and sharing

The consultant is further expected to :

• Review all relevant documents for baseline study
• Develop baseline study design which includes survey methodology and the data collection tools (questionnaire; focus group guides, interview protocol, data entry templates, etc.)
• Designing the data entry template, procedures and systems, and training of entry clerks in the use of the template
• Develop the field work schedule in consultation with baseline team
• Conduct training for the Enumerators during field visits phase, finalize the baseline schedule
• Supervise the data collection process, give advice and ensure the quality of the data
• Data analysis and report writing, draft the first report and include YA Namibia feedback and finalize the report
• Provide required data (variables and values) for both the SPSS and Microsoft file formats.
• Submit completed data to the Project Manager

1. Payment Schedule

A professional fee of 50% will be paid upon signing of the contract and the other 50% paid on completion of the assignment.

1. Reporting

The Consultant will report to the Impact and Project Manager

1. Time frame

The assignment is for 20 days from the date the contract is signed.

1. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFILE

a) The suitable Consultant(s) must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field of Social Sciences, Statistics, Demography, Environment Studies, Electrical engineering , Development Studies, Education, or other related fields.

b) Demonstrated experience of undertaking baseline studies and project evaluations in the humanitarian and development sector.

c) The consultant should have proven experience working in the field of solar energy.

d) Proven expertise with regards to OECD-DAC, CHS, Sphere, Education and Protection principles and standards in the humanitarian and development sector.

e) Strong knowledge of TVET programs is an added advantage.

f) Excellent communication and report writing skills.

g) Able to provide evidence of similar works done before including final reports.

h) Experience of working within a team comprised of people with different cultural backgrounds and personalities, remaining self-motivated and able to achieve results independently and under tight timelines.

i) Clear service orientation, adherence to humanitarian principles and ethical standards and code of conduct and ability to always respond appropriately to constructive feedback.

j) Ability to work within the expected timelines and locations.

1. DELIVERABLES

This will include:

a) Active participation in meetings and (de-)briefings

b) Prepare a detailed inception report incl. sampling, methods, evaluation grid, assessment tools/instruments, analytical process, structure for presenting findings, conclusions, and recommendations and the report structure in general

c) Leading field missions incl. training and supervision of enumerators

d) Baseline Assessment report, incl. Executive Summary (structure to be agreed beforehand and incl. all annexes like data collection tools and raw data results)

1. Application procedure and requirements:

Candidates interested in the position are expected to provide the following documentation:

a) A technical proposal with detailed response to the TOR, with specific focus on the understanding of the ToR and scope of work, methodology to be used and key selection criteria for respondents.

b) Initial work plan based on methodology outlined, and indication of availability

c) Company profile and CV of key personnel involved in the study

d) 3 references

e) Detailed budget breakdown based on expected daily rates.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

YA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications without assigning reasons for its decision thereof. So as to be received not later than 24th July 2022, 4.00 PM CAT.

Applications should be sent by email to [email protected] with the subject line: Consultancy for baseline survey