Consultancy for Scoping and Design of Innovative Program Recommendations for Youth Empowerment in Uganda – RFP-UGA-SERV-2024-001

Please find complete bidding documents in the following link: RFP-UGA-SERV-2024-001 Youth Empowerment in Uganda

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Scoping and Design of Innovative Program Recommendations for Youth Empowerment in Uganda

Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

DRC has been present in Uganda since 1997, implementing projects across the country with a current focus on the refugee situation in the West Nile and southwest regions.

Purpose of the consultancy

Youth in Uganda make up a large and growing proportion of the population. Access to education, livelihood opportunities and means to actively participate in processes of concern are issues which are ranking high in debates among youth.

Leading up to the Global Refugee Forum in 2023, DRC and partners have worked with youth-led organizations in five countries, including Uganda. Youth with refugee backgrounds have taken the lead in the convenings and brought together refugee representatives, policy makers, private sector, academia and civil society to discuss potential solutions to the challenges ahead.

To build upon these efforts, DRC is looking for a consultant to assist in the scoping towards new programs targeted at supporting youth in Uganda affected by forced displacement. The scoping and developing of new program ideas should be based on strong collaboration with youth and relevant partners, that will make a difference in generating sustainable solutions with and for youth.

Background

The world is currently home to the largest generation of youth in history. 2,4 billion youth aged 10-29 years are in formative stages of their lives, and approximately 90% of them live in countries in the Global South. Demographic forecasts show that the share of youth will continue to grow in both displacement and host communities. Youth are therefore a main target group for DRC and a cross cutting phenomenon of attention in all aspects of the DRC 2025 Strategy.

Uganda’s population is projected to grow exponentially, from 40 million in 2015 to 141.2 million by 2065 driven by the high fertility rate. Youth in the age group 15-34 years will increase from 22.7 million in 2015 to 48 million by 2065.

Conditions for the youth are generally alarming with a lack of access to basic services, legal aid, education and training, employment, and social engagement. Conflict and protracted crises continue to decrease opportunities for youth, leading to disillusion, a lack of belief in the future, and erosion of social cohesion.

In recognition of the unleashed capacities of youth as a transformative positive force sustaining development and stability, DRC focus on empowering displaced and host community youth to fulfil their potential as the much-needed positive change agents in regions marred by protracted conflict and political instability. Provided with the necessary skills and opportunities, youth can be a driving force in fostering growth, building sustainable societies, and improving the health of the planet.

Scope of work and Methodology

DRC wishes to contract the services of an expert consultant to scope and design concepts that will induce a multi-stakeholder approach to amplifying opportunities for youth in Uganda. Specifically, three deliverables are requested:

Therefore, the consultancy’s objectives are to answer the following questions:

1. Who are the relevant stakeholders (donors, INGOs, CSOs including youth-led and refugee-led organizations, government, private sector) working on youth in forced displacement in Uganda, and what are their previous and present efforts towards youth, priorities and opportunities for collaboration.
2. What are the needs of youth (gender and age disaggregated) in forced displacement in Uganda? This answer should also include a demographic description of youth in forced displacement in Uganda.
3. Looking at the two above questions and DRC’s programming in Uganda and globally, what are opportunities and gaps where DRC can explore programming for youth in displacement, especially in terms of self-reliance. What are good practices of youth programming with a self-reliance focus, and where is there room for innovative practices and programming?

Here are a few cross-cutting remarks:

• The mapping and analysis should take into consideration lessons learnt and findings from DRC programming on self-reliance, the graduation approach and the Refugee Investment Facility. It should also consider DRC’s youth strategy and self-reliance and innovation programming and DRC’s.
• Youth in displacement includes youth in a broad sense, 14-34 (local definitions can be applied), and youth with a background from refugee-displacement and/or host-community context, both urban and rural.
• The above questions should be explored using mainly qualitative approaches, but most importantly, a participatory approach that involve youth in displacement in the process.
• There should be a strong focus on self-reliance across the above questions, and on innovation in the third question about recommendations for new programming. From DRC’s consultations with youth in displacement globally and in Uganda (We Believe In Youth, 2021; consultations ahead of GRF 2023) it has been clear that self-reliance is a critical need for youth in displacement. For DRC it is furthermore important to explore where there are opportunities for innovative methods and approaches to self-reliance programming targeting youth.

Deliverables

The consultant will report to the Head of Programmes of DRC in Uganda and will work closely with the DRC Global Team for Youth in Displacement.

Further details on deliverables:

1. Stakeholder mapping: This mapping should seek to answer question 1 and 2 (see ‘Scope of the Work Methodology’) and be divided per location and highlight potential partners as well as key dynamics between relevant stakeholders working with youth in displacement in Uganda, including refugees, internally displaced and host community. The document should also focus on mapping potential donors, INGOs, CSOs including youth-led and refugee-led organizations, government, private sector for future youth program funding opportunities. The document should also consider relevant youth and refugee policies in Uganda related to programming around youth and self-reliance of people with displacement background.
2. Youth Consultation: In person and/or online design workshop(s) should be organized with young refugees and Ugandan as a research method. Learnings from stakeholder mapping should ensure young leaders and influencers are consulted and provide their inputs regarding programmatic needs and priorities. This consultation should complement the consultations conducted by DRC and Youth Social Advocacy Team (YSAT) November 2023 ahead of the Global Refugee Forum. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews should also be considered to complement and finetune propositions in line with DRC’s self-reliance and innovative focus. It will be essential to ensure that a representative sample of refugee and Ugandan youth are consulted for this output.
3. Development of recommendation and approaches: A minimum of three recommendations for potential programming should be developed in line with findings identified in the stakeholder mapping (including existing funding priorities and opportunities) and based on priorities expressed by the young refugees and locals consulted during the design workshop. The recommendations developed are expected to consider innovation (where relevant) and be tailored to youth they will aim to serve whilst also focusing on the self-reliance programmatic priorities of DRC.
4. Documentation of best programming practices to ensure youth engagement, participation and empowerment throughout the programme cycle.

The consultant will be responsible for scoping opportunities and developing scenarios and related approaches to support refugee and Ugandan youth. She/he will report to the Head of Programs of DRC Uganda and will work closely with the DRC Global Team for Youth in Displacement.

The Consultant will provide the documentationby email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF.

Responsibilities will include:

Phase 1

Document Review and Inception Report

Inception Report & Kick-Off Workshop

Inception report detailing methodologies, detailed workplan, matrix of actors/stakeholders and efforts, opportunities etc. Proposed list of entities to explore.

Kick-Off workshop together with DRC staff to ensure relevance of report.

Phase 2

Data collection and draft Report

Draft Evaluation Report & Validation Workshop

Working meetings, discussions, data collection, desk review of DRC and others’ documents, potential field visit, context analysis or other analytical output of the qualitative data including three recommendations for youth programming for DRC.

Draft report with summary of findings and recommendations for review, as well as a presentation during validation workshop with key stakeholders

Phase 3

Final report

Duration, timeline, and payment

DRC is looking to contract a consultant that meets the below requirements as soon as possible from March 2024. The deliverables of these terms are due a maximum of 35 days from the starting date.

Eligibility, qualification, and experience required

The successful candidate must be able to work independently within DRC’s structure to deliver the required outputs within a tight deadline and with a large and complex interface with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Qualifications will include:

• Background in social science, international development, business development, or similar. Preferably Master level with expertise in both quantitative and quality research.
• Understanding of the Uganda context related to the empowerment and economic/livelihood opportunities for youth
• Understanding of multi-stakeholder approaches (for example partnership driven programming) used in similar settings and/or for similar social sector objectives
• Proven track record in conducting similar studies and design of conceptual programmatic opportunities
• Experience in/good knowledge of INGO led Economic Recovery and Protection programming
• Ability to coordinate and bring together a diverse group of stakeholders and mobilize around a shared vision
• Ability to structure complex insights into written and visual products that bring out key features and enable decision making
• Refugee- or displacement experience of consultants is considered a strong advantage
• Fluency in English is required
• International firms/individual may apply, but their offers will only qualify if the proposed consultant(s) have presence in Uganda.

Technical supervision

The consultant(s) will report to the Head of Programs of DRC Uganda and will work closely with the DRC Global Team for Youth in Displacement.

Location and time

DRC has been present in Uganda since 1997, implementing projects across the country with a current focus on the refugee situation in the West Nile and southwest regions. A specific geographic focus beyond or narrower than the areas where DRC works needs to be justified.

Submission process

Interested consultants must submit as a minimum:

• Technical offer which should include the following:
  • A cover letter of no more than 2 pages introducing the consultancy team and your relevant background. Please also use this cover letter to indicate the consultants’ availability for the proposed period.
  • Two-page document outlining strategy/workplan, methodological approach and timeline to the TOR
• Financial offer which should include the following:
  • A separate financing proposal with a breakdown of budget covering consultancy fees and all related expenses to implement the activities of the consultancy including travel and transportation, accommodation and all logistical requirements.
• Annex B DRC General Conditions of Contract signed
• Annex C DRC Supplier Code of Conduct
• Annex D Supplier Profile and Registration Form completed and signed
• Company profile including references:
  • One-page document showing portfolio of previous consultancy similar or other relevant experience.
  • References (with phone number and email address) from at least one organization that previously contracted the consultant.
  • Two samples of reports from previous scoping/mapping relevant to this consultancy
  • The CVs, max 3 pages each, for those who will directly undertake the evaluation; most preferably, lead and co-lead.

Interested applicants who meet the required experience and qualifications are invited to submit the above documents to: RFQ.UGA/[email protected] no later than Wednesday 26 January 2024, 17:00 (EAT) and specify the subject: Consultancy – Scoping for Youth Empowerment in Uganda. All inquiries should be addressed to: [email protected]

Evaluation of bids

Any bids received past the deadline will be disqualified. All bids received in pencil will be disqualified.

All received bids meeting the minimum requirements will be assessed for profile and qualifications, technical approach, and similar experience. Bids will be scored according to the criteria below. Shortlisted suppliers complying with the technical requirements may be asked for an interview with the committee. The financial offer will then be weighed against the technical assessment (cost/ quality).

The financial proposal must specify the following:

• The costs for the services requested in the deliverables table above could be per day, per deliverable, or lump sum.
• The Costs should be provided in USD
• The Consultant shall be wholly responsible for all taxes, national insurance or other contributions, which are or may be payable out of, or, as result of the receipt of, any fees or other monies paid or payable in connection with this Agreement. The Consultant shall accordingly indemnify and hold DRC harmless against all taxes (including VAT), national insurance or other contributions, costs, claims, penalties, interest, expenses or proceedings arising out of or in connection with such taxes and contributions.
• The Consultant should notify DRC of his/her registration for V.A.T and provide V.A.T invoices in respect of the Consultancy services.

Validity of Offer

Bids must be valid for a minimum of 30 days from the date of the RFP closing date. Bids not meeting the Bid Validity Period may be disqualified. DRC will attempt to notify all suppliers of the outcome of their proposals as soon as possible after evaluation.

Please find complete bidding documents in the following link: RFP-UGA-SERV-2024-001 Youth Empowerment in Uganda