Consultancy, mapping of existing digital hubs in Kakuma and Kalobeyei

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian non-profit organization in international development, committed to providing education, economic opportunities and empowerment opportunities that improve the lives of millions of disadvantaged youth around the world.

The Project

The Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) project engages national and local government representatives, academic institutions, private sector actors, refugee-led organizations, local and international NGOs, and refugee youth to share knowledge and identify opportunities to advance the inclusion of refugee youth in national, local, and institutional priorities. The project’s three pillars drive WUSC to build change and advance the inclusion of refugees and displaced youth, especially young women, in education, employment and entrepreneurship. WUSC believes that through this work and engaging diverse stakeholders from varied sectors and geographies, the organization will form new strategic partnerships, build momentum and mobilize to advance refugee and displaced youth inclusion.

One of the areas of work of the DREEM project is Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR), providing refugee and host community entrepreneurs in Kakuma and Kalobeyei with a fund that combines financing and business development services access to micro and small enterprises. Business development services entails tailored mentorship and coaching, capacity building and market linkages to ensure that businesses have the right expertise and support to generate revenue and jobs.Through the SEOR component, DREEM will facilitate digital economic opportunities for refugee youth, by building the capacity of local businesses and organizations working in the digital space (such as ICT hubs, training centers and cybers) to directly employ more refugee youth and/or provide better serve the needs of refugee youth engaged in the digital space (for example as freelance online workers). DREEM will build on the work being conducted in the LEAP Project, by offering expanded services and more employment opportunities to more refugee youth, as well as to design a more sustainable model where refugee-owned ICT businesses can expand facilities to freelance online workers at a reasonable cost.

DREEM will take on a diversified model that will involve working with already existing enterprises that offer digital services, and supporting other digital skills training programs (where possible) in expansion of pathways that result in employment creation for trained youth.

Purpose of the assignment.

The assignment aims to:

1. Document the existing RLOs, CBOs, and private enterprises (such as cybers and private training centers) doing digital work in Kakuma and Kalobeyei and the host communities. Including exact locations, contact persons and registration status.
2. Document organizations, including CBOs and RLOs that are currently offering training, what their transition rate from training to employment is, and if they offer any work linkage support (e.g. training or mentorship on using online gig platforms).
3. Document the services being offered by these RLOs/CBOs/enterprises and the kind of jobs available for young people, through the existing services. Include an analysis of best practices, the current gaps in services provided, challenges these organizations are facing in serving young refugees and host community members?
4. Identify potential new investments that could be introduced through the DREEM project which would help leverage best practices, address identified gaps and drive creation of jobs for young people. This may include hardware/software investments, training opportunities and mentorship services.
5. Map out success factors/challenges/strategies that could inform technical support for potential grantees.

Methodology

The assessment will involve actual visits to RLOs/CBOs to collect the required information

Timelines

The assignment will commence on the 15th of February 2024 for 14 days.

• 1st February 2024 to 12th February 2024: Application and selection process for consultants on a rolling basis.
• 13th February to 14th February 2024 Identification of consultant, co-creation of data collection questionnaire with the DREEM Project Economic Inclusion team
• 19th February 2024 to 23rd February 2024: Actual data collection/mapping exercise, report writing
• 29th February 2024: Submission of all deliverables

Deliverables.

1. An excel database of identified RLOs/CBOs/enterprises including information on the agreed upon indicators/variables about the entities.
2. A report brief of the digital work and opportunities within the mapped RLOs/CBOs/enterprises including cost variables within the entities and possible investments that would drive job creation for young people, in the RLOs/CBOs/enterprises
3. A power point presentation deck of the report.

Qualifications of the Consultants

The Consultant(s) is expected to have:

• Significant familiarity with refugee context in Kakuma and Kalobeyei, must be based in Kenya
• Experience working on refugee initiatives, preferably those in the digital economy space in Kenya.
• Ability to write insightfully and concisely in English
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Significant experience conducting research
• Lived experience as a refugee or displaced person will be an asset