South Sudan: Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis of Refugee and Host Community Markets - South Sudan

Position: Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis of Refugee and Host Community Markets

Location: Maban County of Upper Nile State South Sudan.

Duration: The Consultancy is expected to be undertaken in the month of November, 2017

About RI : Relief International is a leading nonprofit organization working in 20 countries to relieve poverty , ensure well-being and advance dignity . We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach —which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships, and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.

Position Summary: Relief International seeks to undertake a comprehensive market assessment to inform its programming towards promoting sustainable market driven livelihood interventions in Maban refugee camps as well as host community.Market driven livelihood interventions are aimed at promoting socio-economic self-reliance and reducing over-reliance of refugees on in-kind humanitarian assistance. Livelihood interventions pursued are more holistic, sustainable and market based .

Background of Assignment

Armed conflict, political instability, localized host community-refugee tensions coupled with adverse effects of climate change in neighboring Sudan and within South Sudan; has contributed to massive displacement of approximately 16928 internally displaced persons , as well as 142,000 refugees currently settled in four refugee camps namely – Doro, Yusuf Batil , Kaya and Gendrassa in Maban. Refugees, host community and internally displaced persons find themselves in precarious socio-economic situation with approximately 80% of both host and refugee populations reporting that they do not have enough to eat. The major source of food for refugee households is food aid distributed through World Food Programme at 30% reduced ration as from August 2015.

Markets continue to function poorly in Maban and procurement of goods as well as services locally is significantly limited. Market growth has been largely compromised by poor market structures to facilitate trade, limited skills set, weak entrepreneurship base, limited financial capital and economic shocks owing to hyperinflation and devaluation of the South Sudanese pounds. Refugees have limited access to external markets in Maban; water scarcity and erratic rainfall experienced in Maban continues to negatively impact agriculture and livelihood interventions. Limited start-up capital remains a major constraint for refugees and vulnerable host community to be able to actively participate in local markets and generate household income.

In 2016 and 2017; through UNHCR support; Relief International has focused on expanding access to cultivable land for refugees, intensifying climate smart kitchen gardening; increasing informal access to financial capital through village saving loans association; promoting entrepreneurship and enterprise creation. Promoting self-employment, facilitating business enterprise creation while enhancing productive capacities and strengthening coping mechanisms of refugees, internally displaced persons and vulnerable host community is not only central to improving protection of persons of concern in Maban but also pursuing durable solutions.

Livelihood activities and objectives pursued in the four refugee camps are aligned with UNHCR South Sudan National Livelihoods strategy (2016-2018), UNHCR’s global strategy for livelihoods (2014-2018) as well as core strategic direction seeking to promote inclusion and self-reliance as stipulated in the UNHCR Strategic direction 2017 -2021. As such, the consulting firm/ consultants sought should familiarize themselves with the contents of the guiding documents.

Objective/ Purpose of the Assignment

A Consulting Institution/firm/team of consultants is/are sought who will be responsible for undertaking a comprehensive market assessment in Maban. It is envisaged that findings of the market assessment and value chain analysis/mapping; will inform livelihood response in a way that strengthens impact and sustainability of livelihood interventions through market aligned ways of assisting persons of concern in Maban.

The consultant will be expected; in collaboration with Relief International to develop a detailed research and analysis plan, including plans for: recruitment and training of research assistants; implementation of data collection in the field; qualitative and quantitative data analysis and reporting.

Expected Deliverables

1. An overview of the target group’s profile including their age, educational background, capacities, skills, professional experience, legal status, current income-generating activities as well as key challenges and constraints. Collected data should be disaggregated by gender, age and ethnicity. For this target group analysis, consultants can draw upon already existing UNHCR profiling exercises and studies.
2. Rapid market assessment – to establish functionality of existing markets [Hyperinflation, localized conflicts and devaluation of South Sudanese Pounds continue to be of major concern]; households consumption patterns, income and expenditure.’
3. Labor market assessment – an assessment of the labor market with particular focus on economic opportunities for self-employment through skills development and enterprise creation. Areas of focus may include: identification of gaps and opportunities for market drivenskills development and business creation; capacity of market to absorb new labor; potential areas of skills/enterprise development based on growing demand for innovative products, new skills and services and relevant skills set for the future.
4. Conduct overall market opportunity mapping and documentation of existing as well as potential value chains/sectors where refugee youth and women as well as vulnerable internally displaced persons and host community can be integrated for self-employment and enterprise creation. Priority sectors/ sub-sectors should have potential for profitability, growth and decent employment for the target group.
5. Value Chain Analysis/Mapping – Review existing and potential sectors and sub-sectors identified as per deliverable 4 above.
   • In the key sectors identified, document areas for self-employment creation within the value chain, expansion of youth participation in the value chain, opportunities for gender inclusive value chains as well as introduction of innovative approaches to ensure value chain competitiveness. Evaluate constraints and bottlenecks within the value chain and propose possible solutions.
   • Skills assessment and profiling should be undertaken alongside value chain analysis to identify areas of skills development and knowledge transfer that can be improved with regard to the specific value chains.
   • An overview of existing financial and business support services as well as regulatory constraints and opportunities for the economic development of the sectors identified and regulatory constraints specific to the refugees should be documented.
6. Produce value chain maps of key sectors identified for possible intervention. Based on assessment findings document possible intervention approaches to expand sustainable access to economic and income generating opportunities for refugee, internally displaced persons as well as host community youth and women.
7. Conduct a livelihood stakeholders meeting to present a snapshot of initial findings of the value chain analysis and discuss specific sector recommendations for Value Chain Development
8. Final report with findings, further recommendations for the project and proposed intervention

Qualifications & Requirements:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in demanding and often difficult environments.

• Qualification to Master’s degree level preferably in rural livelihoods, rural economics, community development, agribusiness, agriculture economics, food and livelihood security or equivalent
• Vast experience working on markets and livelihoods assessments; value chain analysis and value chain development in fragile and conflict affected settings hosting displaced populations
• Familiarity with EMMA tool kit and ILO Value Chain Development methodologies
• Demonstrated experience undertaking similar studies in refugee contexts
• Well versed in using relevant statistical analysis software e.g SPSS, as well as Open Data Kit
• Well versed in market and value chain analysis; evidenced by previous work experience or consultancy experience in the topic (2 Samples of written work on similar assignment is expected)
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality, clear and concise technical reports in English
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English

RI Values:
We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

· Inclusiveness

· Transparency and Accountability

· Agility and Innovation

· Collaboration

· Sustainability

Please apply at:

http://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=RI&cws=4&rid=1086

We have not included a closing date for this position. Due to the critical nature of this position, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates will be interviewed prior to the closing dates listed on any of the job boards. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.