Terms of Reference for Consultancy Service

Terms of Reference for Consultancy Service

Study on Greens Jobs Opportunities for Women Economic Empowerment in Nepal

Background

VSO is an international development agency with over 60 years’ experience of addressing poverty and marginalisation through our unique approach of working through international, national and community volunteers. By bringing together different perspectives and working at all levels of society – from communities to government ministries – volunteers can build trust and provide the right support to ensure that national development efforts deliver lasting change.  Our works falls into the three thematic areas of Health, Education and Livelihoods.

VSO Nepal has a short term and longer-term engagement in livelihoods opportunities. In line with the principles of resilient and inclusive programs, VSO also ensures that such livelihoods opportunities need to be compatible that bring changes in the most marginalized communities and also be climate responsible. There exits different policies and practices on inclusive and climate responsive livelihoods opportunities in Nepal. The country has profound experiences in green economy as part of climate change interventions. https://www.ilo.org/asia/projects/WCMS_160269/lang--en/index.htm

These practices are initiated by Government and other civil society organizations. Being these are generic as there has not been any further analysis on feasibility of these green jobs that caters needs of youth and women. Therefore, there is need of analysing these green job opportunities from youth and gender perspectives. It is anticipated that this study will help us to guide VSO in future interventions of promoting green economy centred around economic empowerment of youth and women. Besides, this will also provide information on the current policy and best practices on green jobs (Climate responsive) opportunities targeting women and marginalized youths.

This country assessment will have a national focus where the consultant will be required to carry out a thorough desk review to understand the potentialities of Green Jobs and appropriate options targeting women and youth mainly representing marginalized sections of society.

Objectives of the consultancy

The study aims to explore opportunities, strategies and readiness of VSO to design and implement green jobs and enterprises and circular economy for strengthening economic empowerment of youth and women in Nepal. This would be further focused on

Specific objectives

• Identify new and/or existing green jobs/enterprise opportunities, practices and sectors with greening potential and biodiversity preservation that are appropriate for youth and women.
• Analyze opportunities, challenges and limitations for implementing green jobs/enterprises and circular economy targeting youth and women.
• Identify skill requirements for green jobs, enterprises and circular economy and how they can be developed.
• Provide programmatic, practice and policy recommendations on scaling up green jobs, enterprises and circular economy including the appropriate jobs for the identified provinces including definition of outcomes and expected results through a concise concept note. These should be aligned to VSO youth empowerment and decent work strategy, core approaches and Volunteering for Development (VfD) framework.
• Define how green jobs/enterprises can be implemented including funding and resourcing opportunities.

Main tasks, responsibilities and scope of work

While a desk study is a key approach, we recommend blending it strongly with real examples, case studies, specific policy opportunities, programmes/funding available and potential partner organisations who can support such an initiative including appropriate and interested trade unions with keen interest in green jobs. Besides, the recommendations should be presented in clear and concise language with practical examples. It will help agencies to adopt these recommendations for funding around green jobs.

Thus, the consultant and the team is expected to facilitate the following tasks:

• In depth desk review of external documents including policy and strategies, research and project learning and evidences
• Telephonic Interviews with key informants targeting women and youth from selected geographies, development and government actors as well as professionals and academicians at national and local levels - exhaustive list to be determined
• Investigate specific sectors (waste, agriculture, textile, forest based green enterprises etc); and also identify any groups that are supporting these interventions.

Geographic Focus

• The study will be focused to explore green jobs and enterprise and circular economy opportunities with more emphasis to Province two and Karnali province.

Key expected deliverables

• An inception report at the start of the assignment, detailing the agreed upon methodology, for the assignment including identified geography, list of stakeholders to be interviewed, format for KII
• An analytical report using VSO’s template and preferred report structure, which basically comprises a format of the following format:
  • Title page
  • acknowledgement o acronym list
  • List of figures and tables.
  • Executive summary (maximum 3 pages), o Background,
  • Methodology
  • Limitations of the study
  • Key findings and analysis (based on the agreed upon framework) 
  • Conclusions and recommendations.
  • list of annexures.
• A presentation PPT using VSO’s template and summarizing the key findings and recommendations
• The final report should be provided in an electronic format compatible with Microsoft Word for Windows.
• All data collected in form of questionnaires, will be returned to VSO for safe disposal according to organizational policy, unless otherwise agreed on safe disposal with the consultant.

Time and level of effort

• The expected level of effort is estimated to max. 12 days as the study should be completed within 31 May 2021.

Essential/Required qualifications, skills, knowledge and competencies

Qualifications/Experience

• At least 7 years’ experience in Environment Science, Micro-enterprise promotion including green enterprises and climate smart livelihood options, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management , value chain analysis
• Experience of conducting analytical research and studies mainly on Green and low carbon solutions, green jobs, green products for national and international markets, global markets which help for the alleviate poverty and inequality among different women and youth

Knowledge

• In depth knowledge of Green Jobs and associated value chain
• Preferable to have knowledge of Local and National Adaption Plan, Disaster Risk Reduction and other DRR and Climate Change initiatives
• Good connections with key players in the sector
• Knowledge of then Volunteering for Development approach and VSO

Application procedure and requirement

• A cover letter
• At least 2 references of previous similar work (letters from previous employers and copies of report)
• Technical Proposal which includes the methodology and proposed contents of this assignment.
• CV of the proposed team members.
• Financial Proposal indicating complete plan and activities as per ToR
• Copy of company registration certificate
• Copy of PAN/VAT registration certificate (Required Business PAN registration certificate for individual consultant)
• Latest Tax Clearance Certificate of FY 076/77

Application submission

• The submission closed date is 13th May 2021.
• Submissions should be addressed to: procurement.nepal@vsoint.org