Consultancy for Market Assessment for The Protect SRHR Project

Project Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in partnership with World Vision (WV), Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU), Humanity & Inclusion (HI), and Open Capital Advisors (OCA), has secured a four-year grant from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) to implement the PROTECT SRHR project whose major goal is to improve Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the social wellbeing of over one million adolescents, young people, and women of reproductive age in six districts of West Nile, Uganda including Koboko, Maracha, Terego, Nebbi, Packwach, and Yumbe. The project aims to achieve 04 long-term and 02 intermediate outcomes.

Long-term Outcomes:

1. Reduced preventable maternal deaths
2. Reduced teenage pregnancies
3. Reduced sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and child marriage
4. Reduced new HIV infections among adolescents, especially girls

Intermediate Outcomes:

1. Increased access to and utilization of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and SGBV services by women, adolescents, and young people (10-24), including marginalized groups
2. Improved retention and completion rates of girls and boys in primary and secondary school.

Background to the Market Assessment

The IRC recognizes the link between SRHR and poverty. Financial constraints perpetuate harmful social norms and limit access to essential services, including SRHR, prevention of SGBV, and education, particularly in impoverished communities.

The PROTECT SRHR project integrates economic empowerment as a critical component. By providing targeted livelihood support and economic empowerment opportunities to young people (aged 15-24), women of reproductive age (aged 25-49), youth with disabilities, and multi-dimensional groups, the project aims to mitigate harmful social norms, enhance individual agency, increase access to SRHR services and promote school attendance. Ultimately, economic empowerment will serve as a catalyst for marginalized individuals to realize their SRH rights and improve their overall well-being.

To determine viable livelihood options for the target population, a comprehensive analysis is required to understand their current economic activities, as well as the broader market conditions including assessing market demand and trends, competition and market saturation, and potential for growth and expansion, as well as considering the skills, resources, and aspirations of the target population.

Furthermore, to support the target groups, the PROTECT SRHR project will employ a range of assistance modalities, including cash assistance through suitable transfer mechanisms and In-kind support. Therefore, the assessment will also seek to find suitable modalities of assistance to inform the project’s assistance strategies, ensuring that they are tailored to the specific needs and contexts of the target groups, and that assistance is delivered in a convenient, secure, and efficient manner.

Purpose of the consultancy

The Purpose of the consultancy is to conduct a market assessment looking at the formal and informal markets to assess viable farm and non-farm income opportunities in Yumbe, Terego, Koboko Maracha,Pakwachi Nebbi and Arua districts to identify suitable and viable farm and non-farm small business enterprises for the target beneficiaries to build a resilient livelihood and recommend appropriate strategies for the promotion of the uptake of the identified viable enterprises by the project target beneficiaries. The assessment will look at both formal and informal business opportunities by profiling the farm and non-farm market opportunities suitable for the target beneficiaries.

Specific Objectives.

• Map out the existing market opportunities in the selected districts, to identify the farm and non-farm economic opportunities and markets that can be exploited by the target group of women, adolescents, and young people.
• Determine the local market entry requirements, investment/start-up capital size, skills, and regulations required for the target beneficiaries to exploit the identified opportunities.
• Assess and determine the appropriate project intervention strategies to support the target beneficiaries to establish and grow businesses in line with the potential business opportunities for income generation.
• Provide a clear cost-benefit analysis for each of the identified opportunities, projected market size, and suggested market inclusion strategies for marginalized, market demand and supply situation, and profitability.

Scope of the Market Assessment

The market assessment will focus on the districts of Yumbe, Koboko, Terego, Maracha, Nebbi and Pakwachi but will take into account the Arua and cross border Markets. In the region.

The assessment will focus on a range of areas including but not limited to skilling and vocational training opportunities, crop production and agricultural entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and access to credit and enterprise development and entrepreneurship support.

In consideration of the disability aspect, the market assessment should also explore disability-inclusive economic opportunities, accessible financial services and products and adaptive technologies and assistive devices.

Furthermore, the assessment should map service providers, financial institutions, and other organizations that can offer linkage opportunities to the beneficiaries. This will facilitate partnerships, collaborations, and referrals that can support the economic empowerment of the target groups.

To ensure effective and efficient delivery of assistance, the survey should also establish the following, available financial services providers in the project locations, suitable medium of transfer (e.g. mobile money, banks etc), preferred modality of transfer among the target groups, mobile phone coverage and accessibility and access to financial service providers

Responsibility of the Consultant

• Develop an inception report outlining the assessment approach, methodology and timeline, working closely with the PROTECT SRHR project team.
• Constitute, deploy and supervise a competent assessment team.
• Conduct literature reviews, secondary research, and analysis of existing data.
• Analyze and interpret data, identifying key findings, trends and insights.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of the assessment findings and report.
• Provide actionable recommendations.
• Conduct a validation workshop for the market study.
• Maintain regular communication with IRC.
• Sign the IRC Uganda Safeguarding Policy and abide by the terms and conditions thereof.

Responsibilities of IRC

• Develop the terms of reference for the market assessment, defining the objectives, scope and expected outcome.
• Provide the consultant with the necessary information, data, and access to stakeholders.
• Facilitate introductions to key stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives and community leaders.
• Review and provide feedback on the consultant’s inception report, draft report and final report.
• Provide feedback to the consultant on their performance.
• Review and approve the study design, methodology and data collection tools

Expected Deliverables

• An inception Report
• Market Assessment Report- A comprehensive report that provides an in-depth analysis of the market.
• Market Analysis Presentation- A concise presentation (Max 20-30 slides) summarizing key findings and recommendations from the market assessment report.
• Data Collection tools- Copies of the data collection tools used during the market assessment.
• Literature review- A compilation of relevant literature, research papers and industry reports used to inform the market assessment.

Assignment Duration

The consultant will be reimbursed for up to 45 working days. This includes all relevant field work, one day validation workshop, and finalization and submission of an acceptable final report of the study.

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