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Consultant to review the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative

Reference: G/CWG/0413
Location: Pan-Commonwealth
Duration: 90 person days over 6 months
Closing Date: 20 Jun 2011

Project: Enhancing Youth Enterprise Development in Commonwealth Africa

Required: Consultant/Consultancy firm

Responsible to: Director GIDD or his nominee

Project Background

A short-term consultant is being recruited to lead in the review of the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI) and document best practices on enterprise development from a number of countries that have implemented the CYCI methodology. This will be undertaken over a period of ninety days spread over six months, with a number of countries participating. The selection of countries will include countries that have successfully implemented the initiative, as well as countries that have not been as successful. This will lead to a revised CYCI tool kit as well as a best practice guide on the CYCI and youth enterprise development.

The high level of youth unemployment has therefore been recognised as having a direct impact on many Commonwealth Member states economies and national development. High unemployment levels among youth are often linked to high crime rates and social instability. To respond to this challenge, a number of Commonwealth Member States have been supported in the implementation and development of a credit youth scheme under the auspices of the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI).

The CYCI is a facility developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat to address issues of youth unemployment and poverty. The overall objective of CYCI is to promote youth employment and reduce poverty among the young people of the Commonwealth. CYCI is an integrated package of micro-credit, enterprise training and business support targeted at young women and men (18-35) with the potential for self-employment. The CYCI is designed to encourage youth employment and alleviate poverty among young people of the Commonwealth through the promotion of youth entrepreneurship.

Apart from providing loans the CYCI also provides training, education and business support to entrepreneurs. After it was piloted in Guyana, India, Solomon Islands and Zambia, the initiative has since been replicated in a further 12 countries. In India alone, more than 1,000 businesses have been set up as a result of loans from this initiative. Each country has adopted the model to fit its own context. Through this initiative Governments are supported to develop an integrated package of training and credit for the youth to enable them to start and grow their enterprises in order to create jobs and, thereby, reduce poverty.

The CYCI has the following features:

  • The target beneficiaries are youth (18-35 years)
  • Operations through the group lending methodology
  • Training in business management skills and development of business plans
  • Provision of credit through groups and individuals
  • Follow-up training and follow-up on business performance

Additional requests have been received to provide technical support to the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI), in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre for Africa in Namibia, Swaziland and Cameroon, while supporting new initiatives in Zambia and Nigeria. The review is expected to provide best practices and lessons learnt to countries implementing CYCI and other youth enterprise development initiatives to be implemented in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Review of CYCI Methodology

As we implement CYCI projects in these five countries, the consultant will:

  • Undertake a desk review of final projects reports and consultancy reports from countries that have implemented CYCI projects.
  • Review operations of previously implemented CYCI projects; Jointly with GIDD TC&SRG and YAD/CYP Programme Manager, the consultant will identify a number of countries that have previously implemented CYCI projects and undertake field studies in up to five countries with a combination of successful and not so successful projects. These studies are expected to reveal strengths and weakness of the CYCI methodology and lessons learnt.
  • Through the desk review and field visits, identify and document best and replicable practices in the delivery of the CYCI projects for dissemination to other countries considering implementation of CYCI and other enterprise initiatives being implemented in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
  • Review the CYCI tool kit at pan Commonwealth level and provide a revised toolkit for dissemination through YAD/CYP.
  • Support YAD/CYP in the production of best practice guide on CYCI and youth enterprise development within the Commonwealth.
  • Provide prototypes of appropriate documentation developed regarding the management and administration of youth credit schemes using the CYCI methodology.
  • The following will be the deliverables from this review.
  • Consultancy Report that documents the CYCI project implementation process, methodology, outputs/outcomes, lessons learnt and proposed recommendations to improve future practices.
  • A revised CYCI tool kit at pan Commonwealth level for publication and dissemination through YAD/CYP.
  • A best practice guide on CYCI and youth enterprise development.

Implementation Arrangements and Reporting

The Consultant(s) will report to a Project Manager in the Commonwealth Secretariat, Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) and work closely with the Youth Affairs Division and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Regional Centre for Africa. The project manager will monitor the progress of the project from London, United Kingdom. The consultant(s) will prepare a draft report and a final report not later than one month after the end of the review period.

Professional Skills/Qualifications

This assignment can be undertaken either by an individual consultant or a consultancy firm that provides experts with relevant expertise.

  • All the experts should have minimum of Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences
  • A masters degree in Economics, Social sciences or Business administration will be a definite advantage
  • At least seven (7) years experience in Small & Micro Enterprise programmes
  • At least five (5) years working within the youth enterprise development field
  • Good liaison and communication skills in a multi-cultural setting
  • Strong background in IT applications for business
  • Good analytical, report-writing and editing skills with ability to produce high quality work independently

Proposal and Budget

Interested Consultant/consultancy firms are required to submit a proposal which should include the following:

  • Company profile, if applicable;
  • CV of consultant(s);
  • Proposed methodology and plan of action;
  • Budget and time lines

The Secretariat will separately fund travel to the five countries and any dissemination workshops which may be organised as part of this review.

Submission of Proposals

For information regarding this consultancy or to submit the proposal and the Company Consultancy Form/Personal History Form* (as applicable), please contact:

Mrs Puja D Sharma
HR (CFTC), Commonwealth Secretariat
Pall Mall, London UK, SW1Y 5HX
Email: p.sharma@commonwealth.int
Phone: + 44 207 747 6531
Fax: + 44 20 7747 6520

*The Company Consultancy Form may be downloaded from the Secretariat Website on the Employment / Vacancy / Consultancy Company Assignments page. The Personal History Form may be downloaded from the Secretariat Website on the Employment / Vacancies / Short term Assignments (overseas) page. The forms are only available in PDF format.

The proposal and the form should be forwarded to the contact officer as an attachment to an email or by post / fax.

Please Note: This invitation is open to consulting companies registered in Commonwealth member countries and independent consultants who are nationals of Commonwealth member countries.

Download the Terms of Reference