International Youth Foundation African Youth Employment Sectoral Analysis
Request for Proposals:
African Youth Employment Sectoral Analysis
Deadline: 5:00 pm EDT September 10, 2012
Background
Effective youth employability programming requires a nuanced understanding of local labor market trends and opportunities, as well as circumstances of young people. In order to design programs that meet the needs of both employers and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the International Youth Foundation (IYF) has been conducting a series of dual-client assessments that analyze both the demand and supply sides in order to match available employment/entrepreneurship opportunities for “decent work” with target youth populations.
To date, IYF has completed assessments in Senegal, Uganda and Mozambique. Building on these assessments and IYF’s previous programs in the region, IYF proposes to conduct a comparative analysis of labor market trends and opportunities in SSA and sub-regions within SSA. In addition, targeted, sector-specific labor market assessment data will be collected in the following countries:
• East Africa—Uganda, Tanzania
• West Africa—Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana
• Southern Africa—South Africa, Mozambique
• Central Africa—Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
IYF is looking for a consultant/consulting firm to conduct extensive secondary research as well as targeted labor market primary research—over the next two to three-month period starting in September 2012. The consultancy will produce both a mid-course report on secondary research findings (October) as well as an overarching youth employment sectoral analysis report (December).
Proposed Methodology
Secondary Research
The consultant will first conduct secondary research to determine specific labor market trends and promising sectors for youth employment in the above-listed countries, covering both urban and rural areas, as well as at a macro and regional level. Based on individual country contexts, growth sectors of focus may vary but the consultant will make every effort to make a comparative analysis of major growth sectors across all countries and regions to the extent possible, in consultation with IYF. Sectors could include, for example: information technology, business process outsourcing, mining/extractive industry, agriculture, hospitality, retail, construction, and security services. Preliminary results will include a set of promising sectors, market potential and specific employment opportunities within each sector, covering both formal and informal sectors.
Analysis should also examine the quality of jobs available to youth, using the ILO’s definition of “decent work” as a starting point (with an analytical framework to be further developed by the consultant/firm). Other aspects of quality will include: the prospects for youths’ career advancement; the skill building potential of various jobs; the transferability of skills youth obtain; salary scales and growth potential; job security/benefits; etc. Analysis should also examine the quantity of jobs vis-à-vis labor market demand, particularly in overlooked/underserved domains and those that can be scaled up.
Primary Research
The secondary research will be complemented by primary research, which is to be conducted through key informant interviews for a more in-depth assessment of sectors and to understand the circumstances of youth and their aspirations for “decent work” in select countries—Ghana, Nigeria, DRC, Tanzania and South Africa. The purpose of these key informant interviews is to gather data that can complement/validate secondary research findings, and accurately identify youth employment needs and opportunities in each respective country. For primary data collection, field visits are envisioned to take place in October—about a week in each country to conduct approximately 15-20 interviews with employers from the sectors identified as promising and other key stakeholders. As appropriate, the consultant will conduct a few focus group discussions with youth in each country, which may be facilitated by IYF’s partner organizations. These field visits may happen concurrently if IYF decides to work with a consulting firm with a dedicated team of researchers.
Deliverables:
Deliverables Deadline
• Secondary research completed focusing on growth sectors and opportunities for youth employment/entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa and within sub-regions (or cross-border) October 15
• Preliminary findings submitted to IYF (5-7 page analytical paper and a powerpoint presentation to accompany it), based on the secondary research conducted. This will include a set of promising sectors and opportunities for youth employment/entrepreneurship and key stakeholders regionally. October 15
• Draft Analytical Framework for assessing the extent to which each growth sector/opportunity fits within the definition of “decent work” for youth (to be used for Phase II of the research and included in the final report). October 15
• Primary research, key stakeholder interviews and country field visits conducted (i.e., stakeholder interviews and potentially some youth focus group discussions conducted) October- November
• Draft sectoral analysis report submitted to IYF for review and feedback. The report will be a comparative analysis and include a list of growth sectors with specific employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth in Sub-Saharan Africa that meet the criteria for “decent work” established by the study. November 15
• Final sectoral analysis report submitted to IYF November 30
Submission Instructions
A 5-8 page research proposal describing the proposed research approach, proposed key sources of relevant secondary data to review for Phase I, research questions for key stakeholder interviews, and a preliminary outline of the final report should be submitted no later than 5 pm EDT September 10th to youthmap@iyfnet.org
Additional requirements: A cost proposal (preferably in an Excel spreadsheet) and CVs for the principal investigator and any other proposed team members should also be included in the submission as appendices (and will not be included in the above page count restriction).
Questions and inquiries should be sent to the email address above.
African Youth Employment Sectoral Analysis
Deadline: 5:00 pm EDT September 10, 2012
Background
Effective youth employability programming requires a nuanced understanding of local labor market trends and opportunities, as well as circumstances of young people. In order to design programs that meet the needs of both employers and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the International Youth Foundation (IYF) has been conducting a series of dual-client assessments that analyze both the demand and supply sides in order to match available employment/entrepreneurship opportunities for “decent work” with target youth populations.
To date, IYF has completed assessments in Senegal, Uganda and Mozambique. Building on these assessments and IYF’s previous programs in the region, IYF proposes to conduct a comparative analysis of labor market trends and opportunities in SSA and sub-regions within SSA. In addition, targeted, sector-specific labor market assessment data will be collected in the following countries:
• East Africa—Uganda, Tanzania
• West Africa—Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana
• Southern Africa—South Africa, Mozambique
• Central Africa—Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
IYF is looking for a consultant/consulting firm to conduct extensive secondary research as well as targeted labor market primary research—over the next two to three-month period starting in September 2012. The consultancy will produce both a mid-course report on secondary research findings (October) as well as an overarching youth employment sectoral analysis report (December).
Proposed Methodology
Secondary Research
The consultant will first conduct secondary research to determine specific labor market trends and promising sectors for youth employment in the above-listed countries, covering both urban and rural areas, as well as at a macro and regional level. Based on individual country contexts, growth sectors of focus may vary but the consultant will make every effort to make a comparative analysis of major growth sectors across all countries and regions to the extent possible, in consultation with IYF. Sectors could include, for example: information technology, business process outsourcing, mining/extractive industry, agriculture, hospitality, retail, construction, and security services. Preliminary results will include a set of promising sectors, market potential and specific employment opportunities within each sector, covering both formal and informal sectors.
Analysis should also examine the quality of jobs available to youth, using the ILO’s definition of “decent work” as a starting point (with an analytical framework to be further developed by the consultant/firm). Other aspects of quality will include: the prospects for youths’ career advancement; the skill building potential of various jobs; the transferability of skills youth obtain; salary scales and growth potential; job security/benefits; etc. Analysis should also examine the quantity of jobs vis-à-vis labor market demand, particularly in overlooked/underserved domains and those that can be scaled up.
Primary Research
The secondary research will be complemented by primary research, which is to be conducted through key informant interviews for a more in-depth assessment of sectors and to understand the circumstances of youth and their aspirations for “decent work” in select countries—Ghana, Nigeria, DRC, Tanzania and South Africa. The purpose of these key informant interviews is to gather data that can complement/validate secondary research findings, and accurately identify youth employment needs and opportunities in each respective country. For primary data collection, field visits are envisioned to take place in October—about a week in each country to conduct approximately 15-20 interviews with employers from the sectors identified as promising and other key stakeholders. As appropriate, the consultant will conduct a few focus group discussions with youth in each country, which may be facilitated by IYF’s partner organizations. These field visits may happen concurrently if IYF decides to work with a consulting firm with a dedicated team of researchers.
Deliverables:
Deliverables Deadline
• Secondary research completed focusing on growth sectors and opportunities for youth employment/entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa and within sub-regions (or cross-border) October 15
• Preliminary findings submitted to IYF (5-7 page analytical paper and a powerpoint presentation to accompany it), based on the secondary research conducted. This will include a set of promising sectors and opportunities for youth employment/entrepreneurship and key stakeholders regionally. October 15
• Draft Analytical Framework for assessing the extent to which each growth sector/opportunity fits within the definition of “decent work” for youth (to be used for Phase II of the research and included in the final report). October 15
• Primary research, key stakeholder interviews and country field visits conducted (i.e., stakeholder interviews and potentially some youth focus group discussions conducted) October- November
• Draft sectoral analysis report submitted to IYF for review and feedback. The report will be a comparative analysis and include a list of growth sectors with specific employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth in Sub-Saharan Africa that meet the criteria for “decent work” established by the study. November 15
• Final sectoral analysis report submitted to IYF November 30
Submission Instructions
A 5-8 page research proposal describing the proposed research approach, proposed key sources of relevant secondary data to review for Phase I, research questions for key stakeholder interviews, and a preliminary outline of the final report should be submitted no later than 5 pm EDT September 10th to youthmap@iyfnet.org
Additional requirements: A cost proposal (preferably in an Excel spreadsheet) and CVs for the principal investigator and any other proposed team members should also be included in the submission as appendices (and will not be included in the above page count restriction).
Questions and inquiries should be sent to the email address above.
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