Terms of Reference (ToR): Market Research Consultancy to Support Livelihood Opportunities for Marginalized Girls

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Market Research Consultancy to Support Livelihood Opportunities for Marginalized Girls

Target Group: Girls Aged 15 to 20

Location: Janakpur Sub-Metro, Madhesh Province

Duration: 2 Months

Organizational Context:

Street Child is a non-profit organization established in 2008 that aims to support children living in vulnerable settings to ensure they have access to education, including the estimated 260 million school-age children worldwide who do not attend school.

Street Child works to ensure children are safe, in school, and learning - even, and especially, in low resource environments and emergencies. Street Child specializes in working with local level organizations for lasting impact. Since 2008, Street Child has supported 750,000+ children and 50,000+ caregivers across 20+ countries in Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Street Child is a dynamic and fast-growing British NGO recognized for an agile, ambitious approach and has an annual programmatic portfolio of $28M across a range of conflict and crisis context. From 2021 to 2024 we aim to reach one million children – while our national partners reach millions more. We target the most marginalized children and communities who are forgotten or left behind, through consistent outcome-oriented programming that enables adoption, adaptation, and scaling of successful interventions through national partnerships.

Core Values

1. Integrity: We uphold the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all our interactions.
2. Excellence: We strive for excellence in everything we do, delivering high-quality outcomes and continuous improvement.
3. Innovation: We embrace creativity and innovation, seeking new and effective ways to address challenges and drive positive change.
4. Collaboration: We foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, working together across teams and with external partners to achieve common goals.
5. Respect: We treat everyone with dignity and respect, valuing diversity and recognizing the unique contributions of everyone.
6. Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and decisions, being accountable to our stakeholders and committed to delivering on our promises. 
7. Community Focus: We are dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities we serve, prioritizing their needs and well-being.
8. Adaptability: We embrace change and are adaptable in the face of evolving circumstances, learning, and growing to stay relevant and effective.
9. Sustainability: We are committed to environmental and social sustainability, considering the long-term impact of our actions on the planet and society.
10. Empowerment: We empower individuals to reach their full potential, fostering a culture that encourages initiative, creativity, and continuous learning.
11. Inclusivity: We actively promote an inclusive culture, ensuring equal opportunities and valuing the perspectives of all team members.

Overview

Street Child of Nepal is currently implementing the "She Leads: Life Skills and Entrepreneurship" project aimed at empowering marginalized Dalit girls, aged 15-20, in Madhesh Province, Nepal. Dalit girls, particularly those who are married, experience significant social, economic, and educational exclusion. Building on the success of previous initiatives, this project will offer financial literacy, life skills, and entrepreneurship training, along with mentorship and resources, to enable these girls to start enterprises and improve their socio-economic conditions. The goal of the initiative is to break the cycles of poverty, exclusion, and exploitation while promoting sustainable, systemic change and enhancing the overall well-being of the participants.

Street Child intends to conduct a market research study in Madhesh Province, focusing to support the transition of married marginalized Dalit girls aged 15-20 to sustainable income generating opportunities. The primary objective of this study is to assess business enterprise opportunities for this demographic, considering both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The research will analyze market trends, emerging sectors, and skillsets relevant to the target group while identifying key enterprises for self-employment and business enterprise development. The research will explore potential sectors and skills that can provide viable livelihood options, as well as the market opportunities and the barriers and enablers that impact these girls' access to sustainable livelihoods. The findings will help shape strategies for intervention and livelihood support programs.

Objectives of the Consultancy:

The primary objective is to conduct a market research study to identify livelihood opportunities for married Dalit girls aged 15-20 in Madhesh Province. The research will focus on:

1. Conduct a comprehensive market research survey to identify potential livelihood opportunities (both self-employment and business enterprise)
2. Analyzing potential sectors and skills, current market trends and value chains related to the identified sectors for self-employment and business enterprise, focusing on both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.
3. Identifying viable transition pathways for the target group, highlighting self-employment opportunities, market engagement, and entrepreneurial potential taking into consideration their social, economic, and cultural contexts.
4. Produce a clear and contextualized market research report that outlines actionable recommendations, strategies, to design targeted livelihood support interventions, addressing the needs of the target group and ensuring alignment with local market dynamics.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Research Design & Data Collection:

• Design and conduct a survey targeting married Dalit girls aged 15-20 in Madhesh Province, gathering data on their education, skills, self-employment status, and livelihood aspirations.
• Identify potential sectors and skill sets aligned with local market demand (both agricultural and non-agricultural) that offer self-employment or business enterprise opportunities within the local context, considering geographic, economic, and social factors.
• Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including local employers, value chain actors, community leaders, and representatives of other livelihood programs.
• Conduct a gender analysis to understand the barriers faced by marginalized Dalit girls in accessing self-employment and enterprise opportunities.

2. Data Analysis:

• Analyze the collected data to identify key trends and barriers to livelihood opportunities for the target group.
• Provide a clear outline of potential self-employment and business enterprise opportunities, taking into account the local socio-economic context and the needs of the target group focusing on short-term and medium-term feasibility for the target group.

3. Development of Livelihood Pathways:

• Based on the market research findings, develop clear transition pathways for the target group, identifying key opportunities for self-employment and business enterprise.
• Design strategies for livelihood interventions, ensuring that these strategies are aligned with local needs and the capacity of the implementing team.

4. Report Writing and Presentation:

• Prepare a comprehensive market research report that includes:
  • Detailed analysis of viable sectors/skills for self-employment and business enterprise.
  • A list of identified self-employers and enterprises for potential engagement.
  • Recommendations for creating access to livelihood opportunities for the target group.
  • SWOT or appropriate tools and PESTLE analysis outcomes for the local market and the target group.
  • Clear strategies and actionable recommendations for the livelihood program based on the project intervention.
  • Detailed documentation of findings and stakeholder inputs.
• Share the draft report for review and incorporate feedback from the program team and stakeholders.
• Present findings to stakeholders, including the program team, implementing partners, and key local actors.

Key Deliverables:

1. Inception Report (within 1 week):

• A detailed methodology and work plan, including process, tools for survey and data collection, and a timeline for the assignment.

2. Market Research Report:

• A final comprehensive report, including:
  • Analysis of potential self-employment and business enterprise sectors (on the available resources)
  • A detailed market analysis report highlighting livelihood opportunities, sector and skill recommendations, and barriers/enablers for the target group.
  • List of identified sectors/skills with the feasibility of self-employment and business enterprise opportunities.
  • Recommendations for the implementation of the livelihood program tailored to the needs of the target group.

3. Presentation of Findings:

• A clear, actionable presentation to stakeholders and program team summarizing the key findings, recommendations, and actionable steps for the livelihood program.

Methodology:

The consultant will use a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect and analyze data, including:

• Surveys with target group to assess their skills, interests, and livelihood challenges.
• Interviews (KII) with key stakeholders such as employers, local businesses, community leaders, and other livelihood project implementers.
• Focus group discussions (FGDs) with the target group to gather deeper insight into their needs, skills, and aspirations and to gain insights into the community's perspectives on self-employment and enterprise opportunities.
• Desk research to understand the broader socio-economic conditions in Madhesh Province, and analysis of primary as well as secondary data on the local economy, self/employment trends, and sector-specific growth potential.

Qualifications of the Firm:

The external firm or consultant should possess the following qualifications:

1. Proven experience in conducting impact evaluations for similar programs, particularly those related to women/girls' empowerment, life skills, and economic development.
2. Demonstrated expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
3. Familiarity with gender-sensitive evaluation approaches and ability to engage with marginalized populations.
4. A strong team with sectoral expertise, including evaluators, data analysts, and field researchers.
5. Excellent writing and presentation skills in English; familiarity with the local context and languages will be an advantage.

Education:

• A master’s degree in agriculture, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field (Team Leader)

Professional Experience:

• Proven experience working with marginalized communities, especially in livelihood development or skill-building.
• Experience in market analysis, including the supply and demand of goods and services in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in English and Nepali (spoken and written).
• Fluency in Maithili (Enumerators) is highly desirable to facilitate communication with local communities.

Competencies:

• Strong research, business planning, and analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently and effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• High-level communication and presentation skills.
• Experience working in a multicultural and diverse environment.

Timeframe:

The overall assignment is anticipated to be completed within 45 days after the approval of the inception report.

Estimated Commencement Date: 1 April 2025

Budget:

The proposal should include a detailed breakdown of the budget for the assignment. This should itemize costs for each component, including consultant fees, travel expenses, and any other relevant costs. Providing a transparent and well-justified budget will help the organization assess the cost-effectiveness of the proposal.

Additional Information: Applicants should include all supplementary details that strengthen their proposal. This could include CVs of team members, certifications, awards, or testimonials from satisfied clients.

Evaluation Criteria:

The award will be granted to the applicant whose proposal is most responsive to this solicitation document, meets all criteria and technical requirements outlined in the Terms of Reference (ToR), and provides the best value to Street Child. We will use the tradeoff process to evaluate and score each proposal based on the evaluation criteria listed in the table below. Cost proposals will be assigned points, similar to technical evaluation factors. In evaluating proposals, Street Child will use the following evaluation criteria:

Proposal Submission:

Interested and eligible bidders are requested to submit their sealed bids to the Street Child of Nepal office at Thasikhel-13, Lalitpur, Nepal. The bid must be addressed to Street Child of Nepal and clearly labeled as 'Proposal for Market Research Consultancy'. It should include the full details of the applicant, including the name and address of the submitting organization. Any inquiries regarding this solicitation may be sent to operation.nepal@street-child.org by 25th March 2025. Responses to inquiries will be provided by 26th March 2025. The deadline for bid submission is 28th March 2025. 

Required Documents

1. Technical proposal outlining the firm’s understanding of the task, proposed methodology, team composition, and work plan.
2. Financial proposal detailing costs.
3. CVs of the proposed team members.
4. Examples of similar evaluations conducted in the past.

*Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review and Approval:

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Education Advisor and will report to the Programme Manager for review and approval of deliverables. Regular feedback and progress updates will be provided throughout the consultancy.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries or submission of proposals, please reach out to the contact person mentioned below, who will be able to provide further information and assist with any questions related to the assignment. Questions asked and information sought should not attempt to extract information that influences the procurement process.

Name: Mr. Arun Koju

Position: Education Advisor

Email: operations.nepal@street-child.org

Phone: 01-5444045

Confidentiality:

To ensure the protection of sensitive information and data related to our organization and the project, we need to sign a confidentiality agreement (during the time of contract agreement between two parties after selection). The agreement aims to maintain the confidentiality, privacy, and security of any proprietary, confidential, or sensitive information shared during the entire course of the assignment. It outlines the obligations and responsibilities of both parties in protecting and not disclosing confidential information without prior written consent.

Terms and Conditions:

a. Amendment or Termination:

The organization reserves the right to amend or terminate the confidentiality agreement if deemed necessary. This may occur under certain circumstances such as changes in the project scope, organizational requirements, or legal obligations. The specific terms and conditions associated with the amendment or termination of the agreement are as follows:

Amendment: The organization may propose amendments to the confidentiality agreement by providing written notice to the consultant. Any proposed amendments should be reasonable and related to the protection of confidential information. Upon receiving the proposed amendments, the consultant is required to review and provide written acceptance or any concerns within a specified timeframe. Amendments will be considered valid and binding only upon mutual agreement in writing by both parties.  

Termination: The organization may terminate the confidentiality agreement if there is a breach of its terms or if circumstances arise that make its continuation impractical or unnecessary. In the event of termination, both parties will be released from their respective obligations under the agreement, except for the obligations related to the protection of confidential information prior to termination.  

Return of Information: In the case of termination, the consultant shall promptly return or destroy all confidential information received from the organization, including any copies or reproductions thereof, as instructed by the organization.

b. Intellectual Property:

Any materials, reports, or intellectual property developed as part of the developing materials will be owned by the organization, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. The organization will have the non-exclusive, irrevocable, reproduce, modify, adapt, distribute, publicly display, and perform the materials, reports, or intellectual property for its internal purposes. The consultant retains the right to use general knowledge, skills, methodologies, and expertise gained during the development of the materials for their own professional purposes. However, specific confidential information belonging to the organization may not be used or disclosed without prior written consent.

c. Conflict of Interest:

Please disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may affect your ability to carry out the task or assignment. This includes any affiliations, partnerships, financial interests, or other relationships that could be perceived as influencing your objectivity.

We assure you that all the disclosed information will be handled with utmost confidentiality and will be used solely for the purpose of assessing any potential conflicts of interest.

Street Child is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Street Child is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the Street Child’s Safeguarding policies.

Street Child of Nepal reserves the right to accept/reject any or all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever.