Oxfam Kenya PLASTIC MARKETS SPECIALIST

Background

Oxfam Kenya has been collaborating with Youth Initiatives Kenya (YIKE) to implement the ‘Creating jobs and cleaner cities through recycling’, a youth economic empowerment project whose aim is it to secure the lives and livelihoods of youths who reside around the Dandora and Korogocho informal settlement by way of solid waste management through setting up of a recycling plant and equipping the youth with business and entrepreneurial skills. The project has been running for the last 15 months and is scheduled to end in December 2013, having directly impacted the lives of at least 165 youth living in the informal settlements of Nairobi, and indirectly impacting over 100,000 persons living in the Dandora neighbourhood.

The project has two key outcomes as listed below, together with the measurable targets;

1. Effective waste management of plastic in the slum areas - Over 100,000 people resident in Dandora area benefit from improved management of plastic waste due to better collection and disposal

Activities • Identification and recruitment of 11 groups to a network of youths involved in waste management would be done. The groups to be targeted are those already involved in garbage collection, which is a popular income generating activity for most youth groups in the slums.

2 Improved income generation for the youths involved in the project a) Up to 165 youths get gainful income from the project due to supply of plastics to the plant b) Up to 6 youths are gainfully employed as part of the staff at the project site c) Up to 1650 people are indirect beneficiaries of the 165 youths who form part of the project network.

Key project activities implemented include the following:-

• Conducting a Environmental Impact Assessment
• Conducting a baseline survey to establish current/existent waste management practices and • Provision of basic trainings on group and business management, waste management, marketing, health & safety procedures, financial management • Purchase of machines and Set up of the plastics recycling plant • Market linkages for the business growth, dynamics and Strategies. • Health and Safety Audit • Establishment of a cooperative model (Sacco) as the approach in the running of the business

In the remaining months of the project the key activities include:-

(a) Strengthen the marketing function: to enhance the sales of products and increase the customer base, the grant will support the youth to do further market intelligence on competition and customer specifications.

(b) Training on business management, good governance and advocacy: to strengthen the sustainability of the business, the grant will support training in key areas of business management to help the youth think through ways to make the business more profitable and beneficial to communities.

(c) Improvement of plant performance, output, and safety: the grant will be used for the following: • To procure health and safety gear (helmets, ear muffs, boots, goggles, gumboots, dust masks, and gloves) to mitigate against the risk to injury and sanitation-related infections. • Storage space is also needed for the increased volumes of plastic and other recycling materials and for procuring tools (rakes, spades, dabblers and sacks) to increase the volume of plastic collected. • Transporting the plastic from the collection sites to the plant, and to the market has proved to be a big challenge due to high transport costs. To address this, the grant will purchase eight handcarts.

(d) Strengthen the establishment of the cooperative model: the youth have begun to establish the business as a cooperative which involves electing a youth management board, and registration with the local authority. This is critical towards enhancing the sustainability of positive outcomes for the youth as they will be able to save as well as borrow loans at low interests to improve their livelihoods, including scaling up the recycling business.

(e) Community awareness on peace and waste management practices: after the recent general elections that left people feeling divided along ethnic and (political) party lines, there is need to promote unity and peaceful co-existence among communities. Before and during elections, the youth played a critical role in promoting peace through various media. They will continue to play an important role in promoting peaceful co-existence post-elections by ensuring that the diversity of the group members’ involved in the recycling plant continue to be nurtured i.e. that youth from different communities participate without any fear of reprisal.

CONTEXT OF THE CONSULTANCY

Overall Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to provide Oxfam and YIKE with an in depth report on the market information and opportunities for the different types of plastics, and recycled plastics markets trends, besides opportunities for other recycled materials. This would be useful in guiding the recycling plant’s business plan and future investments.

Specific Objectives

i. To gather market information on plastics recycling- type of product, pricing, place, buyers (local, regional and international)
ii. To establish the existing and future market opportunities for different types of recycled plastics. iii. To determine market demand and trends for recycled plastics and any other recyclable material e.g. metal, glass. iv. To assess and determine market expansion potential within the recycling/ manufacturing industries.

a. Requested Services This assignment expects the consultant to provide Oxfam with the following: i. Detailed market analysis of the plastics recycling industry, existing and potential markets demand, and opportunities. ii. Detailed recommendation on how to meet market needs, product development and market opportunities. iii. Based on the desk research findings, train and sensitize a team of youth representatives on marketing strategies, sector dynamics and gathering of market information

Key activities include:

• Research and gather information on plastics recycling market sector, its opportunities and challenges • Develop a database of potential buyers of plastic shreds and other recycled plastics • Determine the profitability of each of the recycled plastics varieties • Provide information on the relevant machinery/equipment required for different kinds of recycled plastics. • Analyze the market penetration of the project and give recommendations on how to have a stronger market presence.

Outputs • A detailed report with market information concerning the recycled plastics sector, its dynamics, opportunities and challenges. • Analysis of profitability of recycled plastics varieties, and relevant equipment required. • Recommendation on how to improve market presence • Training presentation on markets dynamics and actual 1 day training

CONSULTANCY DURATION

Overall Consultancy Period The entire period of this consultancy will be for 12 working days which will include 2 preparation days, 7 field days, 2 reporting days and 1 day for presentation of findings to Oxfam and her stakeholders. • The final costs of the task will be negotiated and agreed upon before commencement of the consultancy • Any tools and action plan that will used in the exercise will be approved by Oxfam before commencement of the consultancy

EXPERT PROFILE It is anticipated that this survey will be carried out by a business development specialist, with bias to markets development. At minimum the consultants must possess the following qualifications:
i. A strong experience in markets analysis. ii. At least a Degree in Business studies, Development Studies or Economics with five (5) years demonstrated experience in markets development iii. Good understanding of the informal sector, especially small scale manufacturing and value chains. iv. Good understanding of the plastics manufacturing sector and players. v. Knowledge and experience of working with group/cooperatives managed micro businesses. vi. Conversant with markets approach to development. vii. Excellent analytical and report writing skills. viii. Fluency in spoken and written English and Swahili.

1. The Report

The market study report must cover all the areas mentioned in the expected outputs and give clear conclusions and recommendations. All documents and data collected will be treated as confidential and used solely to facilitate analysis. Interviewees will not be quoted in the reports without their permission. The report must not exceed 20 A4 size page and should have an executive summary of not more than 3 A4 size pages.

Submission/Comments Timing

All the required documents and reports in their draft and final versions shall be submitted to Oxfam’s Urban Markets and livelihoods officer within the specified timings. Written feedback to each of the submitted documents will be provided within five (5) working days of receipt.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

a. Tax and VAT arrangements Oxfam GB will deduct withholding tax from the consultancy fees which will be in conformity with the prevailing government rates.

b. Bid Requirements Consultants who meet the requirements should submit a maximum of 5 pages expression of interest, which should include the following:

i. A suitability statement, including commitment to availability for the entire assignment. ii. A brief statement of the proposed study methodology including a detailed work plan. iii. A financial proposal, including daily and total cost of assignment. iv. Updated curriculum vitae of the consultant that clearly spell out the relevant qualifications, experience and referees. v. Contacts of 3 organizations that have recently contracted the consultants to carry out a Baseline.
vi. Consultant should be available to carry out the assignment from 11th November 2013.

c. Supervision

The overall supervisor of this assignment will be Oxfam’s Markets and Private Sector Advisor. However, the consultant will work on a day to day basis under the direct supervision of Oxfam’s Urban Markets and Livelihoods Officer.

How to apply:

1. APPLICATION CONTACT

Interested and qualified consultants should send their applications latest by 4.30 P.M. Kenyan time on Wednesday 6th November 2013 to: kenyajobs@oxfam.org.uk and indicate in the subject line: APPLICATION FOR PLASTIC RECYCLING MARKETS RESEARCH. Please note that only the successful and shortlisted applicants will be consulted.