Market Survey / Value Chain Consultancy

GOAL is an international non governmental, non political, non denominational relief and development organisation currently working in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Consistent with its global mission to serve the poorest, the most vulnerable, and those affected by humanitarian crises, GOAL has been working with communities in difficult circumstances to implement relief, rehabilitation and development programmes over the last 30 years.

With a focus in Africa where HIV and AIDS, corruption, gender inequalities and unmitigated poverty have continued to slow economic growth and development, GOAL is addressing the diverse and complex needs of the very poor and vulnerable individuals and communities that arise from social, economic, cultural and political exclusion.

GOAL started responding to emergencies in Kenya in 1983 through partnerships with local organizations. GOAL began providing direct assistance to street children in 1995, before expanding in 2000 when GOAL established a refugee assistance and a child and youth programme.

This programme covered education, health, HIV and AIDS, child rescue, and rehabilitation and reintegration. It addressed the needs of vulnerable children in very poor communities in the Nairobi slums. In 2006, in response to a drought, GOAL opened a rural water programme in the arid and marginal areas of Kitui and Mwingi Districts. In 2007, GOAL opened a slum upgrading programme for Nairobi’s informal settlements.

Today, GOAL is a leading organization in Kenya’s urban development programming and an active participant in health, WASH, vocational skills training, education and child protection initiatives that target extremely vulnerable children and youth (EVCY).

For 2012-2016, the integration of livelihoods programme is a critical focus for the GOAL Kenya. To inform GOAL’s stratgegy and future programmes in urban livelihoods, GOAL will commission a market analysis in target communities in Nairobi’s informal settlements.

2. Objective

The objective of the consultancy:

• Conduct a market survey and analysis, concentrating on the GOAL’s target comunities (Mukuru, Korogocho, Kariobangi, Dandora and Kayole) to understand trade as well as the institutional and regulatory environment.
• Undertake comprehensive contextual value chain analysis of two priority sub-sectors emanating from the market survey above.

3. Activities/Approach

The consultancy will be undertaken in two distinct phases, the market survey and the value chain analysis of the selected subsectors. The market survey will be completed and approved before embarking on the value chain phase.

(a) Market Survey and Analysis:-

The research will start with finding and analysing relevant secondary information and design an approach for primary information gathering. The approach should ensure involvement and participation of the target slum population.

The consultancy should address the following:

• Identify market opportunities for GOAL’s target beneficiaries in the informal settlements
• General synopsis of trade, marketing and market information flow in the target informal settlements
• Accessibility/participation as well as barriers/constraints of the slum target population involvement in trade
• What opportunities as well as the capacity and willingness of target population to engage in trading activities
• The types of goods/items/products and services being bought and sold in the informal settlements
• Mapping of seasonality trends in types of trade and marketing as well as roles of institutions involved
• How is the pricing of goods and services determined? Are there middlemen? If so, is their role exploitative or supportive
• How the existing and planned infrastructures facilitate and have the potential to promote trade
• What are the potential risks and how can Goal target group build resilience to risks related to slum trade and marketing
• What is the business environment in terms of – policies, regulations, standards, informal norms and rules, institutions? What is the overall operating context for businesses? How does the government offer support?

(b) Value Chain Analysis:-

From market survey component (a) above select two priority sub-sectors and conduct comprehensive value chain analysis.

The analysis should ensure stakeholders at all levels of the value chains are involved.

This component of the consultancy should address the following:

• An overview of the existing value chains in the two subsectors
• Mapping and a more in-depth understanding of those value chains in the selected sub-sectors that are;
  

(i) commercially viable,

(ii) growing (e.g. what are the end market trends? How competitive is the value chain in the markets it serves? Who are the main competitors?) and

(iii) profitable for the target slum population.

• Identification of opportunities and constraints at different levels of the value chains.
• What is the capacity and willingness of the slum target population to participate and/or grow?
• What is the level of competition among actors at different levels of the value chains? Is there too much or too little competition and how does that affect the economic choices?
• Are relationships along the value chain cooperative or hostile? What is the structure, business relationships and linkages in the value chains? Is there transfer of information, product designs, credit, technology or other support products and services, through the value chain relationships?
• What are the critical support products and services purchased by the businesses in the value chain that help them grow their business? How are they accessed and paid for?
• What are the potential risks and how can the target population build resilience to those risks?

4. Expected outputs

(a) Market Survey and Analysis:-

• Market survey report with recommendations for market potentials and opportunities in the target slums.
• Identify five priority goods/products and services that are commercially viable and profitable, with an accent on target group(s).
• Recommend existing and potential opportunities that will allow aforementioned target group(s) to participate meaningfully in trade. Please highlight support as well as capacity building interventions that maybe required.

(b) Value Chain Analysis:-

• Two priority sub-sectors analysis report:- Rationale/justification why the two sub-sectors were selected as priority in the context of the slum target population; Clearly defined sub-sectors’ value chain maps, problems and constraints analysis and identify commercially viable options for those targeted.
• Recommend feasible activities at each level of the value chains.
• Recommend an implementation plan and how progress is to be monitored.

5. Timeframe for Consultancy

Not more than three months (preferably less) to be executed between May and August 2012.

5. Required Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of a post graduate degree in related field
• At least five (5) years’ experience in undertaking market surveys or similar assessments.
• Knowledge on participatory methodologies

Interested and qualified consultants should submit their expression of interest containing and including the following documents:

• A profile of the consultancy firm
• Detailed CVs of the lead consultant and members as designated
• A technical proposal- detailing how the consultant proposes to undertake the market survey
• A financial proposal – providing a breakdown of consultancy fees, costs and estimate of expenses

The expression of interest document should be submitted in soft copy to keapplications@ke.goal.ie.

Please put the consultancy title, “MARKET SURVEY/VALUE CHAIN CONSULTANCY” in the subject line of the email.

The closing date for all submissions is Monday 16th April 2012.