TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) For Market Assessment for Viable Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities in 20 IDPs and Host Communities in Burao District

Job description

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, we work with people to bring change that lasts.

OVERVIEW

Title and brief description of the assignment: Market Assessment for Viable Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities in 20 IDPs and Host Communities in Burao District 

Assignment location: Burao, Somaliland

Contract start date: 24th July 2025 (tentatively)

How to apply

Interested applicants (individual consultants or consulting firms) are invited to submit the following documents:

• Technical Proposal (maximum 15 pages), outlining the understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, work plan, and team structure.
• Financial Proposal, clearly detailing the total cost of the assignment, inclusive of all fees, taxes, travel, and other related expenses.
• Curricula Vitae (CVs) of key technical personnel who will be involved in the assessment, highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.
• Two samples of previous relevant work, preferably market assessments or similar consultancies undertaken in humanitarian or displacement contexts.

See section ‘7. Application Process’ for further details

Application deadline: 23rd JULY 2025

Specific considerations

1.            PURPOSE OF THIS CONSULTANCY

The purpose of this consultancy is to explore and identify viable livelihood opportunities with strong economic growth potential within 20 selected IDP camps and host communities in the Togdheer region. The assessment will adopt a market systems approach to examine existing and potential sources of livelihood, identify market gaps, and analyse key barriers and enabling factors.

The consultancy will generate practical and actionable recommendations to support the development of sustainable livelihoods, with a particular focus on youth and women. It will also outline a clear pathway to reduce aid dependency and promote the transition towards self-reliant, resilient communities.

2.            SCOPE OF WORK

The selected consultant or firm will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

·         Conduct an in-depth desk review of relevant reports, assessments, and existing secondary data related to livelihoods, market systems, and displacement-affected communities in the region.

·         Design and implement a comprehensive field data collection exercise across 20 IDP camps and host communities in Burao, ensuring appropriate sampling and methodological rigour.

·         Apply market systems analysis tools to examine selected sub-sectors, and where relevant, facilitate sub-sector workshops to deepen analysis and stakeholder engagement.

·         Interview key market actors, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), producers, financial service providers, government and regulatory institutions, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders.

·         Conduct focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) with IDP community members, ensuring disaggregation by gender and age to capture diverse perspectives.

·         Validate preliminary findings with stakeholders by organising and facilitating a validation workshop.

·         Prepare and submit a final comprehensive report that includes detailed findings, analysis of priority sectors, recommended business models, and practical programmatic options tailored to the local context.

Skills and qualifications

1.             EXPECTED OUTPUTS Overall objective

conduct a market assessment to identify viable livelihood opportunities for IDPs and host communities in Burao, Togdheer region. The assessment will inform the development of context-specific and impactful business models aimed at fostering economic growth, generating employment, and increasing income—especially for young people and women.

Specific outputs

·         Map existing livelihood sources and activities among internally displaced households and host communities in the selected locations.

·         Identify high-potential economic sectors and value chains with opportunities for scaling up, particularly for youth and women.

·         Analyse the market systems related to these potential livelihoods, including core value chains, supporting services, and the relevant rules and regulatory environment.

·         Identify key market gaps, constraints, underperformance, and opportunities within the targeted sectors and value chains.

·         Assess the skills, knowledge, and capacities of IDP populations in relation to the identified economic sectors and potential livelihood opportunities.

·         Provide actionable and context-specific recommendations, including alternative livelihood solutions and adaptable business models. These should guide Oxfam and stakeholders in designing inclusive, market-driven livelihood interventions that promote sustainability and resilience.

2.            METHODOLOGY

The assessment should employ a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative data collection, supported by an in-depth desk review of existing literature, reports, and datasets. All tools and methodologies used must be inclusive, conflict-sensitive, and context-specific, considering the socio-cultural dynamics of the target population, including gender, age, and vulnerability status.

The following methodological components are recommended:

-          Quantitative household surveys among IDP populations, using structured questionnaires to collect data on livelihood activities, income sources, market access, and related indicators.

-          Qualitative interviews, including Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), with diverse community members, local leaders, and relevant stakeholders to gain deeper insights into market dynamics, social norms, and perceived livelihood opportunities.

-          Market mapping and value chain analysis to identify existing and potential economic sectors, their structure, key actors, supporting services, and regulatory frameworks.

-          Livelihood and skills profiling of IDP and host community members to assess capabilities, experience, and training needs relevant to target sectors.

-          SWOT and gap analysis of key sectors to determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and to highlight critical capacity and service gaps.

-          Gender and social inclusion analysis to assess the differential impact of market systems on women, youth, and marginalised groups, and to identify strategies for their meaningful participation in economic activities.

Attachments

Reivised ToR-Market Assessment.docx

How to apply

1.            APPLICATION PROCESS Submission deadline

Quotations and applications must be submitted to Oxfam not later than [ 23rd July 2025].

Submission instructions

·         Responses must be submitted electronically to: SOM-Consultancies@oxfam.org

The subject of the mail should be Call for expressions of interest: Market Assessment for Viable Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities in 20 IDPs and Host Communities in Burao District

·         All attached documents should be clearly labelled so it is clear to understand what each file relates to.