Consultancy for Market Assessment and Value Chain Analysis of Burundi’s Social Protection Programme

Feb 5, 2019 | Concern Worldwide
View Original

Concern Worldwide has been present in Burundi since 1997 and started with emergency programs in the aftermath of the 1993 crisis. From 2006, Concern has mainly implemented development programs in health, nutrition, agriculture and livelihoods sectors.

In 2012, Concern Worldwide started a graduation programme adapted from the graduation approach first developed by BRAC in Ba​ngladesh and subsequently adapted and piloted by CGAP (the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and Ford Foundation. The graduation model is based on understanding how safety nets, livelihoods and access to finance can be sequenced to create sustainable pathways out of extreme and chronic poverty in Kirundo and Cibitoke provinces. The programme was a success and the results were largely shared to influence national policies and other organizations. To date, Concern Worldwide is a key actor in the social protection sector in Burundi. Concern Worldwide is also very active in the health and nutrition sector, supporting the national health system in the provinces of Kirundo and Cibitoke in the fight against malnutrition. Giving the current context, Concern Worldwide is putting more and more efforts to address the chronic malnutrition issue, testing innovative approaches. Concern Worldwide is also the lead of the Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN) Civil Society Network in Burundi, raising awareness and strengthening networks.

Study #1- Market Survey for Graduation Programme

Programme Presentation

Concern Worldwide started implementation of its Irish Aid Funded Graduation Program in 2012 (TERINTAMBWE- meaning literally “take a step forward“) in two of Burundi’s poorest provinces: Cibitoke (Northwest) and Kirundo (North), targeted based on vulnerably criteria. The program supported extremely poor and marginalised 2000 households’ beneficiaries up to 2015. Beneficiaries were selected in the aftermath of a contextual analysis of extreme poverty carried out in 2011 in the two provinces whereby targeting criteria were agreed upon by all stakeholders including but not limited to size and ownership of land, casual labour as source of income, access to health and education, state of the house, etc.The project was a pilot and had a research component working with 600 households control group having same condition with beneficiaries above but without any support during the cycle of the project.

Lesson learnt were taken into account in the development of phase 2 of the Graduation programme, which started in 2017 and will finish in December 2021. These changes included an additional focus on nutrition and gender. The programme identified two thousand households in 2017 in Cibitoke and Kirundo. In 2018, Concern expanded the Graduation project to a new province, Bubanza, in two communes (Gihanga and Bubanza). Extension will continue to cover a second cohort each in all three provinces.

Scope of the work

A market survey is a key component to the graduation programme to understand what are the market opportunities and risks for the households when they create their income generating activities (IGA). The households are selected for being the most vulnerable in their communities; they often have a very basic education level and live in rural areas, sometimes quite remote from economic activity. The market assessment should take into account the existing skills of prospective participants and advise on which types of economic opportunities and activities participants should be directed to. A market survey was implemented for the graduation programme in 2012 for the provinces of Cibitoke and Kirundo and these tools, methodology and final report are all available.

The objective of this piece of work is to undertake a market survey in Bubanza province, considering the similarities and differences with the 2012 market survey. The consultant will work with the programme team for the strategy and data collection, not only for helping with the fieldwork but also to provide capacity building to the project team. Indeed, later in the year, the team will undertake a work of updating the existing market surveys of Cibitoke and Kirundo.

The findings will help Concern supported beneficiaries run their sustainable IGAs. They will include the following components:

• A market assessment listing the most appropriate and viable economic sectors in which to support vulnerable and marginalised households to develop businesses.
• Description of opportunities, constraints and strategies to overcome issues in each sector/ sub sector
• For each activity sector/subsector, indicate monthly-expected income, taking into account competition level, seasonal character of IGA type and possible risks.
• For each sector estimate the level of market saturation and the absorptive capacity of the sector (i.e. whether hundreds of households could participate in the sector or only a handful.

Specific tasks

• Literature review of the graduation programme (methodology and learnings, research papers etc.) and on the economic context of Burundi
• Analysis of the existing market survey done in 2012 in Cibitoke and Kirundo for the graduation programme
• Information gathering with the graduation team on the current IGA situation for the HH of the 2017 cohort. Data on the IGA are available from the midline survey (December 2018).
• Conduct the market survey in Bubanza province
• Select and rank main sector of Bubanza market adapted to the beneficiaries ‘capacities and based on the below (non exhaustive) criteria:
  • market growth and demand, IGA diversity, current links in procurement chain, government support and others
  • impact on targeted beneficiaries, job creation, regular income, competition level including capacity to involve/absorb a big number of new actors.
  • access for specific groups (females, youth, Minority group-Batwa, people living with handicap, illiterate people), affect environment.
  • These sectors may include but not limited to: small trade (to specify), agro pastoral sector, handicraft and value chains (to specify).

During value chain data collection and processing, the consultant would take into account the fact that programme participants generally interact with nearest market with option to expand market throughout the time. Another criterion to take into account is the monthly cash transfer of 30,000 BIF (15 euros) during 12 months followed by asset transfer of 150,000 BIF (75 euros) for each family to start a sustainable IGA.

• Map the successful sub sector for Graduation (TERINTAMBWE) beneficiaries (refer to selection criteria and support packages received during the life of the project). This will include different channels of the subsectors; including number of actors in each sector/group (for example, inputs providers, producers, transformers, intermediates, whole sellers, retailers).
• Determine which step of a value chain may represent a best option/opportunity to include a big number of new actors. This will consider:
  • the level and seasonality of income that can be generated by programme participants in each IGA throughout a suggested value chain
  • economic cycle of the IGA (ex: poultry can generate an income at a short time due to eggs trade even though income is small, calves on the other hand constitute an asset at long term with high performance) 

Methodology

The secondary data collection will include the literature review on the graduation programme and on the economic context of Burundi. A large amount of documents will also be shared by the Concern Worldwide team on the specific graduation programme in Burundi as some research were undertaken since 2012 by the IDS (Institute of Development Studies) research organization and some reports and data were gathered by the team over the years. The consultant will use their own methodology and tools for the fieldwork and the primary data collection. The tools will be shared for contribution from the CWB team prior to the data collection. Quantitative data from the selected sectors will need to be collected and analysed, and data set provided as an annex to the main report.

The market and value chain maps will be drawn, with quantitative information. The maps should describe each market function and the actor/s who undertakes that function. The chosen consultant will need to work in close collaboration with the graduation programme team, who were already involved in the 2012 market survey and have important knowledge of the context. The consultant will be able to use the team for the data collection, and will work building the capacity of the team. Transport will be provided.

Study #2- Market Survey for Youth Social Cohesion Project

Programme Presentation

In 2017, Concern Worldwide started a EU funded 3 years project “ Supporting Burundian Youth in the Context of a Crisis“ which targeted 1,000 youth in two urban centres of Kirundo province in the north of Burundi (Bwambarangwe and Kirundo communes). The project targets out of school youths who are trained on trades and receive a package of crosscutting trainings and sensitization in order to improve social cohesion. The project works in collaboration with training centres, businesses, and master craft people and is implemented in collaboration with a local Partner GLID (Great Lakes Inkingi Development) on access to microfinance services through SILC and link to MFI. After 3 to 6 months training in a trade, youths receive a starting kit and are coached and support either to find a job or to create their income generating activity.

On the employment component, a market study was undertaken in January 2018 to select a list of employment sectors in which the youths could be trained and access jobs. A local consultant was selected for this study and despite the fact that the outputs were not as high quality as expected, the following sectors were selected: sewing, mechanics, masonry, hairdressing, welding, carpentry, and bakery. Partnerships were then established with training centres and handicraftsman (depending on the sector) and the youth trained during a period of 3 to 6 months (depending on the sector and education level of the youths). Illiterate youths also followed an additional literacy training.

The first cohort of youths have finished their trainings in September 2018 and have been since been receiving their starting kits. Youths receive their kits once they have found and organized a place to settle their business. They also are accompanied to gather themselves in sectorial groups to increase social cohesion, mutual support and facilitate their market integration.The first observations seem to show that the sectors are too restricted compared to the target group (considering also the fact that they all come from only 2 urban centres) and a large number of youths seem to have chosen the same activity in a close-by area, leading to a saturation of the market.

Scope of the work

Considering the quality of the first market study, and the observations made on the first cohort, it seems there is a need to update the existing market survey. The objective is to assess in more details the market absorption of the existing businesses and explore other potential sectors Concern Worldwide can help these young people invest in to be able to generate a regular income. It will take into account the opportunities and risks and the accessibility of the market to the targeted youths. Considering the project is a social cohesion project it would also be interesting to get a clear idea of what types of activities youths can invest in which contribute to the stimulation of social cohesion (for example, sectors with too much competition may rather create conflict than strengthen the social cohesion).

The findings will help Concern Worldwide support the youths to find sustainable IGAs. They will include the following components:

1) A market assessment listing prosperous economic sectors in which youths can be supported through training, starting kits and coaching. The assessment will not only consider the existing sectors, but explore new opportunities adequate to the context (for example agro-business)

2) Description of opportunities , constraints and strategies to overcome issues in each sector/sub sector

3) For each activity sector/subsector, indicate monthly-expected income, taking into account competition level and number of new actors the market could absorb.

4) For each activity sector/subsector, indicate the factors that can facilitate the success of the business (marketing strategy, potential partnership in the area) as well as the risks and mitigation measures.

Specific tasks

• Literature review of the youth social cohesion programme (project documents and data) and on the economic context of Burundi
• Analysis of the existing market survey done in 2018
• Information gathering with the project team and participants on the current IGA situation for first cohort.
• Conduct the market survey in Kirundo province
• Select and rank main sector of Kirundo market adapted to the project methodology and the youths ‘capacities and based on the below (non exhaustive) criteria:
  • market growth and demand, IGA diversity, current links in procurement chain, government support and others
  • impact on targeted beneficiaries, job creation, regular income, competition level including capacity to involve/absorb a big number of new actors and the fact that the youths have no experience when they start.
  • access for specific groups (females, youths, people living with handicap, illiterate people), impact on environment.
  • Consider the social cohesion criteria : for each sector, stipulate what can the positive and/or negative impact on the social cohesion

These sectors may include the ones already selected for the first cohort and new sectors adapted to the local context such as agro-business.

During value chain data collection and processing, the consultant would take into account the fact that the methodology so far is to give to each youth a starting kit for an equivalent of 120 euros. However for some sectors, the consultant may also advise another strategy for starting the business.

Map the successful sectors for youths showing the different channels of the subsectors, including number of actors in each sector/group (for example, inputs providers, producers, transformers, intermediates, whole sellers, retailers).

Methodology

The secondary data collection will include the literature review on the project and on the economic context of Burundi.

The consultant will use their own methodology and tools for the fieldwork and the primary data collection. The tools will be shared for contribution from the CWB team prior to the data collection.

Quantitative data from the selected sectors will need to be collected and analysed, and data set provided as an annex to the main report. The market and value chain maps will be drawn, with quantitative information. The maps should describe each market function and the actor/s who undertakes that function.

The chosen consultant will need to work in close collaboration with the project team, who has an important knowledge of the context. The consultant will be able to use the team for the data collection, and will work building the capacity of the team. Transport will be provided.

Qualifications required

• A Masters or higher degree in Agriculture, Economics, Forestry, Business Administration, Sociology, and Development Studies or in a relevant field of socio-economic and market development.
• At least 5 years’ of proven experience of conducing market and value chain research, evaluation of multi-sectoral complex livelihood programs in rural and hard to reach and disaster prone areas using both qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analysis.
• Desirable knowledge and understanding of Graduation approach, Financial Inclusion, poverty and economic situation in Burundi, its challenges, Social Safety Nets, relevant Burundi policy.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills in English and/or French (balanced bilingual desirable).

Reporting Line:

The consultant will report to Concern Worldwide Program Director or the person nominated on her behalf - and liaise with the social protection programme coordinator and project managers to receive guidance, feedback and support to organizing field study. The Director of Programmes will provide the strategic guidance to the consultant to accomplish the assignment with utmost standard.