Artisanal Community Liaison

Consultant Finance & Economy Programme & Policy

Overview

Mobilize artisan groups and coordinate training in Kakuma for sustainable development.

You have:

• Minimum Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Entrepreneurship, Arts and Crafts, or related fields.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in community mobilization, training coordination, and facilitating market linkages.
• Familiarity with artisanal skills, particularly beadwork, basketry, and palm crafts.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent reporting and documentation capabilities.
• Strong understanding of refugee and host community dynamics in rural areas, particularly in arid or semi-arid regions.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multiple stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and the private sector.
• Proficiency in English and Kiswahili; knowledge of local languages is advantageous.

Contract

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Result of Service

Expected Outputs Timeline Estimated Workdays Output 1: Detailed training needs assessment report identifying technical gaps and tailored capacity-building interventions for artisan groups. By June 2025, 17 workdays; Output 2: Implementation and evaluation report of targeted artisan trainings, capturing participant engagement, outcomes, and skill enhancements. By October–November 2025, 14 workdays; Output 3: Updated comprehensive, categorized database of artisans and artisan groups, including locations, skills, and production capacities. By June–July 2025, 20 workdays; Output 4: Supervision of sample production based on ITC-provided designs and technical sheets. By July–August 2025, 12 workdays; Output 5: Feedback and recommendations to refine the collection from prototypes to full production. By August 2025, 10 workdays; Output 6: Defined production coordination plan outlining roles, responsibilities, and timelines for scaling production. By September 2025, 10 workdays; Output 7: Regular monitoring, community feedback, and conflict resolution reports, including clear recommendations for preventive and mitigating measures. Ongoing (June–December), final summary in December, 19 workdays

Work Location

Home-Based – Kakuma, Kenya

Expected duration

9.6– 31.12.25

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Trade Centre (ITC) supports people affected by displacement through a unique trade-led, market-based approach that harnesses their productive potential and builds market connections for the benefit of refugees and local communities to enhance shared growth. It is implemented by the Office for Africa (OA) within Division of Country Programmes (DCP) and Refugees and Trade programme which is housed in the Section for Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WVYC) of the Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT). Through the refugees and trade programme, ITC envisages supporting at least 20,000 individuals affected by displacement-related vulnerabilities by 2025 with a focus on (international) trade as an engine of income generation, job creation, and a source of positive spillover effects. In the context of this work, ITC partners with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to implement a project titled “Promoting sustainable socio-economic development and creating market-based livelihood opportunities for refugees and host communities” in Kenya during 2023-2027. The project’s goal is to enhance the employability and competitiveness of social MSMEs in refugee settings and host communities in Turkana. It specifically aims to improve the livelihood and self-reliance of refugees and host communities in the targeted region through the following objectives: Output 1.1: Technical skills of refugees and host communities are developed in selected value chains, Output 1.2: Social entrepreneurship, business development capacities and market access of project beneficiaries are strengthened. Output 1.3: Institutional capacity to promote inclusive economic opportunities for refugees and host communities is improved. The Artisanal Community Liaison who will be responsible for mobilizing artisan groups, coordinating technical training, organising production, facilitating partnerships, and strengthening market linkages for sustainable artisanal development in Kakuma. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the supervision of the Associate Officer, Refugees and Trade and the Artisanal Value Chain Consultant and under the overall guidance of Head, Refugees and Trade, the consultant will: Mobilization and Group Engagement: • Identify, mobilize, and organize individual artisans and existing groups specializing in beadwork, basketry, and palm-based crafts in Turkana County • Develop a detailed database of the identified groups and individuals including location, materials used, skill level, production capacities, legal status, and categorize into cohorts. • Establish and maintain a strong relationship with artisanal communities, by facilitating regular meetings and discussions to address community concerns and gather feedback • Lead efforts to educate the artisanal community on relevant policies, rights and business opportunities • Act as a bridge between the artisanal community and external organisations – NGO’s, Government, Private sector • Promote environmentally friendly production practices within the artisanal activities and support initiatives that ensure long term benefits for the community Training Coordination and Delivery: • Undertake technical capacity gaps assessment of the identified artisans and groups. • Reports on community awareness activities, including participant lists, materials used, and outcomes. • Coordinate and facilitate targeted artisanal trainings based on identified skill gaps (beads, basketry, palm crafts) in the field • Jointly with the project team, identify, recruit, and oversee master trainers to ensure effective delivery of technical skills training. • Continuously assess training quality and provide formal and informal feedback for improvements. County-level Coordination and Partnership Building: • Act as the key liaison for artisanal activities at the county level, building effective partnerships with county authorities, local stakeholders, NGOs, and the private sector. • Represent ITC in county-level forums, advocating for artisanal community interests and support. Monitoring and Reporting: • Regularly monitor, document, and report on activity progress, identifying successes, challenges, and lessons learned. • Prepare detailed monthly and quarterly reports highlighting achievements, training outcomes, and partnership engagements, including community inputs or recommendations shared, summary of community concerns, perceptions and suggestions. • Contribution to regular situation analysis and early warning reports highlighting changes in community dynamics, emerging risks, and protection concerns. • Documentation of community-level disputes or tensions and actions taken to mediate or resolve them. • Recommendations for preventive or mitigating measures. Copyright The Consultant has to ensure that s/he has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform his/her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the Consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. S/he has further to ensure to obtain accreditation to event(s), if required. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

 Minimum Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Entrepreneurship, Arts and Crafts, or related fields. • At least 2 years of relevant experience in community mobilization, training coordination, and facilitating market linkages. • Familiarity with artisanal skills, particularly beadwork, basketry, and palm crafts. • Strong interpersonal, organizational, and stakeholder engagement skills. • Demonstrated ability to effectively engage with community groups and local authorities. • Excellent reporting and documentation capabilities. Skills:  Strong understanding of refugee and host community dynamics in rural areas, particularly in arid or semi-arid regions.  Demonstrated ability to work with multiple stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and the private sector.  Excellent project management, communication, and training skills.

Languages

 Proficiency in English and Kiswahili; knowledge of local languages is advantageous.

Additional Information

TRAVEL  Local travel within country of implementation  Travel will be organised according to UN terms and conditions.  Flights will be organised through ITC Travel Unit.  The consultant will collect all necessary travel documents to effect claims for expenditures incurred during his/her missions.  The consultant is responsible for ensuring all required travel documentation is up to date and complete for the countries to be visited, including his own personal accident and medical insurance.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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Added 1 month ago - Updated 16 days ago - Source: careers.un.org