Socioeconomic and Market Assessments Building Self-Reliance and Resilience in West Nile, Uganda

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Background and Context Trickle Up is a consortium partner with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) to deliver a 28-month Danida-funded project entitled Building Self-Reliance and Resilience in West Nile. The project aims to achieve the objective of building the self-reliance and resilience of 800 extremely poor refugees residing in Imvepi settlement as well as host community households in Terego district of the West Nile region of northern Uganda. The consortium will use the Graduation Approach, a sequenced and time-bound series of economic and social inclusion interventions that have been demonstrated to effectively support the most vulnerable households to achieve sustainable livelihoods, resulting in sustained income, asset gains, increased financial inclusion, increased self-confidence, and a trajectory out of poverty.

Uganda continues to host the largest refugee population in sub-Saharan Africa, with a total registered population of 1,450,317 refugees and asylum-seekers according to Government of Uganda figures from January 2021. The majority of this population, and the primary demographics targeted through this action, have fled conflicts in South Sudan (889,054) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (421,563). According to the Government of Uganda Refugee Response Monitoring System, 95.16% of this population qualifies for humanitarian assistance. More specifically, findings from the 2020 Vulnerability and Essential Needs Assessment (VENA) report suggest that a majority of refugee households are female-headed, are headed by an adult between the ages of 31 and 45, and are comprised of between 4 to 6 members in total, while data from UNHCR’s proGres V4 database finds 24% of the assessed refugee households have at least one member classified as a person with specific needs (PSN). While the VENA report found approximately 76% of refugees have an acceptable Food Consumption Score (FCS), 72% reported food assistance as their HH’s main source of food and a sizable majority – 75% – reported to have also borrowed money as a means to meet food and non-food needs. Significantly, the VENA report suggests a strong correlation between economic vulnerability and protection risks, thus emphasizing the link between the ability to meet basic needs and positive protection outcomes.

More specifically, data from Volume I of the VENA, published in October 2020, shows that the refugee population as a whole is highly vulnerable both in regard to economic and protection-related vulnerabilities. According to the VENA report, 91% of refugees are classified as highly economically vulnerable based on indicators measuring economic capacity, use of negative coping mechanisms and food security status. The same percentage – 91% - are classified by the report as being characterized by high protection-specific vulnerabilities. Indicators used in the VENA report to derive this percentage include barriers to access to services, safety and security issues, economic vulnerability, specific needs and other individual characteristics and access to support networks. Combined, the VENA report has found 81% of the total population to have overlapping characteristics of both high economic and protection vulnerabilities. Within this context, the risks of households employing negative coping strategies is significant, with the VENA report finding 25% and 17% of households respectively engaging in crisis and emergency-levels of coping strategies.

Purpose The purpose of this combined socioeconomic and market assessment is to better understand the local context and market opportunities for refugees and host community members living in extreme poverty in the target locations of Building Self-Reliance and Resilience in West Nile project. The findings from the study will help inform programming to improve the social and economic status of participants and their households.

The main purpose of the socioeconomic assessment is to help define and measure the multi-dimensional characteristics of poverty and extreme poverty in the region, as well as identify potential social and economic barriers to program participation. Key topics should include food security, social protection, financial and social inclusion, rights of refugees, relationship dynamics between host and refugee communities, relationship dynamics between different groups of refugees (religious, ethnic, national) and gender dynamics. The socioeconomic assessment will provide information on the existing socioeconomic situation of refugees and host community members to inform the design and targeting of livelihood interventions.

The main purpose of the market assessment is to identify potential sectors and opportunities for income generation for extremely poor refugee and host households, including the potential for both self- and wage employment. The market assessment should build off of findings in the socioeconomic assessment from which we understand who the potential participant are. As possible, the assessment should investigate specific value chains with opportunities for sustainable income generation.

The proposed study methodology should include participatory methods, in order to provide a comprehensive picture of realistic and viable livelihood opportunities for refugees and host community members living in extreme poverty. Particular attention should be paid to climate and environment, gender, and conflict . Additionally, the proposed methodology should be informed by existing evidence on self-reliance and resilience.

The proposed methodology should include: - Specific assessment questions, with corresponding data collection and data analysis approaches. - A sampling methodology for identifying interviewees, focus group participants, and/or other individuals/groups consulted in the process of the assessment. - Methodology should be iterative, allowing for ongoing analysis to obtain a thorough, comprehensive overview of the socioeconomic situation in the proposed project location. - A plan to consolidate and triangulate findings.

Scope of Work: Socioeconomic Assessment The Socioeconomic and vulnerability assessment in Imvepi Settlement and the surrounding host community populations. Participatory Rural appraisal methodologies (social mapping, participatory wealth ranking and poverty survey) will be used to identify and provide recommendations for the selection of extremely vulnerable people in the target areas. Cross cutting issues including gender, protection and environment will need to be integrated in all assessments conducted.

Objectives: This multi-step socioeconomic assessment process, shall: I. Identify the key characteristics of the extreme poor in Imvepi Settlement and the surrounding host community, including any key differences between refugees and the host communities. II. Include a Livelihood Zone Mapping to understand the most vulnerable areas depending on the shelter types, sources of income, employability, access to the market, etc. III. Include a socioeconomic stratification of the target population. This process should include the establishment of socio-economic typologies, "wealth groups" in each zone, to understand the main characteristics of the different typologies, such as ownership of land, livestock and other properties, level of education, availability of work opportunities, social capital, family members living abroad, etc. IV. Understand the coping mechanisms for the "typical households" of each wealth class (main sources of income, opportunity / crisis response capacity, main items of expenditure, etc.). V. Identify barriers and areas of concern surrounding livelihood activities and wage employment relevant to refugee and host communities living in extreme poverty; VI. Understand the current status of livelihood activities, wealth and assets, types of employment (formal/informal), sources of income, education, household financial management within the Rhino Refugee Settlement and surrounding host community to identify entry points for the extreme poor; VII. Identify gender, group, and household dynamics that may affect livelihood activities and wage employment specific to our target community of extreme poor host and refugees; VIII. Identify potential risks related to climate and environment and protection; IX. Identify potential target groups for livelihoods programming, along with potential barriers and risks.

Scope of Work: Market Assessment Conduct a market assessment to determine self–employment and wage- employment opportunities that will identify appropriate and viable livelihood opportunities for promotion through graduation programming for extremely poor female and male refugees and host communities in Imvepi Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Objectives: In doing so, this market assessment shall: I. Identify sectors and value chains/income generating activities to further study that are available for extremely poor refugee and host community members in the Imvepi Refugee Settlement through desk review and engagement of relevant stakeholders; (Note: research should include opportunities available in the surrounding area of Rhino Camp, assuming availability for people living in Imvepi) II. Identify 4-6 self-employment and wage employment opportunities for extremely poor refugees in Imvepi Refugee Settlement and surrounding host communities that are: available, appropriate, profitable, climate and environmentally sensitive and sustainable. Opportunities should be disaggregated, by refugee/host status and gender at a minimum; III. Identify enablers and barriers to refugee and host communities’ employability and self-employment and opportunities to mitigate prioritized barriers and maximize impactful opportunities; (Note: This information may be discerned from desk research on the legal environment as well as interviews/focus group discussions with refugee and host community members) IV. Provide insights on resources, training, start-up capital and other support that may be provided to extremely poor refugees and host communities to engage in selected/ identified livelihood opportunities. Methodology: The data collection and analysis methodology to be applied will be proposed and further defined by the consultant (in the inception report) and revised at the outset of the consultancy with support from DRC, CEFORD and Trickle up. It is envisioned that socioeconomic and value chain/market systems development analysis approaches will be relevant in this assessment, with a focus on gender, climate resilience, nationality and social inclusion (conflict and marginalisation). The methodological steps during the assessment shall include, but not be limited to: I. Preparation phase: On-boarding meetings with DRC, CEFORD and TU staff at Uganda country office or via Zoom, writing an inception report elaboration stating secondary information sources, assessment objectives and key analytical questions, refining suggested market assessment methodology market (including both qualitative and quantitative methods) and tools for collecting and analysing data, key stakeholders and, final report format. II. Desk review: Conduct secondary desk research as per the objectives outlined above. III. Data collection/field phase (Imvepi Refugee Settlement and surrounding host community areas): Data collection using quantitative and qualitative methodologies including key informant interviews (KIIs)/focus group discussions (FGDs) with potential participants as well as informal and formal market actors, private and public sector representative stakeholders who play a key role in these markets including relevant government stakeholders, NGOs etc.; direct market observation (as possible given COVID restrictions), secondary desk research. DRC and TU data protection policies, gender and other ethical considerations shall be adhered to. IV. Analysis, report writing and debriefing phase: data analysis and validation of findings (including sharing preliminary findings and/or recommendations with community representatives and key informants and stakeholders); report writing, a debriefing will be organized (via Skype or Zoom) to discuss the results and the recommendations

Deliverables: The expected deliverables are: I. Inception report to be submitted before or during the field visit, inclusive of work plan and timetable for the assessment(s), clearly outlining the proposed methodology and tools (to be approved by Trickle Up before starting data collection); II. Draft socioeconomic and market assessment report(s) for review by the Building Self-Reliance and Resilience in West Nile project staff; III. Two (2) Final reports in English (max. 25 pages each, excluding appendices) that consists of: 1. Socioeconomic Assessment a. Executive summary; b. Methodology; c. Assessment findings with associated data structured around methods and evaluation questions; d. Recommendations; e. Appendices (including: TOR, inception report, data collection tools adapted specifically for the target populations); f. Databases with the assessment data. 2. Market and Labor Assessment a. Executive summary; b. Methodology; c. Assessment findings with associated data structured around methods and evaluation questions; d. Recommendations; e. Appendices (including: TOR, inception report, data collection tools adapted specifically for the target populations); f. Databases with the assessment data. IV. PowerPoint presentation containing findings and recommendations to be presented to Trickle Up, CEFORD, DRC and the Building Self-Reliance and Resilience in West Nile project staff during a debrief workshop (Skype/Zoom conference); (Power Point presentation in (with speaker notes) should be provided).

Qualifications of Consultant(s) - Academic: University degree in economics, sociology, social sciences, or another related field. - Professional: o At least five (5) years of relevant professional job experiences (socioeconomic assessments, market assessments, needs assessments, etc.) o Proven experience in conducting assessments for use in the planning, implementing, and/or designing of livelihoods programs o Proven experience in participatory data collection methods, including but not limited to: focus group discussions, key informant interviews, participatory rural appraisal, etc. o Familiarity with the local context in Imvepi Settlement and Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement including understanding of the socio-economic and market realities of the refugee and host communities (desired)

Application Process and Requirements The deadline for the application is: Monday 7 February 2022 at 1600 (Uganda, East Africa time).

Application should be emailed to [email protected]. The title of the email should be “Consultancy for Socioeconomic and Market Assessments – West Nile, Uganda”.

Applications shall include the following: 1 Technical offer detailing the proposed assessments framework, methods, and the assessment team(s) (max. 3pages); 2 Financial offer (Excel) detailing the costs of the assignment (including transport costs, enumerators costs. etc.) 3 CVs of the of team leader and key staff demonstrating relevant experience / knowledge and alignment with the specification above (max 8 pages); 4 2 references from recognized organisations, which will be consulted for information about the consultant prior experience in the relevant fields of study; 5 Please include feasible start date, anticipated completion date and mention where you found this posting.

Preference will be given to applicants who include an executive summary or abstract of similar work conducted;

Consortia or partnerships are welcome to apply.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.