Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Zambia Labor Market Assessment for BRAC’s Youth Empowerment Technical Advisory Services
BRAC USA Lead: Carrie Ellett
Position: Youth Empowerment TA Services Consultant, Zambia Labor Market Assessment (LMA) Research Assistants (2)
Location: Zambia
Dates of Assignment: November 2021-April 2022, dependent on securing of contract
Duration of Assignment: Part-time & Intermittent, working days may vary per month
Scope: BRAC is recruiting research assistants to conduct in country labor market assessment research activities in Mongu and Monze, Mazabuka in partnership with a project coordinator in Zambia

Background
BRAC is a global leader developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programs to empower the most marginalized in extremely poor, conflict-affected, and post-conflict states. Founded in Bangladesh in 1972, BRAC now works across 11 countries in Asia and Africa. BRAC takes a holistic approach to alleviate poverty, running programs in education, healthcare, microfinance, women and girls’ empowerment, agriculture and food security, and human and legal rights.

Since its inception, BRAC has understood that including women and girls at the forefront of its development initiatives are critical in achieving our mission and vision. We are determined to root out the systemic causes of poverty, particularly through the empowerment of marginalized women and girls. Centering AGYW in our youth work is done through curriculum development designed with youth and community input, through designated peer groups and mentorship approaches, and by targeting the enabling environment for AGYW, including trainings and advocacy with men, boys, and custodians of power systems, who tend to be male in BRAC’s target areas.

BRAC’s signature youth programme in sub-Saharan Africa is its Empowerment and Livelihoods for Adolescents (ELA) model. The ELA model is a three-pillared approach concentrating on education, social empowerment, and economic empowerment. Young women meet in groups of 20-30 with a peer mentor from the community to engage in a year-long program and AGYW are split by age: 10 to 14 and 15 to 22. The content delivered by mentors includes intra and inter personal skills, sexual and reproductive health, soft skills, planning ahead and community leadership. Sexual and reproductive health rights are emphasized to reduce teenage pregnancy and violations of rights such as forced/early marriage and gender-based violence. BRAC is increasingly focusing on menstrual hygiene management and eliminating associated barriers to education for girls at this critical transition age, particularly barriers related to stigma and the lack of facilities, policies, and access to products, information and medicines to manage menstruation while attending school.

Additionally, wage or self-employment is a key intervention within BRAC’s ELA programme, especially for those who are in the older age group, out of school, unemployed and young mothers. This includes financial literacy and economic empowerment training modules as well as support for technical training and access to financial services, including BRAC microfinance loans.

To measure ELA’s impact, a randomized control trial (RCT) in Uganda conducted by independent researchers found that, four years post-intervention, AGYW in villages with ELA clubs had delayed pregnancy and marriage or cohabitation, reduced sex against their will and were more likely to participate in income-generating activities. RCTs from South Sudan and Sierra Leone have further demonstrated ELA’s effectiveness in making girls more resilient in the face of crisis, which is particularly important given the growing risks related to COVID-19 around the globe.

Description of Assignment
As part of BRAC’s technical advisory services for Youth Empowerment, BRAC will conduct a labor market assessment across three districts in Zambia. This will be done in partnership with an HIV prevention program that is aiming to improve its economic strengthening program components informed by local labor data.
BRAC’s advisory services methodology began with an assessment and is now being followed by curriculum, training and the labor market assessment.

The purpose of the rapid Youth Economic Opportunities Assessment is to gain a deeper understanding on local labour market dynamics across three programme sites in Zambia, but with a specific focus on economic opportunities for AGYW. The findings of the assessment will inform decision making, design, and delivery of DREAMs economic strengthening programme activities supporting income generating activities for AGYW as well as practical strategies in strengthening programme mechanisms for lasting economic impact.

The assessment is intended to support programme services focusing on entrepreneurship support, market-led and employability skills training, and life skills training.
Consultants hired may support tools and materials development, assessments and/or implementing advisory packages. Some consultants may complete field visits, depending on location, and travel may be required for training delivery, depending on travel restrictions and safety protocols.

This assignment will be led by a Zambia Project Coordinator and supported by junior researchers. Specifically, this Terms of Reference is for two local junior researchers (Research Assistants) that can provide short-term support to the Zambia Project Coordinator and BRAC Lead that will include field visits to programme sites to collect primary data on local labour market dynamics and economic opportunities of AGYW.

Scope of Work
The Zambia LMA Research Assistants will include the following tasks:
• Provide support to the project manager in the delivery of the assessment through primary (quantitative and qualitative) data collection and preliminary data analysis, involving a field visit to each programme location (one junior researcher to each location).
• Provide support to the project coordinator in organising interviews
• Attend pre-departure training on tools and methods
• Programme site visit: spend approximately one week at a programme site undertaking primary data collection
• Data is cleaned and uploaded into an excel document and submitted to the project manager.
• A high-level trip report with preliminary data analysis is submitted to the project manager (5-10 pages)
• Junior researchers’ field costs (accommodation, food, transport) will be covered by the project.

A note on the field visit: Research Assistants will receive training on how to facilitate and use specific data collection methods and tools. Each site visit is expected to last approximately one-week and Research Assistants must express their willingness and availability to travel and work remotely. During the site visit, the Research Assistant will undertake four key activities for the assessment:
• AGYW focus group
• Market observations and business survey
• Value Chain Focus Group
• Key Informant Interviews
The number of interviews and FGDs will be determined prior to departure and in collaboration with the contracted partner and BRAC project coordinator. It is expected the junior researcher will spend at least one-day performing market observations and one day interviewing business owners.
Consultants engaged in response to this solicitation shall be bound by BRAC’s general standards of conduct.

Qualifications
• At least three-years professional work experience (a strong preference is given to work experience in (or with) the private sector)
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills
• Experience undertaking primary market research and on-location data collection
• Experience facilitating individual interviews or Focus Group Discussions
• Comfortable travelling and working remotely
• Demonstrable knowledge and application of Excel
• Ability to work in Zambia
• Demonstrable ability to write fluently in English
• Fluent in English and regional language
• Experience with participatory research methods
• Experience facilitating surveys
• Good understanding of local government in Zambia
• Knowledge of the key youth employment challenges in Zambia
• Knowledge of the key challenges facing AGYW in Zambia

Education Requirement: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

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Job application procedure
Candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting the following:
• Resume
• Statement of Interest that specifies experience in conducting labor market research and assessment or similar activities and report writing experience, experience in Zambia preferred (if you are invited to interview, you will be required to submit a relevant writing sample, such as a report)
• Three references
• Daily billing rate
Applicants will be evaluated based on the above price and non-price factors. The non-price factors shall include qualifications and experience as represented by applicant’s resume, statement of interest, and references, and shall be weighted more heavily than price.
BRAC anticipates that contracts resulting from this solicitation shall be Labor Hour (LH) or Time and Material (T&M) type awards. BRAC reserves the right to make multiple awards or no awards in response to this solicitation.

Please submit all documentation electronically via Trakstar no later than 15 November 2021. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
BRAC values a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance with all laws.
Only soft copy applications will be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

To apply for this job email your details to mia@bracusa.org

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