1. Introduction

SNV Zambia, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is implementing the Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE +) project phase 2, which seeks to improve the livelihoods and prospects of 13,000 out of school youths (among whom at least 50% are young women) by creating ‘green’ jobs and entrepreneurship. The project aims to improve the livelihoods and future prospects of youths through “Green Employment” and Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Agrifood, Renewable energy, and other emerging Sectors.

For more information on our operations in Zambia, visit our website: www.snv.org/country/zambia

2. Background

SNV is implementing the second phase of the Scaling Up Youth Employment in Agriculture Initiative Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE)+ project in Zambia. The four-year OYE+ Phase II project builds off successes, lessons learned and evaluations to date from the Phase I project in Zimbabwe and Zambia, other SNV youth employment projects and the OYE programme in Tanzania. The OYE+ Phase II program aims at fostering a strengthened approach to youth employment programming by addressing structural barriers, offering tailored support, and promoting collaboration among community, private sector, and government stakeholders to create dignified livelihoods for young people.

The key objectives of the project are to:
1. 1.Increase access to employment and entrepreneurial skills development opportunities.
2. 2.Match young people to economic opportunities in their communities, using market development and increased financial inclusion.
3. 3.Contribute to and support an enabling environment via company partnerships, community engagement, and improved government coordination.

The project employs the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE) Pull-Match-Pull-Enable framework approach that brings together partners from the private sector, service providers, and government to focus on employability, entrepreneurship, and business access for youth. In view of the above, a need has arisen for SNV to conduct a Localised Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunity Scan (Opportunity Scan) as a prelude to the implementation of the project. Opportunity identification lays the groundwork for implementing YEE activities, by directing interventions towards growth-oriented economic sectors that present viable youth employment and entrepreneurship. SNV intends to undertake a pragmatic exercise to inform a concrete project implementation strategy. To that end, the Opportunity Scan will be led by the SNV technical team with support from an independent consultant, ensuring that OYE+ Phase II activities are strategically aligned with promising economic opportunities. By leveraging the expertise of both teams, the exercise will comprehensively analyse and identify opportunities that are both viable, appealing to youth aspirations and “green” in nature which addresses current and futuristic localized challenges and ever-changing market dynamics. Additionally, the central involvement of the SNV technical team will foster ownership and sustainability, anchoring the identified opportunities within the YEE framework approaches

3. Overview of the assignment

The Local Service Provider will provide services as required during the project’s implementation phase. Reporting directly to the Project Manager for OYE, the LSPs will engage with both SNV personnel directly involved in the project and those providing indirect support and collaborating with the private sector companies and government.
The core responsibilities of the LSP encompass youth recruitment, provision of life skills and business training, dissemination of vocational skills and market access information, establishment of connections with local government entities and skill development providers, and facilitation of mentoring and internship/apprenticeship opportunities.
The assignment will run from 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2025

4. Requirements/Profile

Local service providers need to have demonstrable knowledge, experience, and skills in the following areas;
– Knowledge and skills in delivering training to rural youth with limited education and entrepreneurship experience.
– Small enterprise development, coaching, and mentoring in any of the two sectors mentioned above.
– Linking enterprises with relevant market players such as private sector companies, financial institutions, and local government authorities.
– Experience with gender-based value chain analysis and young women’s economic empowerment initiatives.
– Knowledge and experience with the application of climate-smart agricultural practices and green jobs
– Clear sustainability plan.
– Must be a registered entity in Zambia as an association, business Hub, or TEVET Skills Development Institution.
– Demonstrate local presence in the selected district
– Proficiency in fostering youth employment and self-employment opportunities, along with a deep understanding of financial inclusion strategies.
– Prior involvement in Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) initiatives
– Expertise or experience related to climate change adaptation mitigation in agriculture.
– Track record in working on youth empowerment programs and or training of youths for at least 6 years after the organization was registered.
– Good understanding of the energy and agriculture sectors and how they can play a role in youth employment
– Must have a network of at least 500 youth agricultural producers, processors, or entrepreneurs
– Must have an onsite business in Agricultural value chains, energy, or Green Jobs with farm or productive assets for entrepreneurship demonstrations.
– Must be able to demonstrate the ability to harness the market potential of continuing to deliver the services to youth beyond the project.
– Must have experience in private sector engagement, linkages, and job placements
– Proven financial and management systems.
– Must have demonstrated financial capacity and capability, have current contracts with firms other than SNV
– Lead must have a minimum of bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Project Management, Business Administration, or related field with a minimum of 5 years of experience.
– Women-led Development Associations are encouraged to apply.
– Prospective organizations must have expertise in:

• Programming/project management
• Skills development
• Business Development
• Agriculture/Renewable energy

5. Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation will follow two steps as follows

1.1 First Screening process: During this process, registered organizations identified as Associations, Business Hubs, or TEVET development institutions will be selected to proceed to the next stage of the selection process based on meeting mandatory requirements.

1.2 Actual evaluation: After initial screening, the final selection of the local service providers will be conducted using the criteria below divided into Technical (1,2,3) and Financial(4).

I. Criteria Maximum score
1 Past Performance – Quality and relevance of previous work conducted by the firm/Organization. Based on references provided by the contracting companies, and a sample of a piece of comparable, previous work completed by the firm within the last 12 months. 20
2 Technical Proposal – demonstrating 1) a clear understanding of the assignment 2) a viable and appropriate methodology, and
3) a realistic operational plan (including with proposed timeline) 4) track record implementing similar programs
40
3 Team Composition and structure – Relevance of the proposed team structure to the methodology and the task assigned; Qualifications and relevant experience of the key personnel (CVs) 25
4 Financial Proposal – A realistic breakdown of costs per district required to deliver the assignment that demonstrates value for money (including clear units/unit costs, separating professional fees, per diems and other reimbursable costs) and contribution from the partner. The budget should be detailed enough to show number of days, involved professional, breakdown of office and field days etc 15
TOTAL 100

Mandatory requirements

1. Company profile
2. Certified copy of Tax certificate and Tax Clearance Certificate
3. Certified copy of company/NGO registration certificate
4. Proofs and confirmations that statutory social insurance contributions, taxes, etc required by the national law have been paid
5. Audited Financial Statement for the last financial year
6. Document proof that the organisation is registered as an association

Failure to provide any of the above mandatory Organisation Documents will result in the elimination of the applicant’s bid.
All submissions should be sent electronically to:zambiaprocurement@snv.org with the heading “OYE Phase II LSP”
The deadline for sending in submissions is 23rd October 2024. Only applicants that have been selected for further discussion will be contacted. If you do not hear from us by 20th December 2024 consider your application unsuccessful.
We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement. SNV believes in and follows competent selection procedures to ensure quality outcomes in all of its assignments

PLEASE NOTE: If you submitted your bid in the first advertisement, do not resubmit.

Detailed specifications and requirements are well stated in the RFQ which can be found on this link.