Consultancy: Technical Support on Leather Work Value Chain and Strategic Plan – ILO

Country: Kenya
Duration of assignment: 15th October 2023– 15th April 2024
Level of effort: 100 working days

The ILO is seeking to recruit an individual consultant to support the leather work value chain strengthening work at the Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry and Support the National Employment Authority to develop 2023 -2027 strategic plan

Note: The consultancy is onsite support and applicants have to be residing in Kenya. In this case travel costs (flight tickets and per diem) would be included in the contract in addition to the fees specified in Section 3.

Context

Operational and Technical context

The Kenya Government Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) economic policy seeks to mobilize and influence the allocation of capital in a manner that generates most benefits for the County. The model is hinged on providing an enabling environment that will spur change at the bottom of the pyramid and emphasises investing resources where most jobs will be created- at the bottom of the pyramid. Based on the policy document, the government has prioritized 5 pillars with highest potential for inclusive growth namely agriculture, MSMEs, housing and settlement, healthcare, digital superhighway, and creative economy. The government agenda aligns with ILO’s mission of promoting social justice and decent work for all, and ILO’s long-standing commitment to working with member state governments to address local needs through employment creation and advancement of labour rights.

In response to the challenges facing both host communities and refugees, a new partnership initiative titled: PROSPECTS Partnership for improving Prospects for host communities and forcibly displaced persons’, has been launched by the Government of the Netherlands that brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank. The Partnership model is to develop a new paradigm in responding to forced displacement crises in eight countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Sudan, and Uganda).

The overall objective of PROSPECTS in Kenya is to improve the living standards and inclusiveness of refugees, asylum-seekers and vulnerable host communities, by contributing to the expansion of socio- economic opportunities through better education and mainstreamed protection interventions.

With a geographical focus on Turkana and Garissa Counties, PROSPECTS Kenya is working under three main pillars. The first pillar, Education and Learning focuses on increasing the number of forcibly displaced persons and host communities with quality education and training. The second pillar on Employment with Dignity seeks to increase the number of forcibly displaced persons and host communities with enhanced livelihoods and/or employment in decent work through improvements in labour market governance supporting transition to and entry into employment and formalization. The third pillar on Protection and Inclusion aims at increasing protection, social protection and inclusion for forcibly displaced persons and host communities through strengthening of legal, policy and enabling environment for protection, social protection and inclusion.

Leather Value Chain Development

The leather and leather products sector emerges as a key avenue for economic transformation and expansion of job opportunities. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the sectors’ potential remains largely untapped, with minimal value addition observed thus far. Kenya’s exports primarily consist of semi- processed (wet blue) leather, even as so much raw hides and skin is lost before processing. As such, the country fails to capitalize on the immense possibilities offered by value addition.

Kenya’s leather industry has great potential to contribute to economic growth by increasing the production of semi-processed and finished leather items for both the domestic and export markets. The sector also needs to increase its production capacity by promoting the establishment of at least four (4) shoe factories with a capacity of 5million pairs annually. This will increase the current footwear production from 8million pairs to 36million pairs. The sector will not only generate KES 72Billion annually, but also create an estimated 17,000 direct jobs. In this regard, the leather sector must be fully developed with a focus on raising the standard of raw materials, especially hides and skins, by aggregating, supporting the tanning sector and promoting the creation of high-quality leather products, increasing production capacity as well as establishing branding and marketing strategies.

To realize the full potential of the leather sector, the State Department for Industry and other key stakeholders within the Leather Value Chain must work jointly and prioritize the enhancement of the raw material base. This can be achieved by improving the quality of hides and skins thus ensuring the production of premium-grade leather that meets international standards. At raw material production level, there is need to organize producers and invest in awareness creation on best practices, animal health and husbandry practices, modern breeding and identification and traceability techniques, mechanization and providing appropriate equipment to slaughterhouses, capacity building for players (flayers, hides and skins inspectors/managers) in the sector that will result in superior and reliable raw material supply thus enabling the creation of a sustainable competitive advantage.

Furthermore, there is need for diversification by supporting the production of high quality leather goods, including bags, garments, footwear and accessories with the ultimate goal of driving job creation, stimulating entrepreneurship and nurturing a culture of innovation. If well executed, this can unlock the potential of this sector and transform Kenya into a regional hub for world-class leather products and designs. In this regard, there is need to encourage adherence to standard operating procedures, establish collection clusters and supply preservative inputs to hides and skins at these centres, encourage purchase by grading and selection, supporting leather products manufacturing MSMEs to upgrade / increase their production by availing common manufacturing facilities to ensure processing of all hides and skins into finished leather as well as investing in capacity building and providing access to affordable finance for artisans and entrepreneurs in the leather value chain

Key Tasks to be performed under this work stream includes;

• Preparatory work: The consultant will become familiar with the structure and workplans/road maps developed by the Leather Value Chain Work Technical Committee. The consultant is expected to review and familiarize themselves with technical reports and operational guidance. Expected outputs: Reviewed and finalization Road Maps towards achieving the cooperation objectives.
• Coordination role: The consultant will coordinate and lead organizing visioning meetings. Support the Kenya Leather Work Group (KLWG) to develop concepts, plan meetings and consolidate feedback from various engagement. The consultant will support the KLWG to coordinate key activities as described in the concept note. These will include mapping and engagement with different actors in the sector, assessments and interventions mapping activities. Expected outputs: Meeting reports, workshop concepts (i) TORs and follow-up support to service provider for the development of the national leather sector action plan. Coordinating organization of the Kenya leather sector conference in 2024.
• Situational Analysis: This includes conducting the leather sector rapid status analysis and validation workshop (breakfast meeting)., Summarizing and commenting on key findings and following up actions guiding prioritization of actions in the leather value chain. Expected outputs: Validation workshop report and sector jobs creation priorities for ILO collaboration.
• Develop a continuity strategic plan model and reporting: The consultant will be the main rapporteur for the KLWG meetings to document the engagement process. ILO and MITI will require progressive reports/meeting notes from these engagements. At the phase-out stage, the consultant will elaborate a report that identifies lessons learned, including with regard to the mechanisms and good practice that improves the performance capabilities of the KLWG. In the report, the consultant is expected to provide a continuity strategic plan model. Expected outputs: (i) final report, Strategic plan model

National Employment Authority Strategic Plan 2023 -2027

The National Employment Authority (NEA) is one of the State Corporation under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. The Authority was established in April, 2016 by the National Employment Authority Act, 2016, which provides the legal framework and mandates for its operations. The Authority was created out of the then National Employment Bureau (NEB) which was one of the Departments in the then Ministry of Labour and Social Services. The Act therefore provided for the transition of the Bureau into the National Employment Authority. The Act provides for a comprehensive institutional framework for: employment management; enhancement of employment creation promotion interventions; and increasing access to employment by youth, minorities and marginalized group and for connected purposes.

The National Employment Authority has been implementing its five- year Strategic Plan covering the period 2018-2022 since July, 2018 and this comes to an end by 30th June, 2023. This necessitates the need to develop a new Strategic Plan covering the next five-Year period 2022-2023. The move to develop the second- generation Strategic Plan coincides with the development of the Fourth Medium Term Plan 2023-2027, the Sector Plan on Labour and Employment covering the same period, National Government priorities and emerging issues in the Labour and Employment.

The purpose of development of the Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 period is to assess the implementation status of the current strategic plan, the extent of realization of set objectives, sustainability of the achievements, lessons learnt, and challenges faced during implementation of the Plan, and mitigation measures. This will also facilitate alignment of the Authority’s operations to the changes in the labour market with a view to remaining relevant in the dynamic operational environment and to facilitate effective and efficient realization of its Mandate.

Key Tasks to be performed under this work stream includes;

• Preparatory work: The consultant will become familiar with the structure and workplans/road maps developed by the Strategic plan Technical Working Committee. The consultant is expected to review and familiarise themselves with technical reports and operational guidance. Expected outputs: Reviewed and finalization Road Maps towards achieving the Plan development
• Review of Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022: Reviewing the implementation of the precious NEA Strategic Plan covering 2018-2022 period to determine the level of achievements of the set targets and identify gaps, emerging issues, challenges and lessons learnt; Expected outputs: Report on review of NEA SP 2018 -2022
• Develop the Strategic Model as guided by the Top Management. Identify strategies in line with the proposed Key Result Areas, Strategic objectives and the strategic issues emanating from the situation analysis. Identify key activities in line with the proposed strategies; and Prepare the implementation matrix with key Performance Indicators, target for the plan period and their indicative budgets , with assigned responsibility. 2023-2027Expected outputs: (i) NEA Strategic Model and plan, workshop reports and final report.

Objective and Scope of work

The ILO envisages collaboration and coordination among government departments to leverage resources but also ensure efficiency in technical assistance. The objective of the assignment is for the consultant to provide on- site technical support through an action plan aimed at strengthening the capacities Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry (MITI) and National Employment Authority (NEA). To coordinate, and support the implementation of selected activities of the under the Leather work Value chain and Strategic plan The consultant is expected to support the MITI and NEA in preparing activities through technical inputs and operational support, liaising with partner organizations/stakeholders, and following up with actions points agreed upon.

Timeline, Deliverables and Fees

The consultancy goes from 15 October 2023 to 15 April 2024.

Leather Value Chain Development

1. Preparatory work: Reviewed Road Maps, consultations with ILO and state departments – 5 days
2. Situational Analysis: Leather value chain status determination through consultations and rapid assessment – 30 days
3. Develop a continuity strategic plan model and reporting: (i) final report, ii) Strategic plan model – 15 days
4. Interventions Coordination: leading prioritization of interventions (i) Sector actors mapping report- identifying roles and ongoing/planned interventions (ii) interventions prioritization report (iii) National leather sector conference – 15 days

National Employment Authority Strategic Plan 2023 -2027

1. Preparatory work: Reviewed and finalization Road Maps towards achieving the Plan development – 5 days
2. Review of Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022: Report on review of NEA SP 2018 -2022 – 5 days
3. Develop the Strategic Model as guided by the Top Management.: (i) NEA Strategic Model and plan, workshop reports and final report – 25 days

TOTAL: 100 days

Deviations from these deliverables can occur according to the evolution of the assignment; however, any changes observed or anticipated should be consulted with the focal person at the ILO.

Payment Terms

The ILO will only pay for services that have been performed and for deliverables that are successfully completed to the satisfaction of the ILO. The payments will be made according to the following schedule:

• The first payment of 30 per cent of the contract volume will be made upon signature and presentation of the invoice
• The second payment of 30 per cent of the contract volume will be made upon receipt of deliverables 1, 2 and 3 to the satisfaction of the ILO and presentation of the invoice. The second and final payment of 40 per cent of the contract volume will be made upon receipt of deliverables 4 and 5 to the satisfaction of the ILO and presentation of the invoice.

Staffing, Roles, and Reporting

The consultant will provide regular updates for the work carried out to the Chief Technical Advisor of ILO PROSPECTS in Kenya, appointee at MITI and NEA DG. The consultant is expected to collaborate closely with the technical team of the ILO PROSPECTS in Kenya, as well as other relevant technical specialist across the Africa region and at ILO Headquarters.

Specific Clauses

Throughout the course of this assignment, the consultant will report on at least a weekly basis to the ILO for coordination and follow–up. All communication to other relevant stakeholders should be coordinated with the ILO. If it appears necessary to modify the tasks of work or exceed the time allocated, the consultant must discuss the circumstances with the ILO and obtain prior written approval. ILO may disclose the draft or final documents and/or any related information to any person and for any purpose the ILO may deem appropriate.

Kindly note that for the tasks mentioned in this TORs, the consultant is expected to work closely with the ILO PROSPECTS team in Kenya which includes supporting the preparation of contractual arrangements between the ILO and third parties (such as external collaborators or implementing partners). The consultant is not expected to enter into any legal arrangements with third parties or finance those as part of their assignment with the ILO.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant field (social science, social policy, economics, development studies, Education, labour , etc.).
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in the area of design, management and implementation of projects and programmes with a focus on employment services and value chain development
• Understanding of and experience working with Government Institutions
• Familiarity with ILO policies, technical programmes and procedures, including experience working with the United Nations, Ministries of Labour, Education, Trade or other government Ministries Departments and Agencies, would be an added advantage
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills, ability to work independently as well as in teams in order to meet deadlines.
• Excellent English communication and drafting skills.