Consultancy - Advocacy Manual creation and Programs Delivery support.

Job Description

Purpose of the assignment

In Kenya, Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations play a crucial role in supporting and nurturing young businesses owned by youth and women. However, they face several challenges when it comes to conducting advocacy on behalf of these businesses:

Limited Resources: Many Enterprise Support Organizations and Business Associations in Kenya operate with limited financial resources, which constrains their ability to engage in effective advocacy efforts. This limitation may hinder their capacity to influence policies and regulations that are favourable to youth and women-owned businesses. Fragmentation and Coordination Issues: The entrepreneurship ecosystem in Kenya is often fragmented, with various actors operating independently. This lack of coordination can lead to duplication of efforts and ineffective advocacy strategies. Lack of Capacity and Expertise: Some Enterprise Support Organizations and Business Associations may lack the necessary expertise and capacity to engage in advocacy activities effectively. This includes skills such as policy analysis, lobbying, and coalition-building, which are essential for influencing decision-makers and driving meaningful change. Limited Understanding of Policy Processes: Many Enterprise Support Organizations and Business Associations may struggle to navigate the complex policy processes in Kenya, including legislative frameworks and regulatory procedures. This lack of understanding can hinder their ability to effectively advocate for policy reforms that address the specific needs of young businesses owned by youth and women. Insufficient Data and Research: Effective advocacy often relies on credible data and research to support policy recommendations and arguments. However, Entrepreneurial organizations in Kenya may face challenges in accessing relevant data and conducting comprehensive research on the challenges faced by youth and women-owned businesses. This lack of evidence-based advocacy can weaken their advocacy efforts and limit their impact on policymakers.

There is therefore a clear need to develop a toolkit to support Enterprise Support Organizations ESOs and Business Associations in Kenya in effectively carrying out advocacy and policy influencing on behalf of young businesses owned by youth and women. This manual could include resources and guidance on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, communication strategies, and monitoring and evaluation. We envision that by equipping Enterprise Support Organizations ESOs and Business Associations with the necessary tools and resources, they can enhance their advocacy and policy influencing efforts and contribute to creating a more supportive environment for youth and women entrepreneurs in Kenya. The Assignment therefore seeks for a consultant to develop an advocacy manual that will enhance the capacity of Entrepreneurship Ecosystem actors in Kenya to effectively advocate on policy issues affecting SEED beneficiaries in Kenya.

Scope of the assignment

The primary objective of this consultancy is to procure a consultant who will support Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations in strengthening their capacity through the development of an advocacy manual/Tool kit and delivery of support programs. The consultant will focus on empowering Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru Counties to effectively advocate for policy changes that benefit SEED beneficiaries, particularly young entrepreneurs, and women entrepreneurs.

Generally, the consultant needs to generate content and photos for Communication and Visibility in each county which will be shared to SNV and IYBA SEED team and adhere to global data protection act regarding photos and data shared by the Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations.

The consultant's scope of work will include to the following, based in phases:

Phase 1: Mapping out the Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations in selected counties, undertake a capacity needs assessment and develop a detailed modules/curricula on the main needs’ areas of each of the category of the value Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations in the selected counties.

Review and improve the existing mappings of Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru Counties, incorporating additional details and enhancements. This process will be guided by the following key indicators:What kind of enterprises are supported by each Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations?Ownership of such enterprises (Data desegregated based on gender and age)What are the sectors of the enterprises supported?What are the services offered by the ESOs and BAs (engagement levels)How they are supported (Support mechanism)How they interact and collaborate with the seed beneficiariesHow many ESOs and BAs are present in the designated counties.Identifying the ESOs and BAs that have growth potentialAssess the extent to which ESOs and BAs have incorporated a gender-focused approach.

NB: When conducting the mapping and capacity-building activities for relevant stakeholders within the entrepreneurship ecosystems for advocacy purposes, it is important to apply a gender-sensitive approach. This entails ensuring that organizations led by women, with a specific emphasis on women's economic empowerment and human rights, are included among the beneficiaries. Additionally, organizations that are committed to enhancing their governance structures and operations to promote gender inclusivity should also be considered.

Propose potential ESOs and BAs for project collaboration based on the growth potential, identified gaps, and mentioned indicators. Conduct an assessment/survey to ascertain the presence of any preceding advocacy manuals, examining their gaps and their efficacy in meeting the advocacy requirements of SEED beneficiaries, with a particular focus on young entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the advocacy and policy influencing needs and challenges faced by Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru Counties. Prioritise the needs assessed from the information gathered. Provide a detailed advocacy training manual providing standard operating procedures for training and instructions on how to deliver the trainings, tailored to the specific needs and priorities of Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations, providing guidance on strategic advocacy planning, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and communication strategies. An effective strategy for delivery of the training (Including coaching and mentorship, develop training curricula) to the different categories of the Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations. Conduct validation meeting with Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations to present findings in one central county.

Phase 2: Delivery of training targeting assessed Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations within the selected counties.

Training Methodology: The training sessions will employ a combination of interactive county-based workshops, practical exercises, case studies, and in-person mentorship and coaching sessions, targeting the Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations. The participants will also be encouraged to work on their individual advocacy plans throughout the training program, receiving feedback and guidance from the consultant.

Key deliverables: Based on the above-defined scope of work, key deliverables are as follows:

A detailed work plan for executing the assignment. Progress Monitoring: Regularly track participants' progress during the training to ensure that they are actively applying the training principles and making satisfactory advancements in their advocacy plans. Post-training Evaluation: Evaluating participants' learning outcomes and the quality of their advocacy plans upon completion of the training program. Feedback Mechanism: Establishing a feedback mechanism for participants to share their experiences, challenges, and suggestions regarding the training program. Facilitate exchange sessions among business associations to increase coordination and effectiveness in conducting advocacy on matters affecting SEED beneficiaries- One day event per county. Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness, results, and impact of the capacity-building activities on Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations advocacy efforts. Liaise, engage, and report with project team, based on agreed frequency when needed throughout the intervention, Develop a 2-pager article, with a most significant change story, that narrates the short to medium term impact of the intervention. Engage in complementary meetings, activities, and discussions in line with the objective of the technical support.

Monitoring and Evaluation

As part of the monitoring and evaluation requirements for the IYBA-SEED project, the consultant(s)/firm of consultants shall collect data for the relevant logframe indicators based on the agreed methodology and tools defined in the IYBA-SEED MEAL strategy.

Indicators definition sheets and templates of data collection tools (including surveys, interview guides, attendance lists, etc.) will be provided by the IYBA-SEED project at the beginning of the assignment to facilitate data collection by the consultants.

Consultancy deliverables

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following key outputs:

A detailed Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations mapping report for each county, including annexes. A detailed Advocacy Needs Assessment Report disaggregated per county and general recommendations, not more than 30 pages, including annexes. Develop appropriate curricula, modules and manual that is customized to the needs of the various categories of Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) and Business Associations, to support the delivery of the advocacy aimed at addressing policy issues impacting SEED beneficiaries.  Training/workshop materials and resources NB: SNV will directly handle procurement of venues for training and conferences. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and collected data. Develop a 2 or more-pager article that narrates the impact of the intervention. Final Report summarizing the consultancy activities, outputs, outcomes, challenges and recommendations for future capacity-building initiatives at the end of the consultancy.

Timelines

The assignment duration is 50 days of expertise with the possibility of having 10 more days for additional task or follow up activities that may arise based on pertinence and approval.

Ethical considerations and confidentiality

The evaluation team will safeguard the rights and confidentiality of information providers, interviewees, and stakeholders by ensuring compliance with legal provisions and codes governing collection and reporting of data. The consultant and team will agree to sign data processing agreement which shall be provided by SNV.

The consulting team will ensure security of information of this assignment in accordance with general data protection regulation (GDPR) compliance. The information, knowledge and data gathered in this process must also be solely used for this consultancy and not for other uses. Where video coverage and photo shooting are involved, informed consent must be signed.

Download Terms of Reference here

Qualifications

The minimum competencies and qualifications include:

Minimum of ten (10) years of substantial professional experience in advocacy and policy influencing especially working with businesses and institutions working with MSMEs and young businesses. Prior experience in curriculum development and training. Experience in developing simple, practical, and scalable advocacy training programs that are tailored to different contexts, especially for MSME’s in Agri-food, water, and energy sectors. Experience in developing highly simplified and interactive material with gamification, illustrations, Good analytical and presentation skills. Proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, data analysis software and internet is an added advantage.

Consultant selection criteria

In-depth technical & practical understanding of the advocacy, BDS and Micro SME landscape in Kenya’s with a particular focus on advocacy and policy influencing. Demonstrable experience conducting advocacy and policy-focussed scoping studies. Post graduate qualification in entrepreneurship ecosystem, Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness, political science, Agriculture, or other relevant qualification. Strong understanding of policy issues related to entrepreneurship, economic development, and marginalized groups.