Consultant for Landscape Study on Education and Economic Opportunities for Refugee and Displaced Youth in Chad and DRC

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) – is a leading Canadian non-profit organization in international development, committed to providing education, economic opportunities and empowerment opportunities that improve the lives of millions of disadvantaged youth around the world.

Context:

The displacement context in Chad is complex and multifaceted, shaped by both internal and external factors. The country hosts a significant number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) primarily due to conflicts and instability in neighboring countries, including Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon and Nigeria. In recent years, Chad has faced its own internal conflicts, particularly in the Lake Chad region which has experienced widespread displacement. This conflict, coupled with intercommunal violence and resource scarcity, has forced many Chadians to flee their homes. The government of Chad, along with humanitarian organizations, has been working to provide assistance and protection to displaced populations. However, challenges such as limited resources, security concerns, and access constraints hinder the delivery of aid and exacerbate the humanitarian situation. Furthermore, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of complexity to the displacement context, impacting both the displaced populations and the humanitarian response efforts.

The complex displacement crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s most severe, with nearly 7 million people internally displaced due to decades of armed conflict, ethnic violence, and insecurity, particularly in the eastern regions. According to the UNHCR, over half a million other displaced populations from Burundi, the Central African Republic, Rwanda and South Sudan reside in the country. Displaced populations live in dire conditions, lacking access to basic necessities, healthcare, and protection, with humanitarian efforts hampered by insecurity and poor. The DRC’s ongoing political and economic instability makes finding durable solutions for displaced people extremely challenging.

Youth in particular face numerous challenges that impact their well-being, opportunities, and future prospects. Conflict, insecurity, and economic instability have driven many young people from their homes. These youth often experience disruptions to their education, limited access to healthcare, and a lack of economic opportunities. Forced displacement exacerbates existing vulnerabilities among young people, exposing them to risks such as exploitation, recruitment by armed groups, and gender-based violence. Many displaced youth also struggle with psychological trauma and social isolation, further hindering their ability to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.

Overall, addressing the displacement crises in Chad and DRC require comprehensive approaches that address the root causes of conflicts, promote stability, and ensure the protection and assistance of displaced persons and host communities. In addition understanding of the humanitarian and development nexus in these contexts is critical to identify solutions that can start to move from aid provision into self-reliance strategies for affected populations.

Scope of the Assignment:

WUSC is undertaking a joint landscape analysis of the economic and educational opportunities available to displaced youth in Chad and the DRC. The purpose of this study is to examine the landscape of the secondary school education system, transitional pathways to dignified and fulling work and the policy changes necessary for the self-reliance of forcibly displaced young people in both contexts. In addition, the study is expected to identify the stakeholders within these key areas with particular emphasis on local and refugee-led organizations.

The objectives includes identifying opportunities for intervention for refugees and displaced persons (RDP). Through a secondary sources review and key persons interviews and analysis, the research will map the access that RDPs have to quality secondary education and economic opportunities by providing an analysis and accompanying recommendations on how to strengthen ecosystems and increase access by these populations in the country, with a particular geographic focus on ‘pockets of hope’.

The consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

• Systematic review of relevant literature, reports and retrieve primary data on secondary education, livelihood activities for RDPs and host communities in Chad and the DRC;
• Key informant interviews with UNHCR, government officials, education experts, NGOs, refugee organizations, teaching professionals, community leaders, private sector entities and other relevant stakeholders where relevant;
• Focus group discussions with RDPs;
• Analysis of primary and secondary leading to a draft report of findings
• A workshop with stakeholders to present findings;
• The development of an initial and final report and executive summary with recommendations that may become a public resource for interested stakeholders.

Objectives:

The following is required of the consultant(s):

• To assess the current state of secondary school education and work opportunities for RDPs in Chad and DRC;
• To identify the key challenges and opportunities for improving access to and quality of secondary education and work opportunities for RDPs in the target countries, especially the specific and contextual constraints faced by young women;
• To analyze the existing data, education and economic policies, and frameworks related to secondary education and access to work for RDPs in Chad and DRC;
• To identify potential interventions and strategies for improving secondary education and work outcomes for RDPs;
• To identify business or employment opportunities in promising value chains and sectors that are or can be accessible to RDP youth;
• To identify local, international, and refugee-led organizations working in these contexts, as well as potential interventions and strategies for working directly with local organizations and RLOs; and
• To provide recommendations for key stakeholders, including funders, governments, NGOs, and other relevant actors, on how to improve the secondary education landscape and work opportunities for RDPs in the target countries.

It is expected that the consultant(s) will utilise an intersectional lens for this assignment, ensuring that all analysis and recommendations will not only identify the particular barriers that young women and young people with disabilities face in accessing educational and economic opportunities, but will also examine how future opportunities and interventions should be designed meet their needs.

Deliverables:

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

• Inception report outlining the methodology, research questions, and work plan including dissemination plan of returning findings to the communities;
• Draft report outlining the key findings and recommendations;
• Final report incorporating feedback from WUSC, addressing any comments or concerns;
• Presentation at a workshop of the report to stakeholders, including a summary of key findings and recommendations in each country for validation of the findings to ideate and co-create ways forward;
• The final deliverable will include a report with an executive summary, methodological discussions, infographics, recommendations, conclusion, bibliography; and
• Translate findings and deliverable products into English and French.

Required skills and experience

The consultant for this project would need to have the following qualifications and experience:

• Education and experience: The consultant(s) should have a minimum of 10 years of experience in conducting research and evaluation studies related to education and livelihoods, preferably in conflict or displacement contexts. Demonstrated experience in conducting market assessments is highly desired, as well as a preference for proposals that hire local researchers.
• Regional: The consultant/firm is expected to have a strong understanding of the contextual challenges in Chad and DRC with a specific focus on displaced populations
• Methodological skills: The consultant should have advanced skills in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including the ability to design and implement mixed-methods research studies.
• Analytical skills: The consultant should have strong analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize and analyze complex data sets and present findings in a clear and concise manner.
• Communication skills: The consultant should have excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present findings and recommendations to diverse audiences, including government officials, private sector, education experts, youth, NGOs, RDPs, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Language proficiency: The consultant/firm should be fluent in English and French and ideally have knowledge of relevant local languages.
• Availability: The consultant should be available to work full-time on the project for the duration of the consultancy, including travel to the target regions as needed.
• Ethics: The consultant should adhere to ethical research practices, including necessary permissions for research conducted in countries, obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality, and a risk mitigation plan for participants and researchers. .

Budget

The budget for the consultancy will be determined based on the proposed methodology and work plan, and will cover all expenses related to data collection, analysis, report writing, and stakeholder engagement. The consultant will be responsible for submitting a detailed budget proposal for approval.

Timeline
The contract will be for 5 months with an anticipated start date by late November 2024, beginning with the date of contract signing.

Briefing and reporting arrangements

A development meeting will be arranged to brief the consultant on the project’s contextual background, as well as WUSC’s strategic objectives to support the development of an inception report and other requested deliverables.

The consultant will report to the WUSC DREEM Project Director, who will provide guidance and support throughout the project.