Consultant – Micro-Enterprise Fundamentals Training at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from destructive approaches towards cooperative solutions. With more than 600 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 countries across the globe.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant – Micro-Enterprise Fundamentals Training

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Employment Type: Contract

Description

• Search for Common Ground (Search) is responsible for the implementation of objective 1 in Borno State, in partnership with Action Against Hunger and Neem Foundation.
• This will contribute to the creation of the conditions for a broad alliance in these territories by recreating social links between and within the communities most affected by the crisis and by helping victims of violence overcome their traumas and to resume trust.
• Collective and participatory activities will make it possible to offer means of analysis and shared actions to peacefully manage conflict, access, and use of limited natural resources.

About the Project
The overall objective of the RESILAC project is to contribute to the economic recovery and the strengthening of resilience and social cohesion of the territories of the Lake Chad basin most impacted by the Lake Chad crisis and climate change. The specific objectives of the project are:

• Strengthening human capital, social cohesion, and collective and sustainable management of natural resources in targeted territories;
• Promoting economic recovery in targeted areas and the resilience of the most vulnerable populations, especially young people and women, through access to employment and agro-sylvo-pastoral production systems intensified and adapted to climate change;
• Valuing and consolidating the actors of the targeted territories by encouraging dialogue and commitment, reinforcing their capacities according to the skills and roles of each one; and
• Producing useful knowledge for the quality of project activities in a crisis context and for decision-making by local actors.

Context

• Poor waste management and disposal continues to impact the environmental conditions of the state and contributes to climate change-related challenges with visible impact in the context of Borno state, especially where floods continue to affect the vulnerable population during the rainy season. The continued report of waste accumulation and the need for waste disposal across the project implementation communities necessitate putting in place an initiative for a creative approach to the management of the waste generated within the communities for a productive purpose.
• Together with the community stakeholders, Search identified the need to build the community capacity to convert waste materials into productive usable products.
• Hence, the consultancy aimed at providing practical capacity building on the transformation of waste such as plastics into usable products in Maiduguri. Search also identified the need to build the capacities of the engaged youths in business management in order to gain knowledge of bookkeeping, resource sourcing and management,  savings, and constructive financial habits.
• Search is looking at engaging a training consultant with strong practical expertise in Microenterprise capacity building, and entrepreneurship to work with Search’s RESILAC project team towards building the capacity of the project participants in converting waste material into reusable products.

Training Objectives
Training objectives are as follows :

• Participants are able to harness knowledge learned from plastic waste management training to combine with business management training to create a profitable enterprise
• Participants have increased financial literacy and enterprise understanding.
• Participants show enhanced capacities to access self-employment or wage-employment and/or establish their business on waste plastic recycling
• To enhance participants’ understanding and awareness of basic concepts and market conditions that affect their ability to maximize their profits and improve their production.
• Participants are able to understand the broader context of consumers, suppliers, producers, and marketing.

Methodology

• The Consultant will follow a practical methodology and training curriculum agreed upon with Search prior to implementation of the training.
• The facilitators will be expected to utilize a mixed approach of facilitating training that is practical, participatory, and engaging to ensure active participation and increase learning outcomes.
• The training will engage about 40 youths participants of the project who would be selected across the project implementation communities of the targeted LGAs. Search’s RESILAC team will provide support to the consultant to prepare and implement the training

Deliverables

• Develop an acceptable training plan that highlights each milestone of delivery.
• Prepare well-structured training materials with an agenda that define clearly the path to practical skills acquisition and enhancement.
• Conduct a skill enhancement practical base training for the beneficiaries.
• Produce Pre- and post-training assessments of the participants’ knowledge on the subject matter.
• Develop appropriate training aids as necessary (ex: case studies, presentations in PowerPoint, handout, and any relevant document(s)
• A detailed training report with key highlights of all the sessions conducted, successes, pictures, and feedback for improvement of future programming

Reporting Line:

• Under direct supervision of the RESILAC project manager, the Consultant will work with support of the RESILAC Senior Community Mobilization Officers to coordinate and implement the training plan towards enhancing the capacity of the participants on waste recycling

Required Profile

• The consultant must be skilled in converting waste, especially plastic waste into useable products of different types.
• S/He must demonstrate a track record of successes in waste recycling and management with good training and facilitation skills.
• Ability to utilize different approaches to impact skills and knowledge toward practical application in waste management and recycling.
• Certificate of apprenticeship or company registration. An academic qualification in waste management and recycling will be an added advantage.
• Applications from waste management and recycling companies are welcome.

Other Relevant Requirements:

• The consultant must be familiar with the context of Northeast Nigeria with a focus on the conflict dynamics of the Lake Chad region.
• Must be willing to travel, or reside in Maiduguri
• Excellent facilitation skills and high capacity to engage participants
• Ability to create a safe space for participants of diverse backgrounds
• Excellent written communication and report writing skills in English
• Basic computer skills is in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel among other skills
• Fluency in Hausa and/or Kanuri and knowledge of other languages indigenous to Northeastern Nigeria will be an added advantage.
• Motivation and self-discipline to work without supervision.

Budget and Terms of Engagement

• The consultancy will begin April 18th, 2022, all training and reports should be completed no later than April 29, 2022.
• The entire consultancy will cover a period of 10 working days {8 days to cover 2 training sessions of 20 participants each, 1 day for the development of training materials, and 2 days for report writing}.
• 5% withholding tax will be deducted at source from the total cost of the consultancy fee
• All logistics arrangements for consultant should be included in the proposed budget.

The consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of his or her professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect for people: Consultant respect the security, dignity, and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age, and ethnicity.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.