Zim: Call for consultants, Closes 8 Feb

Gender Links (GL) is a regional Women’s Rights organization that is committed to an inclusive, equal, and just society in which women and girls exercise their rights in accordance with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and related regional, continental, and global instruments.

Gender Links seeks the services of either an individual, group, or firm to conduct market research and analysis guided by the following specific terms of reference:

1. Target at least 2 of the following value chains: Arts and culture; clean or renewable energy; fisheries; horticulture; waste management and recycling.
2. Review existing market research for the targeted value chains and other relevant project documents.
3. Draft an appropriate methodology for primary data collection and develop data collection tools (e.g., market survey, interviews with market actors, key informant interviews) that will be used to conduct the market research and analysis (to be reviewed by Gender Links). The methodology should specifically consult and identify opportunities for women and youth in urban and rural communities.
4. Plan and conduct Market research and Analysis for the selected value chains focusing on:

• Identification of major local and export markets and ways to best penetrate selected markets. Include a SWOT analysis of markets.
• Assessment of the size of markets, the volume of sales, and market segmentation.
• Local market structure.
• Business opportunities (input supply, production, processing, and marketing) available to women and youth in the value chains for commercial enterprising, and the impact of their participation on the quality of business transactions in the markets.
• Strategic entry points for women and youth to fully utilize the available opportunities in the markets for their products.
• Identify capacity gaps of entrepreneurs in sustainable viable enterprising and marketing.
• Enabling environment (e.g., regulatory context- challenges and opportunities; policies affecting market access, levies).
• Market players (input and output market players, consumers, sellers, traders, middle-men, employers) behaviour.
• Procurement mechanisms, market requirements (standards, conditions for delivery), and prices.
• Identification of constraints and challenges in the market.
• Identification of quality business support services available.
• Key partnership opportunities for MSMEs.
• Financial and credit facilities for identified value chains (e.g., value chain financing, warehouse receipting).
• Identification of key business support services, MSMEs need to perform effectively.
• Any relevant success stories and case studies of MSMEs in targeted value chains locally, regionally, and internationally.
• Other areas as identified by the methodology and data collection.
• Strategic recommendations for MSMEs in the value chain

How to apply

Interested individuals, groups, or firms should submit a cover letter expressing their interest in the position with the following documents:

• Technical proposal outlining the methodology to achieve the terms of reference, indicating experience from similar assignments, consultant’ CVs as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
• Activity work plan
• Financial proposal.

These should be submitted to zimmanager@genderlinks.org.za cc: zimfinance@genderlinks.org.za  on or before 8 February 2023

Download full Terms of Reference HERE