Consultancy: Mapping & Analysis of Local Production of Essen...

UNICEF State of Palestine
TERMS OF REFERENCE
For Institutional consultancy
Title: Mapping and analysis of local production of essential response items in Gaza

1. Background

Due to the blockade of the Gaza Strip over the past 11 years, the Palestinian population in Gaza has faced significant economic hardship, exacerbated in recent months by a severe liquidity squeeze that has further negatively impacted the economy and livelihoods of families. Unemployment rates have increased dramatically reaching 45% among the general population and 65% among youth.
UNICEF focuses on commodities that are essential for the needs of children, enable humanitarian response and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with the Organisations’ market shaping strategy, UNICEF Palestine would like to have a better understanding of the market with regards to the production of education materials and supplies, notably school bags, school uniforms, stationary and other education kits. As such, through its programmes, UNICEF would like to complement current efforts to support the economy in Gaza by stimulating local production of goods it often purchases off-shore. Whilst creating more employment opportunities and widening the market, such efforts will also enable the provision of essential commodities that are fit-for-purpose for children and their families in Gaza. In strengthening local production of such goods, UNICEF will support the drive for innovation, and boost market efficiencies and effectiveness.
In this effort, UNICEF will foster the widening of the local market and explore opportunities to work with producers and vendors in Gaza. Attention will also be given to understanding companies that work with or owned by young people, women and disadvantaged communities with the view to integrating them even more into the workforce for the production of education related materials. In so doing, UNICEF will foster partnerships between the private and public sector, through enhanced collaboration between providers of education and producers of relevant materials and support the building of capacities to sustain products and markets.

2. Objectives

Purpose: Mapping of existing local production units and/or cooperatives for the production of education-related emergency supplies
UNICEF is seeking an experienced company, research institution or NGO to:
1. Assess the market for the production of education supplies, notably school bags, stationery, school uniforms and other education kits that could potentially support UNICEF’s preparedness and response activities to meet the emergency needs for children and their families over the short, medium and long-term.
2. Examine the challenges and potential opportunities open to local producers of education-related materials.

3. The scope of the work

The mapping and assessment will identify local producers and their capacities to produce bulk materials. The exercise will assess:
- access to raw materials needed to produce the goods, including school bags, stationary (notebooks, pencil cases), recreational kits, education aids (such as toys) (see annex B for full list of items)
- quality and range of products, production times/capacity, workforce- including size and capacities, administration/management practices, inventory etc..
- logistics (including storage, distribution and transportation networks).
- affordability of the commodities by households
- collaborative modalities with potential partners, who may be involved or interested in similar activities supporting local markets, notably, MoEHE and other education providers, UNRWA, UNDP, WFP, the World Bank etc..

Required components in the proposal:

• English proposal in alignment with the ToRs objective and tasks.
• Proposal is expected to contain the consulting company profile/organizational structure (if available), supporting documents.
• Company profile and other related supporting documents.
• The methodology of the survey.
• Estimated project timeframe.
• Financial offer in NIS (New Israeli Shekel).

10. Qualifications, competencies and work experience:

The consulting firm is expected to have the following qualifications and competencies:
• Experience with a minimum of five years in the relevant field
• Experience with multicultural environments, UN and other humanitarian agencies is preferable
• The lead team members should have Advanced university degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Marketing or a related technical field
• Five years progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in supply chain management, business administration, marketing. Proven experience in similar assignments required. An experience with UNICEF or UN Agencies market surveys would be an asset.
• In depth knowledge of market surveys, supplier evaluation, procurement and good concept of analysing financial documents.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage market research and similar projects.
• Good analytical, negotiating and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside UNICEF
• Excellent computer skills (MS Office, particularly Word and Excel, web based database development tools, e.g. MySql, PHP, etc.)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Arabic and English;
• In-depth knowledge of the Gaza Market and suppliers.

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