Mercy Corps’ mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. We work in over 42 countries where we have developed strong relationships with local communities and civil, private and public-sector partners including government entities at local, regional and national levels. Operational in Kenya since 2008, we currently are a team of 75 people who work from 5 offices: Nairobi, Wajir, Eldoret, Kapenguira, and Lodwar. Our programs strive to achieve one or more of our countrywide objectives: 1) Increase the capabilities and assets of households to adapt and recover from shocks and stresses, 2) reduce levels of in-country and cross-border conflicts that threaten to destabilize development gains, 3) strengthen adolescent & youth leadership, livelihoods, & ability to influence government policy, and 4) Increase the effectiveness of public service at the county government level.

SUMMARY OF CONSULTANCY:
Mercy Corps plans to assess the use and benefit of the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) funds earmarked by the GoK to support business run by youth, [women and people with disabilities] at the county level (http://agpo.go.ke/pages/about-agpo). Mercy Corps specifically hopes to better understand if this initiative has promoted youth (defined in Kenya as ages 18-35 years old) businesses and enterprise, and generated gainful self- employment, how youth businesses use and benefit from these funds, the health of this youth-run businesses and what recommendations youth and others who administer the funds have to improve government initiatives like AGPO. In addition, Mercy Corps would like to understand county-managed “youth funds” that may be in place in certain counties to promote youth entrepreneurship and support youth-run businesses—and assess others’ perceptions of the AGPO and youth funds regarding what is working, what is not working and what could be improved.
The research will be in specific counties in which the county governments have welcomed Mercy Corps to conduct this research and share the results with them. We believe that such an independent assessment of speaking to youth who benefited from AGPO and/or youth funds and soliciting perceptions about AGPO from others in the counties has not happened before. The outcomes of the assessments at the county level will be shared with all target counties and then aggregated to create a
national understanding of how AGPO funds are used in multiple counties. Mercy Corps intends to conduct this research in 4 counties in distinct areas of Kenya in which we work (e.g. West Pokot, Kericho or Nandi, Kirinyaga or Nyeri and Wajir). We are looking for an individual researcher to help us finalize the Terms of Reference for the Research, oversee and conduct the research, which will be administered by students and/or Mercy Corps team members, draft an overall report and PowerPoint presentation (by county) and then a consolidated report with all county information and recommendations included.

DUTIES:
Review and refine SOW and processes with Country Director and/or Deputy Country Director. Identify and finalize process map and engagement strategy with all counties involved.
Identify, vet, select and mobilize students and/or Mercy Corps staff who will be engaged in data and information collection at the country level. Identify plan for movement of students, staff and sequencing of data collection by country.
Weeks before data collection begins, talk with county government leadership in all locations to ensure buy in and associated paperwork to begin data collection in each county. A list of all AGPO youth recipients in each county will be needed from government officials in order to randomly select those to be interviewed (we anticipate interviewing 50 AGPO recipients per county)
Develop, test and finalize interview guide and strategy for interviewing AGPO youth recipients and other interviewees.
Train student interviewers and Mercy Corps staff in how to administer and code the interview guide and other expectations of them.
Assess others’ perceptions of the AGPO a program regarding what is working, what is not working and what could be improved. Those to be interviewed include county government officials and the public (we estimate interviewing 25 people per county that fall into this category).
Oversee data coding and data entry on site and analyze results.
Draft findings by county stratified by group (AGPO recipients and other) and develop findings and recommendations by county. Develop an overall (4 county) report with findings and recommendations.
Share findings and a draft report with the Country Director and Deputy Director for input prior to finalizing the report.
Prepare presentations of findings by county and in aggregate to present to government for discussion.

DELIVERABLES:
Must be present on the ground providing support during data/information collection and data entry.
At least 80% of the expected 300 interviews are fully completed at quality and completely at data entry stage.
4 county level, quality reports drafted and presented to the Country Director or Deputy Director for review and input
1 consolidated report developed and presented to the County Director or Deputy Director for review and input.
4 county level power point presentations and 1 consolidated PowerPoint with major findings and recommendations.

REQUIREMENTS:
A minimum of a BA/BS degree in a relevant field.
Demonstrated experience in managing qualitative and quantitative research assignments including oversight of data collection, data coding and entry and generating reports with recommendations developed from the data.
Proven English oral and written skills.
Fluency is Swahili is required
Ability and experience working with students or other stakeholders to collect data.
Demonstrated ability to run and manage effective research processes including getting sign off from county governments, testing and refining data collection tools,
Proven organizational and strong interpersonal skills.
Must have an even temperament and good sense of humor.
Estimated time-frame: 3 months (beginning in June)
Start date: Early June.

Data collection to take place over a 6 week period maximum. The balance of 6 weeks should be spent analyzing data, and drafting reports and PowerPoint presentations.

For any further information contact Isaac Gachuhi on: igachuhi@mercycorps.org

HOW TO APPLY:
Kindly drop proposals at the Mercy Corps office at ABC Place 3rd Building, 1st Floor on or before 10th June 2016