Helvetas оголошує запит на пропозиції з проведення дослідження ринку праці

Helvetas Issues Request for Proposals on Labor Market Research in Ukraine

Research “Ukraine’s Labor Market Empowerment: Strengthening Women’s Economic Role in Wartime and Post-War Recovery”

Project/mandate name/country: Supporting the reconstruction of communities’ social and financial resilience in war affected communities in East and West Ukraine

Customer: Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, Ukraine

Contract duration From: 17.06.2024 To: 30.09.2024

Total contract volume 3,5 months

Background

The full-scale war in Ukraine has caused widespread devastation, forcing people to flee and leading to loss of livelihoods and shelter. Businesses, especially those in the hardest-hit areas, have either moved, partially closed, or completely shut down operations. As of January 2023, around 26.5% of businesses had ceased operations entirely, while 50% had reduced activities. Those still operating face disruptions due to broken supply chains, logistics issues, disrupted trade links, and weakened markets. The agricultural sector, a vital component of Ukraine’s economy, has been severely impacted, affecting smallholder farmers who are struggling to salvage crops, adapt sales strategies, and plan for the future amid uncertainty. The job market has also been heavily affected, with an estimated unemployment rate of 25-26% (3.2 million people) in January 2023.

In response Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is working in Ukraine in a model of cooperation with international Alliance2015 partner Concern Worldwide. With WHH as the lead organisation the joint program, comprising of a shared staffing and country operational structure, the project is implemented under the umbrella of Joint Emergency Response Ukraine (JERU). Additionally, this project will also work in partnership with Helvetas, and Alliance 2015 partner with this own Country office in Ukraine and who have a strong global focus on Economic Recovery and Livelihoods programming.

JERU will implement this project in collaboration with two national organisation, experienced organisation, Posmishka and Light of Hope. They are both existing partners of JERU in Ukraine and have a track record of implementing livelihoods programs prior to the start of the conflict. As the project progresses, JERU will assess the capacity of other national partners to support implementation and grow the number of actors dedicated to supporting transitional aid and the economic recovery of Ukraine. Support self-employment opportunities for IDPs and conflict affected persons to launch or restore micro businesses and reduce their reliance on external aid.

The overall objective of the project is to increase resilience of IDPs, local communities and institutions to conflict-related economic and social stresses. The project desires to have the following impact:

• Labour market systems are strengthened through information provision and social partnerships.
• Equitable access to employment opportunities is improved through learning market-relevant skills.
• Entrepreneurship is enhanced through provision of financial and advisory services to MSMEs.

This consultancy focus’ on the Outcome 1 of the project wth the following Output (1.1): Labour market demands assessed, analysed and shared with relevant stakeholders. The main activity (1.1.1) is foreseen as to conduct a labour market assessments and inform relevant stakeholders. This activity will be coordinated by HELVETAS, who have a well-established track record in working in non-formal skills development, and reforming formal TVET systems by supporting the strengthening of both dual-TVET, and local ownership through building capacities of institutions and key individuals. In October 2023 – March 2024, HELVETAS conducted the complex research of the labor market to identify clear entry points and design subsequent activities, data collection was utilised to fully understand the context and provide evidence-based approaches. To share the data with its partners HELVETAS developed a PowerBI dashboard, that was published on the official website of the State Employment Service of Ukraine.

Results was disseminated within the established network of local partners from the public and private sectors during the HELVETAS All-Ukrainian Forum in March 2024. Research fed back into project activities allowing targeted, needs-oriented, and innovative implementation methods and identify areas of capacity building of relevant individuals or institutions. Furthermore, this activity provides the baseline for systemic and therefore sustainable and lasting interventions. The research was conducted using mixed method approaches and interviewing local key-experts and the analytics on gender and conflict sensitivity will be ensured according to HELVETAS Gender equality and social equity (GSE) policy.

Despite the critical importance of inclusive participation in the labor market, there is a lack of systematic studies providing a comprehensive analysis of the obstacles and risks faced by vulnerable groups in the workforce. One of the many groups whose economic participation could be significantly increased is women who perform socially important tasks, such as motherhood, raising young children, and caring for immediate family members. Enhancing their economic role is crucial, especially during wartime and the subsequent recovery period.

Addressing this gap, HELVETAS aims to find realistic ways to eliminate obstacles and establish effective mechanisms that promote the economic activity of Ukrainian women. HELVETAS is committed to conducting detailed research to better understand the challenges and barriers these women face. This includes evaluating the risks and designing comprehensive strategies to mitigate them. The goal is to create a more inclusive labor market where women can thrive, both during the ongoing conflict and in the post-war recovery phase. Through its initiatives, HELVETAS seeks not only to empower women economically but also to support the broader economic stability and resilience of Ukraine.

Objective(s)

The Consulting Company will conduct a national study on the obstacles to employment or returning to work for women who must balance work with family responsibilities during the war in Ukraine. The research should include: Developing a typology of vulnerable categories of women; Analyzing their social profiles; Identifying factors that pose the greatest risks of forced unemployment. Based on this analysis, Consulting Company must identify methods to eliminate or mitigate these obstacles and risks at the legislative, institutional, and local levels. Additionally, they should propose effective models for adapting various categories of women to the modern labor market and increasing their economic activity.

Main Tasks

The Consulting Company will perform the tasks in close coordination with the HELVETAS Country Director, Mr. Petr Base. The tasks include but are not limited to:

• Conduct Desk Research: Review previous studies, demographic and statistical data, and regulatory documents related to the research topic.
• Perform Qualitative Sociological Research: In particular:

Size of data sample: 700-1000 respondents.

5 in-depth interviews with experts on the research topic.

6 focus groups.

200 face-to-face interviews with women from the target groups.

These groups include women with minor children (pre-schoolers, primary school children), single mothers, widows, and women caring for mobility-impaired relatives (parents, men or children injured or concussed at the front, and other relatives with disabilities or chronic diseases).

• Prepare an Analytical Report: Present generalized data from all types of analysis and provide specific recommendations to state and local authorities, and other stakeholders on eliminating or mitigating the identified obstacles and risks for various categories of women. The report should include legislative, institutional, and local level solutions, and propose effective models for adapting women to the modern labor market and increasing their economic activity.
• Present Findings: Share the principal findings of the research with national and international partners and at national events organized by Helvetas.

Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected during and at the end of this consultancy:

Deliverables

Due dates

Research protocol including all developed guides and questionnaires (up to 20 questions), and research timeline (Protocol 5 pages – in Ukrainian and English, Annexes 20 pages – in Ukrainian) 28.06.2024

Audio recordings of FGDs, in-depth interviews, their transcripts, target group survey data, univariate distribution of respondents’ answers, and technical report on the data collection (in Ukrainian) 25.08.2024

Draft analytical report (50-60 pages, in Ukrainian and English) 10.09.2024

Finalized analytical report (in Ukrainian and English) 25.09.2024

PowerPoint presentation on the research findings (10-16 slides, in Ukrainian and English) 30.09.2024

Working Methodology

The consultant will coordinate and work closely with the HELVETAS Country Director, Mr. Petr Base. The consultant will liaise with relevant national and international partners as required in Ukraine with the support of HELVETAS Ukraine (admin, finance and logistic).

Time Frame of the assignment and programming

The consultancy time frame is from June 17 to September 30, 2024 with a total volume of 50 days. The consultant will provide the time sheets for all working hours with the respective activities (template will be provided).

Logistics

Logistics support in Ukraine will be provided by HELVETAS Ukraine offices in Kyiv.

Reporting

The consultant/provider will report directly to Mr. Petr Base and will coordinate with Helvetas program team.

Supporting documents

Scope of Work-Labor Market Assessment BMZ-Women-2024

Documents to be submitted to Helvetas: 

Description of the concept of the proposed research (1 page).

Examples of the studies on economic development / women empowerment (at least 3 examples). 

CVs of the experts involved in conducting the research.

Commercial offer in EUR indicating cost items.

Documents must be submitted via platform Zakupivli.pro by June 13 17:00 (Kyiv time), 2024

https://zakupivli.pro/commercial/tenders/R-UA-2024-06-07-1000044-k

(Ідентифікатор закупівлі R-UA-2024-06-07-1000044-k)

If there are questions regarding the Scope of Work, please use chat in the system Zakupivli.pro or email: [email protected]

Selection criteria:

Experience of the Consulting company with similar research (10 scores).

Quality of reports examples presented (10 scores).

Experience of the presented experts conducting similar research (10 scores).

Price criteria (20 scores).

Maximum: 50 scores per application.