Consultant for Youth Employment Study Job in Kenya


Consultant for Youth Employment Study Vacancy Announcement 

Terms of Reference

Evidence for Impact of Youth Employment Programs in Kenya

Youth unemployment rates in Kenya range from 25% to 30%, many other youth are underemployed. Numerous government agencies, international organizations, and Kenyan organizations have attempted to address this issue through various interventions. 

Additionally, over the last couple of years, more of these interventions have been rigorously tested. 

However, no one has brought this evidence together to form evidenced-based policy recommendations for the Government of Kenya and other implementing agencies.  

Currently, the World Bank is conducting a mapping of youth employment programs in Kenya for Ministry of Youth and Sports. 

As a companion piece, the Yes Youth Can Think Tank, which is currently being managed by Mercy Corps, seeks to hire a consultant to conduct a meta-analysis of youth employment programs in Kenya. 

Through the meta-analysis (in the TOR, the term meta-analysis is being used not in the statistical sense, but to capture that we are capturing the findings from multiple studies), the National Youth Bunge Association as well as development partners, government officials and other stakeholders in the youth employment arena will be able to advocate more effectively for policy changes to improve the employment prospects of millions of youth in Kenya.

Purpose: To bring together evidence of effective youth employment interventions in Kenya.
Guidance:

1.    Age: GOK define youth as 15-35. Interventions, however, may be more effective depending on which segment of this population is being targeted. Youth at the lower the lower end of the age range and still in school will likely need different interventions (i.e., developing skills) than youth between 30 and 35 (i.e., access to finance, job placement). Biological, cultural and environmental factors will additionally affect the appropriateness and effectiveness of employment interventions depending on the developmental stage. To the degree possible, the analysis and policy recommendations should be broken down in the following age categories: 15-17, 18-25, 26-35 years of age.

2.    Gender: Interventions may affect young men and women differently, particularly depending on the age cohort. Young women often are more limited in what employment and self-employment options are available to them, therefore role models and mentors may be more critical for young women than men. Additionally, access to credit may differ, although it is unclear in which direction. Therefore, when possible, it is important to disaggregate by gender.

3.    Type of Intervention and Impact: Many of the interventions to be included in the meta-analysis will be focused on the following things: 1) skills development (life, business, vocational); 2) self-employment; and 3) employment; 4) labor market information and job search assistance . The meta-analysis should be organized around the type of intervention and the resulting impact—did the intervention increase skills, self-employment and/or employment, earnings,  and quality of employment. Additionally, the analysis should categorize initiatives by whether the goal was to increase short-term employment (i.e., cash for work), self-employment or formal employment (i.e. job placement, longer-term employment).

4.    Supply, Demand or Intermediation:  While it is likely that most interventions for this meta-analysis will focus on the supply-side (e.g. increase in skills), if it is possible to find studies on demand or intermediation (promote career awareness in schools and in job search, provide labor market information about skills with strong demand and those with few employment opportunities, and offer counseling and mentoring of youth who are at risk in the labor market), they should be included.

5.    Rigorous Impact Evaluations: Rigorous impact evaluations to be included in the meta-analysis include: RCTs, quasi-experimental, or at least a control group. All studies will have been conducted in Kenya, with youth 18-35.

Deliverables:
  • A bibliography of rigorous impact evaluations used for the meta-analysis.
  • A 25-page report of the analysis, including:
  1. Executive Summary (no more than 2 pages)
  2. Introduction
  3. Methodology, including any limitations
  4. Findings
  5. Policy Recommendations
  6. A draft of the report will be submitted for review to Mercy Corps.
  • A table summarizing the findings by variable (to be agreed upon with Mercy Corps)
Duration:  The consultancy will be for 15 days.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience

Should submit on or before November 22nd, 2012 at 4.00 p.m. a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org

Applicants must clearly indicate on the email subject; The position they are applying for, e.g Consultant for Youth Employment  Study .

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. Please do not attach any certificates.

(ONLY Qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)