SUMMARY OF CONSULTANCY

ADRA plan to implement TVET focused actions across the Myanmar in fiscal year 2025. Understanding the needs and priorities of the ever-changing labor market at urban, peri-urban and rural context, ADRA plans to explore the needs of market in terms of skilled, semi-skilled and un-skilled labor at national, regional and local level. With the same objective, ADRA advertised this Terms of Reference (ToR) to undertake an independent study through external consultant/cies entitled “Labor Market Assessment on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) components in South East Myanmar, Yangon, and Ayerwaddy.”

BACKGROUND
ADRA is developing the strategy to prioritize TVET in the areas of South East Myanmar (Kayin, Kayah, Mon, Bago, and Tanintharyi), Yangon, and Ayerwaddy with an objective of enhancing decent work opportunities and bridge the gap at labor market. The objective of the strategy is to empower youth across the country by giving them access to non-farm livelihood opportunities improved through participation in market-oriented Vocational Education Training (VET) courses and provision of support and mentoring services. To reach this objective ADRA is planning to map out the private trainers and training institutes, and their capacities, to provide quality competence based practical short-course VET matching labor market needs.

Rapid changes across the country as a result of the global Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and political changes have brought diverse changes on social and economic scenario across the country. During 2020-2024, markets could not go into fully functional mode, due to COVID prevention and precautionary measures, including the economic crisis scenario and conflict incidences. All of these actions reduced purchasing capacity of public, thus causing loss of employment opportunities and income level for the traders as well as for labors. Over the past year, the needs or demands from the local/regional/national market has changed, especially about the areas of engagement as income source.
ADRA plans to continue to engage in reducing the socio-economic impact caused by COVID and political scenario and enhance the resilience of families/individuals at South East (Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Bago, Tanintharyi), Ayewarddy and Yangon. Thus, to ensure maximal project impact, ADRA planned to commission research focusing on the socio-impact of COVID and political scenario and recommend the potential areas to be prioritized for generating labor force and support regional and local market.

OBJECTIVES and SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

Objectives of the assignment are to:

1. Understand the socio-economic impact of political changes on the labor market, including changes in employment rates, income levels, and working conditions.
2. Identify vulnerable groups within the labor market, such as youth, women, displaced populations, and marginalized communities, who have been disproportionately affected by the crisis.
3. Classify different types of employment within the labor market, including formal, informal, temporary, and self-employment, and analyze their prevalence, characteristics, and implications for workers’ well-being.
4. Explore the dynamics of labor demand and supply across different sectors and industries, considering factors such as seasonal variations, technological advancements, and market trends.
5. Explore the alignment between the skills possessed by the workforce and the skills demanded by employers, identifying any mismatches and skill gaps.
6. Analyze gender disparities and social inequalities within the labor market, including differences in access to employment, wages, and working conditions, and explore strategies to promote gender equality and social inclusion.
7. Examine traditional and non-traditional employment patterns, including informal sector activities, and emerging forms of work, to understand their significance in the context of economic restructuring and changing labor market dynamics.

Findings from the assessment will inform ADRA to develop the strategy for FY025 on the technical and vocational education focused short courses, devise strategies to strengthen linkage between traders/enterprises/employment providers and youths searching for employment opportunities and guide youths planning to initiate or upgrade their respective enterprises.

METHODOLOGY
The assignment is planned to include the following strategies:

1. Literature Review of all secondary data/information emphasizing on social and economic impacts of political instability and ongoing incidences, alongside the market related assessments/studies within the targeted areas.
2. Primary level data collection through Key Informant Interview (KII) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) approach.
3. Development of the Assessment report incorporating the findings from primary and secondary sources to show current scenario and recommend short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies focusing on TVET component.

Note: Technical Proposal from applicant is expected to include the list of potential respondents (for KII and FGD) and type of information to be extracted/explored as part of this assignment based on their expertise and understanding of subject area and targeted area.

DELIVERABLES

• Inception report detailing literature review, methodology and tools
• Primary and Secondary Data collection Tools
• Research Report (Final), share to ADRA by 30th September

RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities of the Consultant:

To achieve the goal of the consultancy, the consultant/ies will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following processes:

• Lead discussion on the methodology for developing the study, documentation to be reviewed, data collection tools and methods and the approach in target area, identifying possible constraints and challenges.
• Lead research and approach in the context of the state/regional level and national level
• Manage the needed resources (human resources, technological resources) independently based on their existing networking across the mentioned states i.e. Kayin, Bago, Kayah, Mon, Tanintharyi, Yangon and Ayerwaddy
• To provide the deliverables as per agreed timeline

Responsibilities of ADRA:

To support the external consultant on following:

• Participate in discussions regarding methodology, and primary data collection tools.
• Provide available resources or information as the part of literature review.
• Release the finance as per the completion of deliverables.
• Review the assessment reports and finalize them.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF APPLICANT

• Good knowledge and understanding of Myanmar’s socio-economic sector, market areas and labor force. (Preferred)
• Knowledge of the strategies and approaches adopted by diverse UN, INGOs, and NGOs in subject areas within Myanmar. (Preferred)
• Robust research, analytical and writing skills. (Preferred)
• Prior experience in leading extensive assessments of labor force, market-based research and TVET areas (Preferred)
• Have an extensive network of data collection team members from the proposed areas (Preferred)
• Applicable to both Myanmar Nationals as well as internationals, with the experience in TVET subject areas, in Myanmar.