Position Location: Kenya

Reports to: Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities (LEO) Advisor

Contract term: April 2021 – December 2021

Number of days: 23 days**

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization with a mission to build a better world for all young people. Our vision is a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world for youth. It is a world in which all young people, especially women and refugees, are empowered to secure a good quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities. We work towards this mission by delivering programs that enhance education, economic opportunities, and empowerment for youth. We work with a diverse network of students, volunteers, institutions, governments, and businesses to realize our vision.

WUSC is launching a new program – “Accelerating Women Climate Entrepreneurs” – funded by Global Affairs Canada, focused on addressing barriers and opportunities for women entrepreneurs to start and grow climate-related businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. This two-year initiative – led by Aga Khan Foundation Canada in consortium with WUSC and the Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) – will involve consultations with women entrepreneurs, policymakers, intermediaries (e.g., incubators, accelerators) and investors across three target regions, including East, West and Southern Africa. These consultations will be used to generate an evidence base, and learnings to inform pilot incubation initiatives in selected Sub-Saharan African countries.

Scope of work

WUSC is seeking a Research Consultant to undertake location specific and gender sensitive consultations and research grounded in interactions with women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship intermediaries and stakeholders.

The research consultant will be expected to work closely with the Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities (LEO) Advisor based in Nairobi and the project Lead Researcher based remotely. Activities will be both desk-based, virtual and in person as possible given COVID-19 protocols.

General Duties

Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Support the development of a database of entrepreneurship intermediaries in Kenya;


• Support the development, under the guidance of the Lead Researcher, and delivery of a virtual workshop for entrepreneurship intermediaries on assessing gender and market-system barriers and opportunities faced by climate-focused women entrepreneurs;


• Develop database of relevant climate -focused women entrepreneurs;


• Undertake consultations with Kenya-based climate-focused women entrepreneurs to understand the gender and market system barriers and opportunities they face in their businesses;


• Support the Lead Researcher in the management and analysis of research data from Kenya as relevant;


• Perform secondary research as relevant;


• Support the development, validation and dissemination of learning products as relevant;


• Provide support to emerging economic intermediaries (particularly small and/or women led) to access targeted funding/grants.

Level of Effort

The following is an estimate of the level of effort and key milestones for the project:

Activity, Timeframe, LoE

Support the development of a database of entrepreneurship intermediaries in Kenya

April 2021 – 1 day

Support the development and delivery of a virtual workshop for entrepreneurship intermediaries on assessing gender and market-system barriers and opportunities faced by climate-focused women entrepreneurs

April-June 2021 – 5 days

Undertake consultations with Kenya-based climate-focused women entrepreneurs, and other relevant key stakeholders, to understand the gender and market system barriers and opportunities they face in their businesses

July-August 2021 – 5 days

Support the Lead Researcher in the management and analysis of research data from Kenya as relevant

May-September 2021 – 3 days

Support the development, validation and dissemination of learning products as relevant

August-September 2021 – 5 days

Provide support to emerging economic intermediaries (particularly small and/or women led) to access targeted funding.

October 2021-December 2021 – 4 days

Total – 23 days

Deliverables

● Input to database of intermediaries;

● Database of relevant climate-related Women Entrepreneurs;

● Interviews and focus group discussion data;

● Secondary research summaries;

● Other as relevant.

Qualifications

Qualifications of the consultant:

● Degree in a field related to social sciences, development, development economics, business, gender equality or any other relevant field.

● Demonstrated primary and secondary research experience;

● Demonstrated facilitation experience, including leading key informant interviews and focus group discussions;

● Demonstrated experience in implementing gender sensitive research methods and use of qualitative and participatory approaches;

● Demonstrated experience working with start-ups, small and growing businesses or business intermediaries;

● Demonstrated experience gathering and managing research data;

● Excellent communication and written English skills required;

● Demonstrated ability to produce clear and concise documents.