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Position Title: International Consultant to conduct Local Economic Development(LED)/ Value Chain Analysis (VCA) Assessment in MyPEC Pilot Areas of Ayeyarwaddy, Yangon Regions and Mon State
Organization: International Labour Organization (ILO)“Myanmar Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (My-PEC)”
Location: Home-Based
No. of Position: One
Contract Type/ Level: External Collaboration Contract
Duration: 20 days of work during 1 May – 31st July 2023Closing Date: 2 April 2023, 17:00 (Yangon time)
Applications Details: Applications to: Survey and Research Officer (My-PEC) ILO via email to (Email at Apply Button)
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further consultation process.
At the global level, according to the 2020 ILO Global Estimates (2020)1 on Child Labour there are 160 million children aged 5 to 17 in child labour condition, 79 million of them are performing hazardous work that places their health, safety or moral development at risk. The Endline KAP survey conducted in 2022 seems to confirm the increase of child labour as a result of rising poverty driven by the pandemic and current political crisis in Myanmar. In Myanmar the 2015 Labour Force Survey (2) estimates 1.125 million children in child labour and 616,815 of them are into Hazardous Work. Child labour affects children’s health, education, and general well-being that they are not able to reach their full potentials which has direct and indirect effects to the socio-economic development at various levels - households, communities, and the whole country.
The promotion of the ratification and implementation of the fundamental conventions on child labour (i.e. ILO C.138 and C.182) is a high priority for the International Labour Organization (ILO).The Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has ratified ILO C.182 in December2013 as a starting point for addressing the issues covered by those standards.
Prior to 2021, with the assistance of the ILO, the Government of Myanmar has developed and initiated the implementation of its first National Action Plan to eliminate Child Labour and its worst forms and it is also in the process of formalizing its first Hazardous Work List. The NationalAction Plan (NAP) is a 15-year scheme that spans from 2019 to 2033. To ensure the finalization of the implementation of the NAP, the government established, in February 2018, the MyanmarNational Committee for the Elimination of Child Labour (MNCECL), chaired by the Vice-President, with representatives from key ministries, workers and employers’ organizations and the CSO.
Furthermore, Myanmar also confirmed its commitment to addressing child labour by ratifying the International Labour Organization (ILO) Minimum Age Convention on 8 June 2020. The development was heralded as a positive result, particularly in the context of the current COVID19 crisis, which threatens the rights, safety and working conditions of child labour across the country in Myanmar.
Subsequently coup on 1 February 2021, the country underwent dramatic political changes and facing constraints in every reform works and in term of impact to the project, this abrupt change challenges in the implementation of key project activities. The civil disobedience movements happened across country. Violence and uses of forces continue until to date. With the new political landscape adding to ongoing dire situation out of COVID 19, the situation on the ground is very likely than not to be aggravated further into deep poverty and reverting to the environment of lack of respect of rule of law. The project adjusted its activities and targets in line with the current situation and continuing support through partner agencies in the pilot target communities.
ILO’s Myanmar Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (My-PEC), 9 years project (2014-2023) funded by the US Department of Labour, endeavours to establish a comprehensive, inclusive and efficient multi-stakeholder response to reducing child labour in Myanmar by (1)expanding knowledge base on child labour in Myanmar, (2) increasing awareness and knowledge about child labour, (3) improving legislation and strengthened national and local capacity to address child labour in compliance with international standards, (4) improving capacity of national and local to network and advocate on the issues and (5) reducing child labour in target communities through direct interventions.
In 2016, the project conducted a local economic development assessment and value chain analysis assessment to understand the economic situation of vulnerable households and identify income and employment opportunities in the selected pilot areas. These assessments provided pragmatic recommendations that helped designing and implementing the project’s direct livelihood interventions. Starting from 2016 until now, the project is supporting direct services to beneficiaries (children and parents/guardians) in three pilot areas in Yangon, Mon State and Ayeyarwady. These services intend to remove 40% of children from the worst forms of child labour and to prevent 60% of children who are at high risk of becoming child labourers. The pilot interventions were conducted in 6 villages in Labutta Township (Ayeyarwaddy), 8 villages in YeTownship (Mon) and 3 wards in Dagon Seikkan Township (Yangon) that direct services focused on Formal Education, Non-formal Education, Occupational Safety and Health, livelihood supports for household adults and vocational training for youths. The project established saving groups/microfinance groups, provided skills training in financial management and livelihood training such as Business Eye Opener.
To respond to the COVID –19 pandemic, the project provided emergency support to saving groups and COVID awareness raising in the target areas. The establishment of mechanism such as village mobilizers in the pilot area has been key during the pandemic and security uncertainties. The project also provided Training of Trainers to newly established village mobilizers who then ensured relay trainings in their villages. Furthermore, community-based child labour watch groups (CBOs) were also established and trained to support vulnerable families in the pilot areas. These mechanisms ensured that project beneficiaries could better cope with both crisis, the pandemic and political.
Currently, the strain on the economy is increasing even further, according to the World Bank as inflation rates increase due to rising prices on imported basic commodities, cumbersome business legislation and reversal of reforms, persistent power outages and deteriorating security.All of this means that the last decade of gains in poverty reduction in Myanmar has already been reversed, while the World Bank in 2022 estimates that 40% of the population now lives below the national poverty line. Taking these constrains into account, the project is planning to update theLocal Economic Development/ Value Chain Analysis to further refine the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and livelihood support strategies provided in the pilot areas.
The data collection under these Terms of Reference will be conducted in (i) the Village Tract ofPoe Laung and Kaing Thaung in Labutta Township, Ayeyarwady and (ii) Ward 87, 93, 168 of Dagon (Myothit) Seikkan Township in Yangon and (iii) Village Track of Kan Ni, Ain Din and Pananbon ofYe Township, Mon State.
The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:
• Access the economic potentials and critical livelihood bottlenecks in the selected pilot areas
• Re-examine the sectors/ sub-sectors / value chains that were identified in the first assessment and identify emerging or potential economic opportunities in the pilot areas.
• Provide recommendations for adjustments and new opportunities on livelihood and TVET strategies and their local market access.
The consultant shall be responsible for the following tasks:
• Review or re-examine the main economic sectors which ILO beneficiaries are engaging in the selected pilot wards/ villages as well as the potential market linkages
• Conduct a value chain assessment/ local economic development assessment for the main/identified economic sectors from the labour force perspectives:
o Detailed description of the economic activities o Mapping of the value chain (micro) including all actors and functions plus all input suppliers
o Mapping of all meso and macro partners involved in the value chain development
o Economic analysis – who is adding value to the product – profit and margin of actors in the VC
o Efficiency of the value chain(s) - how do actors cooperate together?
o Strengths and weak point analysis on every level of the value chain (for each function).
o Market analysis including a rapid benchmarking analysis - who are the main competitors, The market access and marketing channels. What are the distribution channels and where are the final markets? Who is adding value to the products? Are there market access option and opportunities with the international market and what are the current linkages, if any?
• Identify how child labour households are connected to these economic sectors? What type of activities is realized by selected households? Is there only one main activity or is there a diversification? What are gender considerations that needs to be addressed?
• Identify how do actors cooperate together in each economic sector? Are there any associations or other forms of cooperation?
• Analysis of the economic importance of each sector: evaluation of income ratio for the CL households
• Assess what would be the minimum income for the households to have a decent life without child labour
• Identify how youth is connected to the economic sectors and what are their expectations
• Access the possible job pathways for youths after the vocational trainings to link with the economic sectors or market system. What are the gender considerations to access the training and market as well?
• Provide recommendations based on assessment:
o Identify specific communities with the potential to be linked to buyers
o Identify potential buyers to be linked with producers and have expressed willingness to do pilot purchase and provide training to producers according to their quality specifications
o Identify support organizations and or pathways that can facilitate linkages and provide business development support, such as entrepreneurship training, vocational training and consultancy, sector expertise, micro finance, etc.
o refine the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and livelihood trainings strategies provided in the pilot areas and provide the necessary adjustments
o Produce the feasible local economic development plan for each pilot interventions community integration in final report in order to keep the sustainable development in the area.
o Consider gender-based strategies and accessibility inclusion.
• The international consultant is the team leader and s/he need to work closely with the national field team or national consultant for the necessary field data collection. (The national team or national consultant will liaise and coordinate work on the ground, specifically conduct individual key informant interviews or focus group discussion or surveys when necessary with the different stakeholders including child labours and their parents and report back to team leader.)
• The consultant will conduct literature review and desk review of previous LED assessment and VCA analysis assessment report, My-PEC technical reports, partner reports with intervention activities and previous assessments.
• The consultant will develop assessment tools to identify and collect data at the pilot areas. The consultants will meet with My-PEC staffs to clarify assignment and develop specific work-plan and the inception report.
• The consultant needs to coordinate and train to the national field team that will collect data.
• Analysis of findings to identify gaps and to identify clear and pragmatic recommendations for further interventions or direct services by My-PEC.
• Validation with the project team (and key stakeholders if necessary) on the findings and recommendations of the assessments.
• The consultant needs to present draft reports, presentations and seek the feedback fromMYPEC (and Donor if necessary)
• The final assessment report of LED/VCA assessment that will incorporate the feedbacks received from the MyPEC.
• Gender equality and non-discrimination, promotion of international labour standards, capacity development and political issues will also be considered throughout this study.
The major outputs are as follows:
• An inception report including a work plan, assessment methodology, tools, analytical framework and outline of the report
• Draft assessment report for three pilot areas for comments and approval of ILO
• Final assessment report for three pilot areas
The report will have to be submitted in English and must not exceed 60 pages. For this assignment the analysis should focus on the main economic sectors and their impact on the marginalized families (here the project has its own selected pilot beneficiaries’ families and households). The report should assess the situation and provide entry points and recommendations for TVET and livelihood interventions, job pathways, and market access, including gender and accessibility inclusion. The report should enable the project to start the upcoming pilot intervention phases – the value chain upgrading strategy.
There are always limitations in conducting studies, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic and considering the current political/ security situation in the country. There are a number of limitations to be considered:
1. Restriction to visit project pilot intervention areas: Due to COVID -19 pandemic and security issues, the research team might face some difficulties to visit to the three pilot areas or require approval of local government to conduct data collection. The international consultant doesn’t need to travel to Myanmar and this assignment is home-based.
2. The current political situation and in compliance with the UN Engagement Principles, there may be restriction on stakeholders to be included in the study.
Tentative start date of contract is 1st May 2023. Proposed end date should not exceed 31st July2023.
The final report for the assignment should need to submit 15th of July 2023 latest. Following are the key activities and milestones with their indicative schedules and work duration:
[No.,Activities, Estimated Duration, Working Days]
1. Signing of contract, 1st May 2023
2. Desk review of background information on LED/VCA assessment reports, project reports, activity reports, etc., 3rd May 2023, 3 working days
3. Submit inception report to ILO, 10th May 2023, 3 working days
4. Developing interview guides/assessment tools and processing the summaries, 15th May 2023, 3 working days
5. Coordination and necessary training on the tools to the data collection team, 25th May 2023, 2 working days
6. Draft reports, 10th June 2023, 6 working days
7. Review by ILO
8. Submission of final report, 30th June 2023, 3 working days
Total Working Days 20
• The budget for this contract will cover professional fees, travel costs, mobilization expenses of the external collaborator.
• A tentative schedule of payments shall be indicated in the Contract, but any single payment shall be limited to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract amount and be subject to the condition that the ILO quality standards are met satisfactorily. By ILO financial rules, the first (advance) payment cannot exceed 30 per cent, and a minimum of 20 per cent of the total contract amount shall be retained as the final payment which maybe paid only after satisfactory completion of all activities and providing to the ILO all outputs/ reports as stated in the contract.
• It is important to note that should there be any problem in the delivery of outputs pertaining quality and schedule, the Contractor is expected to make the necessary corrective actions without affecting the overall project delivery deadline dates. This will be at no additional cost to ILO.
The amount shall be paid as follows:
• 1st payment: 15 % upon submission of inception report and approved work plan.
• 2nd payment: 25% upon submission of final inception report with final methodology, questionnaires and instruments.
• 3rd payment: 25% upon submission of draft report.
• Final payment: 35 % upon acceptance of clean version final report to the satisfaction ofILO.
The consultants’ work will be monitored by ILO – Myanmar Chief Technical Advisor against the expected deliverables as indicated in the ToRs. He/she will work in close relationship with NationalResearch Officer and the field data collection teams.
• Education
➢ Master degree in Economic, Social Science, Development Studies or equivalent experiences.
• Experience:
➢ Experience working in the field of child labour, child rights, child protection an advantage
➢ Experience conducting research on economic/ value chain analysis/LED
➢ Experience working on development issues in crisis context
➢ Relevant regional experience, preferably prior working experience in Myanmar.
➢ High familiarity with Myanmar context and cultural dynamics.
➢ Ability to work efficiently and independently under pressure, handle multi-tasking situations with strong delivery orientation.
➢ Ability to synthesize and write clearly.
The consultant will have the final responsibility for the quality of the report and the compliance with deadlines.
Interested candidates/ consultants are required to submit the following documents to the MyPEC Research Officer through email at (Email at Apply Button) before 2nd April 2023, 17:00PM. Subject line for application: “International Consultant to conduct local economic development/ value chain analysis assessment in MyPEC pilot areas”
• the curriculum vitae,
• application letter which must clearly state the previous studies related with economic development assessment/ value chain analysis that have conducted and
• provide references’ agency names and contact details.
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