Deadline: 20 January 2021 (5pm)

Duration of assignment: 21 Days

Location: Harare

Dates: January-February 2021

Reports to: Executive Director

Background

Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) is a youth networking organization committed to the full participation of young people in sustainable development through advocacy and capacity building of youth and youth organizations in Zimbabwe. YETT’s key objectives are tied to its major program activities that include engaging in policy advocacy to create an environment conducive for youth participation in the national discourse. The network is unique in its function of being an institution that has developed and enhanced the capacities of youth and youth organizations in Zimbabwe for more than a decade.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government of Zimbabwe has put in place several interventions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the Zimbabwean citizenry. At a national level, the President set up an 11 member ad-hoc inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 with a mandate to coordinate the national efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The national task force has since been decentralized with provincial and district-level task forces being established as well. With young people making up over 61% of the national population, this call for expressions of interest seeks to undertake a study to explore levels of youth participation in the government-led national COVID-19 response activities in Zimbabwe.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a national survey study on youth participation in the government-led national COVID-19 response activities in Zimbabwe in pursuit of the below-stated objectives. The study is to be held as a virtual rapid assessment.

Objectives

The objectives of this assignment are: To assess the extent of youth inclusion in the national COVID-19 response activities from the national, provincial, district, and ward level; To identify factors promoting/inhibiting youth inclusion in national COVID-19 response activities from the national, provincial, district, and ward level; To recommend how youth agency and oversight in national COVID-19 and future emergency response activities can be further strengthened.

Consultant technical requirements

YETT requires the effort to be carried out by a consultant with the following expertise: Appropriate qualification in Public Health, Social Sciences, Development, or closely related field;

At least 3-5 years demonstrated knowledge and experience in conducting youth-focused policy research and analysis. Experience in conducting virtual/online research is an added advantage;

Strong understanding of the youth sector and structural issues hindering meaningful youth empowerment in Zimbabwe;

Clearly stated references for related works previously performed.

Roles of the consultant

The consultant is expected to: Prepare and present an inception report outlining a step-by-step methodology/framework for carrying out research on Youth Participation in National COVID-19 Response Activities as defined in this TOR; Conduct data collection related to this task; Prepare and present summary findings and recommendations one week after completion of data collection; Submit final research study report highlighting pragmatic entry points for youth-focused advocacy related to the National COVID-19 response activities.

Deliverables

YETT shall provide the consultant with any other internal information he/she might require in order for them to fulfill this task. VID-19 Response Activities, as defined in this TOR; The primary deliverable will be a Youth Participation in National COVID-19 Response Activities report, which establishes a comprehensive picture of key issues to youth participation, leadership and empowerment in the context of the National COVID-19 response; The report should also include an executive summary (no more than 2 pages), summarizing key findings and recommendations in the study; The final research report should put emphasis on communicating key findings and recommendations, rather than long analysis of existing literature.

Scheduling

This assignment should commence on the 28th of January 2021 and the overall timeframe for completion of the study is 21 days.

Payment

FULL Payment will only be done AT THE END OF THE ASSIGNMENT.

Role of YETT

YETT shall provide the consultant with any other internal information he/she might require in order for them to fulfill this task.

Evaluation Criteria

The proposals will be reviewed on the following criteria:

Technical Skills and Experience (60 points) - Applicants will be evaluated based on the appropriateness of her/his technical skills and experience as they relate to this TOR. Specifically, applicants will be evaluated on knowledge of and experience in conducting and leading similar analyses.

Writing Skills (40 points) - Applicants will be evaluated on writing skills as demonstrated in the required application materials.