1.       Background

Mercy Corps, in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), is implementing the 44-month, ‘Strengthened Socio-Economic Development and Better Employment Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities (STEDE) in the Jigjiga Area’ Action (“action”). The action aims to improve employment and livelihood opportunities for up to 54,000 vulnerable refugee and host community in Fafan Zone, which hosts about thirty-six thousand refugees in the three camps of Awbarre, Sheder and Kabribeyah towns. A key sector identified by the STEDe programs for creating job opportunities is the waste management and recycling business. The programs would like further explore these opportunity through a deeper analysis in the real potential level of processing, investment requirements and the enabling environment that supports interventions.

Mercy Corps is seeking a National consultant to work closely with Mercy Corps team members and an interested private business in waste management company to design and write the findings

2.       Objectives of the consultancy

The following are the main objectives of the consultancy:

i.           Asses the demand and supply for the recycling materials in the region and other potential markets

ii.           Assess the potential for establishment of a recycling plant in the region and provide recommendations for business models to support

(i)     Demand and supply for recycling materials assessment

The aim of this objective is to

• Quantitatively map and analyze existing recycling materials supply and production in the region and high market places like Addis Ababa and, in neighboring regions or cross border demand, and the implications of this for the recycling plant /business. This also need to include the demand for the recycled products in those places.

• Analyze the current supply and access of the recycling raw materials and the potential to increase those supplies and determine the level of supply to establish a recycling plant
• Identify the potential for refugees and host communities to participate in the supply of the raw materials

ii) Assess the potential for establishment of a recycling plant in the region and provide recommendations for business models to support

• Map the existing recycling plant capacity in Fafan Zone and neighboring areas
• Map the exiting the small recycling initiatives in the Fafan Zone.
• Assess the viability of  a recycling plant  and determine the kind of recycling products to produce and develop recommendations for; For the high-priority types recycling products, develop recommendations for business models including enterprise-size, location, and technological sophistication (equipment requirements)
• Synthesize data on local, domestic and cross-border demand for recycled products, and conduct competitiveness analysis including potential obstacles for market penetration;

• Determine investment requirements at different scales, and include high-level cost-benefit analysis for different potential processing investments to product profitability and attractiveness for investors;
• Analyze the detail feasibility of building a recycling facility in the region , with the environmental externalities and existence of enabling regulatory framework for private enterprise
• Develop detailed investment risk register
• Include any other points that the consultant may wish to explore which would add value to the report in the proposal

3.       Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Conduct a desk study of background and secondary documents to address consultancy objectives stated above
• Develop a plan to engage and coordinate with the different stakeholders at federal and regional level
• Asses the demand and supply for the recycling materials in the region and other potential markets
• Develop viable recycling plant models for recycling products
• Conduct the feasibility study for building a recycling plant in the region

4.       Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will be responsible to deliver the following coordinating with a national consultant

I.           Detailed methodology

II.           Report on demand and supply of recycling products in the area and high value markets

III.            Assessment report of viability of recycling plant

IV.           Business models and technical recommendations for high-priority processing options

V.           Summary report

5.       Timeframe:

This consultancy is should be completed within one month, beginning in Late of July, 2021 . The consultant(s) should propose a detailed work plan including the Level of Effort (# of days) required to complete each task in the Scope of Work. 

1.       Required Experience & Skills:

The ideal consultant will have the following experience and skills:

●       At least 10 years of experience in conducting researches and feasibility studies for industries and processing plants (15%)

●       Understanding of waste management and recycling business practices in the Ethiopia (20%)

●       Understanding of the waste management /recycling processing sector in the country and experience in building business cases and models for manufacturing and processors (20%)

●       Knowledge of waste management/recycling plant equipment available in Ethiopia and importation requirements for international equipment (15%)

●       Knowledge of viable business models for processing firms to secure supply chain from multiple sources required (10%)

●       Ability to work in Ethiopia, in the Somali regional state, for the duration of the assignment (10%)

●       English fluency required; Somali language skills are a strong added advantage (10%)