Job Description

Background:
The Catalysing Economic Development through the Informal Sector (CEDIS) programme is focused on improving incomes, working conditions and resilience to future shocks and stresses for 30,000 vulnerable women. The CEDIS programme takes a holistic approach, tackling the challenges urban informal enterprises (IE) face while strengthening urban and rural relations between target regions, emphasizing improving worker rights and quality of work. Taking a facilitative approach, the programme seeks to enable the informal sector system to function more inclusively for women and young people for increased productivity, employment and income opportunities. The programme will also boost economic activity and support a longer-term, market-oriented approach to foster resilience and reduce economic vulnerability in the informal sector.

The CEDIS programme has completed the pilot phase, and opportunities for scale-up are being explored based on the lessons learned. The Programme recently held a Sector Strategic Review Meeting to pause and reflect on the different sectors, share learnings and opportunities and rethink some of the models used. One of the sectors of interest is Waste Management, which has low barriers to entry for women and engaged and created employment opportunities for more than 800 women waste pickers in 2 regions who were working with two private sector partners during the pilot phase. Whilst the sector looks attractive for women waste pickers, several key questions remain unclear about the sector as we advance.
How can the sector continue to provide decent and sustainable income for women waste pickers?
How can current private sector actors (waste recyclers and aggregators) in Zimbabwe provide better employment opportunities (e.g., better income, more jobs, improved health and safety) for women waste pickers and aggregators? How can they do this in a profitable way?
What new market opportunities and sustainable business models are available for the private sector actors in Zimbabwe to expand their business and provide better employment opportunities for women waste pickers and aggregators? What are their investment requirements?
How can CEDIS facilitate the market systems change through strategic partnerships and sustainably buy down the risks of the private sector actors?

In light of the above, CEDIS is therefore seeking a qualified consultant to assess, develop and design potential partnerships for waste recycling and management and securing sustainable end-market for waste generated across the CEDIS regions. The assessment will develop/co-create feasible business models, assess the end buyers of the solid waste including the existing value chain and the market demand to make key programmatic recommendations, not limited to Zimbabwe but also other possible markets in the Southern African region and beyond A key part of this study will include collecting data from key stakeholders (waste pickers, aggregators, recyclers, (small and large) , Financial service providers (MFIs, banks) Environmental Management Agency etc. to understand the existing market structure and how aggregators can lead a profitable business by working with women waste collectors and contribute to increasing their income.

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Objectives:

The consultancy assessment mainly seeks to understand the dynamics of the waste recycling and management sector, including recycled product demand, supply, trends, pricing, consumer preferences and potential waste buyers. In addition to the core supply and demand of waste management, the assessment also seeks to explore modalities of access and utilization of machinery and equipment and access to financing for business growth and machineries acquisition. The end goal of this consultancy assessment is to assist the CEDIS team in identifying intervention ideas and inclusive business models that can result in sustained positive employment outcomes for small and medium enterprises and women in Zimbabwe’s waste management sector.

Specific Consultant Objectives
Map opportunities for scaling up the current partnership between CEDIS, the waste management private sector partners, machinery providers and financial service providers.
Analyse the waste management sector vis-a-vis the current waste management policy landscape, as well as opportunities such as separation of waste, constraints in the market, and opportunities for systemic change.
Provide insights and draw learnings from similar programmes working in the waste management sectors.
Analyse the implications and opportunities of the Basil Convention on waste export.
Provide insights on recycled product demand and supply dynamics, including market size, trends, pricing, and customer preferences.
Map potential buyers (such as manufacturers and industries) not only within Zimbabwe but also in the Southern African region.
Map potential machinery, financial services actors and other key partners by defining incentives and capacities critical for driving the waste management sector.
Evaluate the business viability of CEDIS's existing and potential partners in pursuing emerging opportunities in the waste management sector.

Consultant Activities
The scope of work of the consultant will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks:

1. Market Research and Analysis
Conduct market research to understand the waste management value chain in Zimbabwe and the market's supply and demand for recyclable waste.
Conduct market research to understand actors supplying machinery and financial services to actors in the waste management sector in both Zimbabwe and the Southern African region.
Identify partners that have worked in the waste management sector and document the challenges faced in achieving significant milestones in the sector.
Identify key market players in the sector and their capacities to absorb different main types of waste (PET, HD, tin, etc.).
Identify market opportunities and potential business models for these actors to improve employment outcomes for women waste pickers and waste agents.
Conduct a cost-benefit analysis for the value chain actors to apply the new business model(s).
Identify potential buyers of waste, potential suppliers of machinery/equipment, financial service providers and overall market trends of pf the waste management sector
Analyse pricing structures, the economic viability of the proposed business model(s), and the required investment for the value chain actors (recyclers, aggregators, pickers).
2. Policy and Regulations Analysis
Analyse the local, national, and international waste management policies, analyzing the existing policy regulations and their impact on the waste pickers and small recyclers. These include export regulations, registration issues, etc. 
Recommend potential policy adjustments to align with circular economy principles.
3. Analysis of current interventions and develop intervention ideas
Assess the existing waste management interventions and partnerships and advise pathways to scale up the impact and create wider systemic change.
Propose new intervention ideas for the CEDIS team to pursue and the required programme investment/facilitation approach.
Consultant Deliverables:
Clearly mapped market actors in waste management, machinery and financial services
Clearly mapped holistic intervention ideas interlinking the waste management, machinery and financial services sectors
Broker an end- market partnership deal with 1 / 2 actors in the public or private sector both within and outside Zimbabwe for waste management, by creating linkage and partnership with financial service and machinery providers and provide mentorship support to the team on how to go about brokering deals
An inception report on the assessment methodology and work plans, including lessons learned from similar MSD programmes in the waste management sector.
A detailed report of the assessment findings, waste management market landscape including the machinery and financial services (as they relate to waste management), potential partnerships, proposed business models, impact projections, and other key recommendations.
A PowerPoint deck summarising the report.

Timeframe / Schedule:
The consultant shall complete the duties described in this Scope of Work from September024.

The Consultant will report to:
CEDIS Team Lead

The Consultant will work closely with:
CEDIS Team Leader, MEL Coordinator, MSD Regional Coordinators, and Programme Officer (Waste Management, Machinery and Financial Inclusion Intervention Leads).

Qualifications and Experience

Required Experience & Skills:
Previous experience in conducting similar assessments or market research (preferably) in the waste management sector.
7+ years of experience in increasingly proficient management and/or technical support in MSD programming, with at least one job experience in a globally well-reputed MSD project.
Proven experience in developing business models and working with private sector partners.
Experience working across different geographies, including Africa, and more specifically in fragile environments.
Strong ability to understand and manage multiple stakeholders and complex relationships at multiple levels of the organisation.
Familiarity with working in or studying informal sectors and understanding their dynamics and opportunities.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently to Mercy Corps project sites.
A proven proactive approach to work and self-driven leadership.
Fluency in English and strong written and oral communication skills are required.

How to Apply

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