Consultancy for Green Economy and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Market Systems Assessment for Vulnerable Host and Refugee Youth

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) seeks a consultant for a market systems assessment focused on green economy opportunities for vulnerable host and refugee youth in Kenya. The role involves mapping and analyzing market systems, assessing green skills and training needs, and identifying pathways for sustainable livelihoods. The consultancy aims to inform IRC's strategic direction for climate-resilient livelihoods in urban and arid contexts, addressing barriers faced by youth.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions.


If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.


TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy for Green Economy and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Market Systems Assessment for Vulnerable Host and Refugee Youth



Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has operated in Kenya since 1992, supporting refugees and vulnerable host communities. The Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) sector expands access to dignified, sustainable livelihoods through market systems development, skills training, financial inclusion, and private sector engagement across three zones: the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Garissa County (including Dadaab), and Turkana County (including Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and Lodwar).
Through the Re:BUiLD program (funded by the IKEA Foundation, implemented in Nairobi and Kampala), IRC has generated evidence on climate-resilient livelihoods within the green economy including solar energy, e-waste recycling, and circular economy enterprises. IRC Kenya now seeks to extend these learnings into urban, peri-urban, and arid contexts, with a focus on agriculture, livestock, renewable energy, and sustainable mobility, and to identify scalable opportunities for vulnerable youth.
Despite an enabling national policy environment including the Climate Change Act (2016), the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and Global Refugee Forum commitments vulnerable and refugee youth remain largely excluded from green economy opportunities due to regulatory barriers, skills gaps, limited market access, weak private sector engagement, and inadequate financing. This assignment will apply a market systems development (MSD) lens to identify viable pathways, systemic constraints, and entry points for programming.



Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a market systems assessment of green economy opportunities in the target geographies with a focus on Green Skills, Green Enterprises, Green Financing, Sustainable Mobility, Renewable Energy, Agriculture, and Livestock to inform IRC Kenya ERD's strategic and programmatic direction for climate-resilient livelihoods targeting vulnerable youth.
Specifically, The Consultancy Will Map and analyses green economy market systems and value chains that present viable economic opportunities for vulnerable youth, applying the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach. Assess green skills, training needs, and TVET gaps aligned to identified market opportunities, including emerging sectors (e.g. e-mobility, solar, clean cooking).
Identify climate-resilient green business and enterprise opportunities, including business models, financing options, market demand, and barriers to entry for youth. Analyze the policy and regulatory environment affecting green livelihoods and refugee economic participation, identifying enabling frameworks and structural barriers. Map private sector actors and assess their appetite and modalities for engaging host community and refugee youth.


Develop actionable recommendations and business development opportunities, including an intervention framework, stakeholder engagement strategy, and indicative program design options.



Scope of Work

3.1 Geographic Scope The assignment covers three distinct but interconnected contexts. Consultants are expected to propose an appropriate sampling and coverage strategy across all locations:
Region-Locations & Context
Nairobi Metropolitan
Nairobi city and peri-urban belt (Eastlands, Kasarani,Kawangware, Kibra Rongai, Kitengela). Urban/peri-urban; Re:BUiLD footprint; high refugee concentration; growing urban agriculture and circular economy.
Garissa County
Dadaab Refugee Complex (Hagadera, Dagahaley, Ifo) and Garissa Town. Arid/semi-arid; primarily Somali population; livestock (camel, cattle, goat), dryland agriculture, and trade economy.


Turkana County
Kakuma Refugee Complex, Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, and Lodwar Town. Hyper-arid; multi-nationality population; pastoral and agro-pastoral economy; Kalobeyei integration model.


3.2 Thematic Scope The