Facilitator/Consultant to Support Refugee Freelancers in Boosting Earnings in the Digital Economy

Background

Young, urban refugee women and girls in Kenya face numerous obstacles in their quest to build a life of safety, dignity, and empowerment. Having fled conflict in their country of origin and sought safety in Kenya, they arrive to conditions of limited freedom of movement, extreme poverty, minimal income generation opportunities, high rates of sexual and gender-based violence, and broad-based social and economic marginalization. As a result, many young refugee women are pushed into exploitative situations, e.g. sex trade, unpaid domestic labor, or opt for marriage as a means of economic survival.

RefuSHE is on a mission to ensure that young, urban refugee women are no longer relegated to the margins of society and pushed into economic activities and situations that rob them of their safety, dignity, and power. In collaboration with Google.org, we are boosting the socio-economic potential of young refugee women by providing gender-responsive digital skills training and access to job opportunities in the growing freelance economy. The program curriculum takes six months to complete, equips participants with skills such as audio and video transcription, image annotation and tagging, data analysis and management, digital marketing, social media management, and content writing.

The purpose of this terms of reference is to outline the responsibilities and expectations for a facilitator who will be engaged to support refugee girls in enhancing their earnings in the digital economy. The facilitator will work with a group of refugee girls who have already received training in online work and freelance work.

Objectives

The main objectives of engaging a facilitator/consultant are as follows:

1. To provide guidance and job supply to the girls that have graduated from RefuSHE’s digital freelancing program.
2. To assist the girls in identifying opportunities in the digital economy that align with their skills and interests.
3. To help the girls develop strategies to boost their earnings through online work and freelance opportunities.
4. To empower the girls with essential soft skills, such as communication, time management, and problem-solving, to succeed in the digital economy.
5. To foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment where the girls can share experiences, learn from each other, and build a network of support.

Scope of Work

The facilitator’s responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

1. Conducting an initial assessment of each participant’s skills, interests, and goals to tailor the support accordingly.
2. Providing individualized coaching and mentoring sessions to guide participants in identifying suitable online work or freelance opportunities.
3. Assisting participants in creating professional profiles or portfolios that highlight their skills and experiences.
4. Offering guidance on how to effectively market themselves online, including optimizing their profiles on relevant platforms.
5. Organizing workshops or training sessions on topics such as effective communication, time management, client management, and financial literacy.
6. Facilitating group discussions and activities that encourage peer learning, collaboration, and networking among participants.
7. Monitoring participants’ progress throughout the engagement period and providing ongoing feedback and support.
8. Evaluating the impact of the facilitation process and providing recommendations for further improvement.

Deliverables

The facilitator will be expected to deliver the following:

• An inception report containing a work plan with an emphasis on methodological and planning aspects, the timing, key deliverables, and milestones within the first week.
• Identify placement opportunities by identifying new potential aggregators, platforms, and super agents.
• Build placement pipeline and ensure >90% placement of the freelancers.
• Weekly progress reports on each participants’ earnings and achievements.
• A final report summarizing the impact of the mentorship and providing recommendations for future interventions.

Duration and Location

The engagement of the facilitator will be for a period of two months. The facilitation sessions will be conducted virtually and physically, when possible, determined based on the availability and convenience of the participants, ensuring a safe and conducive environment for learning.

Qualifications and Skills

The ideal facilitator should possess the following qualifications and skills:

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• At least 5 years’ experience in working with marginalized communities, particularly refugee populations.
• Proven knowledge of the digital economy, online work, and freelance opportunities.
• Strong coaching, mentoring, and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adapt to diverse cultural backgrounds and create an inclusive learning environment.
• Familiarity with relevant tools and platforms used in the digital economy.

Reporting: The facilitator/consultant will report to the Associate Director-GEP and will work closely with the ICT Training Coordinator. Regular communication channels should be established to ensure ongoing support and coordination.

Evaluation: An evaluation mechanism should be put in place to assess the effectiveness of the facilitation process. Feedback from participants should be collected to gauge their satisfaction levels and identify areas for improvement.

Confidentiality: The facilitator/consultant should adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines regarding participants’ personal information, experiences, and any sensitive data shared during the engagement.