Terms of Referrence on Assessing Market Demands and Mapping of potential Daycare centers in Mogadishu, Somalia.

• Background of consultancy and Rationale

Generally, early childhood development remains out of view in Somalia. The government’s priority and investment has been given to primary and secondary education and Higher Learning to some extent. This gap could be attributed partly due to the limited capacity of the government’s institutions but also due to the lack of policy and regulatory framework for the country’s Early Childhood Development resourses.  Currently children are admitted at 6 years  at primary school in standard one. Most children have not been supported or stimulated according to their age.  By the time children enter primary school, significant gaps exist in children’s development across the social gradient. In

Mogadishu, the existing daycare centers (mostly managed by women) offer substandard child care services with no government oversight and regulations. The topic of early childhood development is widely unknown. Many of these care centers collapse within a short period due to many factors including dissatisfaction of parents leading to low enrollment, not making profit and inability to access financial services to enable business continuity. The major causes are identified as limited knowledge and skills to run a childcare center, lack of standard training curriculum,  and lack of tools. In view of this, SOS Children’s Villages Somalia in collaboration with TINY TOTOS Kenya is proposing to establish a professional childcare network in Mogadishu that will provide continuous capacity building and coaching support to existing daycare owners and managers. The project, titled “ NUUNO CARE” is a community-based business model with the longer-term objective of transforming early childhood development services into affordable, safe, and quality care businesses that provide equitable and  quality care to children(below 6 years). The project aims to build the capacity of the daycare owners through provision of continuous coaching on business, ECD, nutrition using the nurturing care framework.

1. Objectives of the consultancy

The overall objective of this assignment is to assess and map out  daycare centers(both existing and potential) and to conduct assement on the market demand for daycare services in Mogadishu, Banadir region.

Specific Objectives of the assignment

The consultant is required to undertake the following specific objectives:

• Carry out an assessment on the Daycare centers
• Assess the market demand of the Daycare services in Mogadishu with specific focus on Heliwa, Hodan, Howlwadag, Shibis, Hamarweyne, Wardhigley, Wadajir and Dharkeynley districts.
• Develop business plan and cost benefit analysis based on market demand and supply assessment

1. Scope of Work

Geographically the consultant will work within the Benadir region and will travel to locations within the Benadir region.

The followings are some of the key activities that the consultant is expected to do:

• Develop an assessment tools including data collection forms(Interviews, KIIs, FGDs) and data analysis system
• Identify and train enumerators on the tools
• Identify existing and potential daycare centers/owners in Mogadishu and assess them in the following areas: Ownership, Bsuiness Management, Knowledge and Skill level of the owner/manager of the center, staffing structure, Capacity of the Daycare Centre, types of services provided by the center, Curriculum delivery, Facilities, outreach, Profitability, Sustainability(cost-profit analysis), Engagement and Parrtnerhsip in the provision of Daycare services and certification process.
• Carryout literature review on the Early Child Development landscape in Somalia by identifying legal and policy frameworks, guidelines and strategies, which relate to the services of the daycare
• Conduct market assessment on the daycar services(both demand and supply) in Mogadishu and provide recommendations for SOS CV Somalia on the establishment of Daycare Business Model in Mogadishu.

1. Methodology

The consultant is expected to adapt and use a mixed method approach for this assignment and includes the following but not limited to: –

• Desk based review of the project documents and existing secondary information on ECD .
• Detailed Review of existing education policies.
• Key informant interviews , FGD, questionnairs to be conducted with existing day care centers  including co day care owners, managers and parents, ministry of educaitons and other relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate a workshop on the tools, methodology and agree on the content and the format of the report

1. Key Deliverable

• Inception report with clearly defined methodologies and tools for the assessment
• A comprehensive assement report on the capacity and needs of existing and potential daycare centers/owners and the market system(demand and supply) for daycare services in Mogadishu.
• business plan and cost benefit analysis based on market demand and supply assessment
• Facilitate one day validation workshop.

1. Duration of the Work

The consultant is expected to submit the first draft of the assessment report within 20 days upon signing of the contract and the 2nd and final draft a week after the review of the draf report by SOS CV Somalia and TINTY TOTOS experts. The consultant will work closely with SOS CV Early Childhood Officer and Business Development Service Officer and will be supervised by the Banadir Area Manager.