The Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS) is seeking proposals from external consulting firms interesting in conducting Market Survey in targeted locations.

Proposal format

Only proposals that provide the following details will be considered:

• Information about the organization's background/ profile and relevant expertise/experience in project evaluation (max 1.5 pages); (5 marks)
• Understanding of the ToR (max 1 page); (15 marks)
• Description of the approach, methodology and work plan for performing the assignment (max 2 pages); (15 marks)
• The Financial Proposal should include (expressed in US dollars): Total budget, including break down of daily fee, and estimation of the number of required working days, VAT, travel/ communication/security related expenses, insurance & taxes. (10 marks)
• Sample of at least recently signed contracts for a similar assignment preferably from UN, INGO, and government institutions for the last 2 years. (15 marks)
• Sample of at least 3 recently written & approved reports for a similar assignment preferably from UN, INGO, and government institutions for the last 2 years. (15 marks)
• List of at least 3 proposed key professional personnel who will be dedicated for this assignment (attach CVs i.e lead consultant, field coordinator and data analyst among others) staff who have experience in auditing, engineering consultancy services, M&E, supply chain, market survey and marketing will have added advantage (10 marks)

• At least 2 letters of recommendation (5 marks)
• Valid registration & documents [ operating license, permits, tax clearance certificates etc] from relevant government / authorities (10 marks)

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR MARKET SURVEY

1. About NIS

The Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS) is a non-profit foundation headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with country offices in Somalia, Mali and Myanmar. It has also gotten a country office registration in Ethiopia where it plans to start a new program. NIS was founded by individuals with experience working in the Horn of Africa in response to what was seen as a lack of donor policy and operational successes, specifically in Somalia. From the beginning, NIS was driven by one primary objective: to pragmatically support the emergence and strengthening of state structures. In addition to the practical contextual constraints faced by many donors in the different states, there is also often a lack of partner organizations that are willing to address the political dimensions of stabilization and recovery work.

NIS is neither a humanitarian nor a development organization but operates in the gap between the two. Humanitarian and more traditional development policies often fail to address the challenges of political instability in fragile environments. In many conflict-affected countries populations are often suffering from a kind of “faith fatigue” where it is difficult to believe that, yet another peace process or new regime will actually achieve anything. Work in politically fragile environments that ignores the immediate need to provide populations some evidence of genuine change, at best risks hindering stabilization efforts, and, at worst can potentially undermine state-building efforts.

The key principle for any NIS intervention is that the delivery of any humanitarian or development benefits directly support political stabilization through increased legitimacy for the authorities and contribute to ongoing state-building and reconciliation processes in the country. This is done by working closely with key stakeholders – primarily the national, regional and local authorities – to bring authorities and communities closer together by providing concrete benefits to conflict-affected societies in conjunction with the authorities.

As a result, NIS carries out a wide range of work from political and security analysis to the design and management of financing mechanisms and funds, to the physical construction of roads, markets, renewable energy provision eg street lighting, hybrid systems, water systems and government buildings. The exact nature of the project becomes secondary as long as it meets a genuine need of the population and is implemented in a way that strengthens the relationship between communities and the state, rather than robs the state of an opportunity to boost public confidence. The effectiveness of NIS’ approach is reflected in the steadily increasing support NIS has received from a growing number of donors since its inception in 2011.

NIS has in-country teams that can effectively navigate the complex political and security landscapes while maintaining a focus on the immediate-term needs to achieve visible results. The NIS headquarters in Oslo constitutes an integral part of NIS’ overall risk management system and plays a key role in providing technical support to the country operations and ensuring the adherence to and compliance with both internal and external policies, guidelines and requirements.

1. Purpose and Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of this assessment is to determine the main item/services categories frequently procured by NIS through review of historical data, future trends, and potential new commodities/services in the market and provide NIS with detailed recommendations to inform value for money in its program implementation. The assessment is intended to achieve the following objectives:

• To evaluate market trends, goods & service that they commonly deal with and new commodities in the market & its providers.
• To understand the prices in the market, new commodities and services, cost of implementation of similar products by their peer organizations and recommendations to help improve on value for money.
• Map market services providers, identify opportunities, challenges in accessing them and the existing government regulations.

1. Scope of the Assessment.

The main scope of the assessment is to assess and determine the main item/services categories frequently procured by NIS:

• Construction works (buildings, bridges, culverts, roads, markets, airstrips, sport centers, water catchments/dams).
• Solar activities (procurement & Installation of Solar streetlight, solar PV systems, solar spare parts).
• Office supplies (stationary, equipment’s, electronics/computers, furniture, cleaning materials & food commodities).
• Transportation services; local & international
• Construction materials - available in local & international.
• Consultancy services- (M&E, PSEA, GESI, and Engineering services,).
• Accommodation and hotel – catering services
• Medical, vehicle & life insurance cover
• Flights & air-ticketing-local & international
• Vehicle purchase & hire
• Office rent cost
• Utilities (Electricity, internet, water & telephone calls)

The market survey shall focus on the following geographical areas/ locations: Banadir -Mogadishu, Hirshabelle - Jowhar & Baladweyn, Galmudug- Dhusamareb & Galkayo, Puntland- Garowe & Bossaso, Southwest- Barawe & Baidoa, Jubaland- Kismayo & Garbaharey, International -China, Germany, Kenya, UAE, and Turkey and Similar activities from peer organizations.

1. Proposed assessment Methodology

The consultant should propose a methodology that will be participatory, comprising of both secondary and primary sources, through desk research and field surveys as applicable, and will provide the client organization with detailed, updated, relevant and reliable quantitative data and qualitative information. In addition, the consultant is expected to be able to suggest adequate or relevant evaluation frameworks for the areas outlined in the scope. The Consultant will be responsible for gathering reliable and comparable quantitative data and will not only rely on qualitative or anecdotal information.

1. Key Deliverables

• An inception report including a work plan methodology, tracking tools, o Report format and timeline are to be submitted at the commencement. o of the assignment.

o  A final market survey report as per the above locations

o A tracking tool data base of the above information in a friendly user tool o Presentation/facilitation of a workshop to discuss the reports & findings.

o  Provide recommendations to help improve on value for money through procurement.

1. Timeframe

The duration of the market survey should be four to six weeks, depending on the complexity of the assignment.

1. Management of the consultancy

The Consultant/firm will be contracted by Nordic International Support Foundation (NIS), who will have overall responsibility for the management of the consultancy contract including payments. NIS will be responsible for developing and finalizing the terms of reference, reviewing and finalizing the methodology and monitoring the delivery of milestones as well as approval of reports.

1. Payment

The consultant will be paid in 3 instalments, 30% on production of inception report and developing tools, and another 30% will be after the submission and presentation of draft report and 40% after the approval of the final report.

1. Skills and experience required of consultant firm,

The consultant is expected to have the following skills and expertise:

• At least 8 years of relevant working experience in development cooperation, Auditing and accounting or Financials Management and Proven experience in conducting market survey assessments.
• Experience working in organizational development and capacity building of NGOs. Experience with Somali NGOs will be an advantage.
• Experience in leading and facilitating participatory processes.
• Ability to analyze, interpret and synthesize information from several sources.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English.
• Knowledge of the Somali context is an added advantage.

The deadline for submitting complete proposals is 11:59 PM on 15th June 2023

Proposals must be submitted electronically to [email protected], with the subject line

“Market Survey - CALL FOR PROPOSAL".

Contact information.

Please forward any query to the following e-mail address: [email protected] not later than 11:59pm (Mogadishu time) on 10th June 2023.

NB: NIS Foundation promotes gender equality and social inclusion. Consultant firms that represent/are owned by women, male and female youth and/or other marginalized groups are encouraged to apply for this activity.”