TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR CONSULTANT TO REVIEW AND UPDATE SOMALILAND NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY

                                                                                                                  Date:03 September 2023

1. Background

SONYO- abbreviated for Somaliland National Youth Organization. Are non profit, non partisan, non political humanitarian and voluntary national youth umbrella whereby 56 Member of youth organizations are currently members. SONYO, established in June 5, 2003, is the first and the only nationwide youth umbrella in the country committed to empower and improve youth quality of life through provision of programs and services. Umbrella members include Youth NGOs, Associations, and Student Unions from higher educational institutions, particularly Amoud University, University of Hargeisa and Burao University. The organization has a hierarchical structure with various lines and functions that define the roles, responsibilities, chain of command, units, departments and sections that execute project activities. Its aim is to identify, present and represent issues pertaining to youth at the national levels.

Strengthening the operating environment of CSOs ability to participate in advocacy for policy change and equality of marginalized groups is project funded by European Union and implementing as consortium by SONYO Umbrella, SONSAF and SNDF. The project is intended to institutional ly strengthen the capacity of Somaliland civil society organizations (CSOs) and to improve the operating environment for vulnerable groups, and also to promote good governance, accountability, better coordination, and prioritization of the actions in order to ensure that CSOs participation and contribution both national and regional level is effective and sustainable.

The specific target groups of this project are – 26 CSOs, especially umbrella groups (SONYO, NAGAAD, NAFIS, SNDF and Adams academy) and their member organizations and an intentional focus on CSOs representing these vulnerable groups that are focused on advocacy and policy dialogue (Youth, Women, Minorities and People with disabilities). The Consortium (SONSAF, SONYO and SNDF) will implement this project in the six regions of Somaliland (Marodijeh, Saahil, Togdheer, Awdal, Sanaag and Sool). 

Approximately 70% of Somaliland's population is under the age of 35. However, this large and growing population group is not adequately represented in the country's decision-making bodies. This underrepresentation of youth in decision-making has a number of negative consequences. It means that the needs and priorities of young people are often neglected. It also means that young people are less likely to have a say in the policies and programs that affect their lives.

In addition to being underrepresented in decision-making, Somaliland's youth also face a lack of economic and employment opportunities. The estimated unemployment rate among young people is 70%. This is due to a number of factors, such as the lack of economic development in Somaliland, the high number of young people entering the workforce each year, and the lack of skills and training among young people. The lack of economic opportunities for young people is a major challenge facing Somaliland. It can lead to social unrest, crime, and migration. It can also prevent young people from reaching their full potential. On the other hand, the youth sector for Somaliland's national development goals is very limited in its ability to address the needs of young people and to overcome the challenges and obstacles that hinder the future of Somaliland’s youth.

In order to better serve the youth and address the above obstacles, the Somaliland National Youth Umbrella (SONYO) will collaborate with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other stakeholders to review and update the Somaliland National Youth Policy. The policy needs to be updated and revised to include more inclusivity for the youth, as well as to be aligned with the national development plans. The development of a new and updated youth policy is essential to ensure that the youth of Somaliland are able to participate fully in the Somaliland development process.

1. Purpose and overall Objective of the policy

The overall objective of the Somaliland National Youth Policy is to enhance the capacities of youth through addressing their needs, promoting positive outcomes, and providing integrated and coordinated package of information and services, opportunities, choices, relationship and support necessary for holistic development of all young people.

1. Specific Objectives of the policy:

• Increase the capacity of key youth development institutions while also ensuring integration and coordination in youth service delivery.
• To develop young people's capacities to enable them to take charge of their own well-being by being aware of their rights and responsibilities
• Support youth organizations that are given top priority and ensure that they are given every opportunity to contribute to the nation's development.
• Promote patriotism through effective engagement in a range of youth initiatives and projects that contribute to nation-building.
• Ensure that youth policies are effective in mitigating marginalization and providing opportunities for all young people to thrive.

1. The objectives of the assignment

The Somaliland National Youth Organization (SONYO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is seeking an individual consultant to conduct a comprehensive public policy review of the previous Somaliland National Youth Policy to identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities for young people across the spectrum, and develop and revise a new and updated national youth policy 2023-2027.

1. Specific objectives of the assignment

• To conduct a comprehensive review of the previous Somaliland National Youth Policy, including its implementation and impact.
• Conduct disk review to identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities for young people across the spectrum.
• To develop and draft a new and updated national youth policy that is aligned with the national development goals and that is responsive to the needs of young people.
• To facilitate inclusive and representative consultation meetings and validation processes with young people and other stakeholders to ensure that the new policy is aligned with the needs and priorities of all stakeholders.
• To develop a comprehensive and feasible implementation strategy for the National Youth Policy.

1. Scope of the Work

The consultant should be guided by existing policies, guidelines, and legislation that address the needs of youth when reviewing the existing National Youth Policy. These include the National Development plan III, African Youth Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Youth, and the Somaliland National Youth Policy (2017-2022).The consultant will work with stakeholders such as the established task force who will guild the development process of the policy, youth aged 15 to 35, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) working on youth issues, health, education, and protection professionals, and other relevant sector professionals who provide services to youth.

• Alignment with national development goals: The new policy should be aligned with the national development goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This means that the policy should focus on areas that are important for the development of Somaliland, such as education, employment, and health, and that it should be consistent with the government's overall development strategy.
• Responsiveness to the needs of young people: The policy should address the specific challenges and opportunities that young people face, such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of access to education and healthcare. The consultant should consult with young people from different backgrounds and regions to ensure that their voices are heard in the development of the new policy.
• Feasibility of implementation: The policy should be feasible to implement. This means that the policy should be realistic and achievable, and it should take into account the resources that are available. The consultant should work with government officials and other stakeholders to develop a plan for implementing the new policy.
• Sustainability: The policy should be sustainable over time. This means that the policy should be designed in a way that it can be maintained and adapted as needed. The consultant should consider the long-term implications of the new policy and how it can be financed in the future.
• Gender equality: The policy should promote gender equality. This means that the policy should address the specific challenges and opportunities that young women and girls face, and it should ensure that they have equal access to opportunities. The consultant should consult with women's rights organizations and other stakeholders to ensure that the new policy is gender-sensitive.
• Inclusion: The policy should be inclusive. This means that the policy should be designed to benefit all young people, regardless of their background, ethnicity, religion, or gender. The consultant should consult with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the new policy is representative of the needs of all young people in Somaliland.
• Rights-based: The policy should be designed within a human rights framework, in line with the country’s global and regional commitments. This means that the policy should uphold the rights of all young people, including their right to education, health, employment, and participation in decision-making.
• Participatory: The policy should be designed, developed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated with the meaningful participation of young people. This means that young people should be involved in all stages of the policy-making process, from the initial conceptualization to the final implementation.
• Knowledge-based and evidence-informed: The policy should be developed and updated based on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of quantitative and qualitative information on the situation, needs, challenges, and opportunities of young women and men in Somaliland. This means that the policy should be based on sound evidence and should be responsive to the needs of young people.

1. Methodology

The following are some of the proposed methods for the development process of the policy:

• Conduct a desk review: This involves reviewing existing documents and research on the topic of youth policy. This can be done by searching online databases, libraries, and government websites.
• Collect primary data: This involves collecting new data from young people and other stakeholders. This can be done through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other methods.
• Hold consultations: This involves meeting with young people and other stakeholders to get their input on the policy. This can be done in person, online, or through a combination of both.
• Analyze the data: This involves using the data collected to identify the needs and priorities of young people. This can be done using statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, or a combination of both.
• Develop the policy: This involves using the data analysis to develop a draft policy. The policy should be aligned with the national development goals and should be responsive to the needs of young people.
• Get feedback: This involves getting feedback on the draft policy from young people and other stakeholders. This feedback can be used to revise the policy until it is acceptable to all stakeholders.
• Finalize the policy: This involves finalizing the policy and preparing it for implementation.

1. Deliverables

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables at the end of the assignment:

• An inception report: This report will provide an overview of the assignment, including the objectives, methodology, and timeline. It will also include a detailed work plan with a detailed schedule of activities, methodology, and tools to be applied.
• A comprehensive review of the previous National Youth Policy: including its implementation and impact
• A draft of a new and updated national youth policy that is aligned with the national development goals and that is responsive to the needs of young people.
• A final version of the national youth policy.
• A plan for the implementation of the national youth policy
• A system for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the national youth policy.

1. Duration and timeline

The duration of the assignment is expected to be two consecutive months. The working schedule will be determined by the established technical task force of the policy.

1. Reporting

The consultant will directly report to Somaliland National Youth Organization (SONYO). The consultant will also provide weekly updates to SONYO and the established technical task force.

• Master's degree in policy or strategies development, international relations, public administration, management, social or behavioral sciences, or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of experience in policy and strategies development, with a focus on youth development.
• Prior experience working with public institutions on international and national policy development, as well as national and action plan and M&E plans.
• Knowledge of youth-related good practices and trends in youth engagement.
• Proven experience in working on youth development related policies, programs, and/or guidelines for social sectors and/or programs specifically focusing on strengthening youth policies and capacities.
• Must have good knowledge of the Somaliland National Development Plan, SDGs, youth development, economics, community engagement, and political participation, and technical expertise in project management, data analysis, research, and drafting implementation plans.
• Experience working in Somaliland is an asset.
• First-hand knowledge of the socio-cultural, economic, and political situation in Somaliland will be an added advantage.
• Willingness to work in difficult circumstances, including traveling to Somaliland regions.
• Experience in working with the Government of Somaliland will be an asset.

The interested consultants who meet the above requirement should submit the following:-

• Application, Curriculum vitae, conceptual inception outline showing how to intend and achieve the stated objectives, previous experience, (signed stamped copies of contracts), proposed time line and budget.

To submit application for this consultancy, please send required documents to [email protected] with the subject line of email consultant of the development of national youth policy.  Application will close by 17th September, 2023 at 14:00pm afternoon. Any application not meeting the above will not be reviewed.