Somali Lifeline Organization (SOLO) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization established in 2008. Through its integrated program design and delivery approach; SOLO works with local communities and structures to mitigate the effects of drought, floods, conflicts, disease outbreaks and gender-based violence. SOLO focuses on empowering the less privileged and most vulnerable in order to enhance, strengthen and accelerate development through capacity building, training and mentoring of youth, livelihoods and economic diversification, provision of quality education, health and nutrition, improvement of food security initiatives, environmental conservation and promotion of peace and harmony across different groups. The organization also provides tailor-made trainings; researches and capacity strengthening to Local Authorities and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to ensure good governance and rule of law at all levels (i.e. Local; Regional and National).
SOLO advocates for inclusivity and human rights protection of all to create positive environment for individuals to fulfill and realize their potentials. SOLO’s capacity and strength in executing programs in Kenya and Somalia/Somaliland particularly in areas of operation lies in the close partnership and participation of the communities throughout the Project Cycle Management (PCM).
SOLO is working in partnership with Save the Children and RRDO for the REAP project in Dadaab.
Background to the Project
Solo is working in partnership with Save the Children and RRDO on the REAP project, funded by Save the Children, Italy. The project is a 27-month project in Dadaab sub-county targeting both host communities and the refugees. The project “Providing equitable, uninterrupted access to resilient, equitable, protective, inclusive, innovative quality education in emergencies and child protection services for children affected by crisis in IFO 2 in Dadaab refugee camp by 2026.” is running from October, 2024 to October, 2026.
The project is targeting 80% refugees and 20% affected host community children’s. The direct beneficiaries are 25,000 girls and boys as indirect beneficiaries are 40,000 children and adults.
The project aims to achieve the following key results:
- Result 1: Refugee and affected local community boys and girls have access to quality basic education.
- Result 2: Refugee children are protected from violence, abuse, exploitation and have access to suitable care arrangement
The project overall goal is refugee and local communities are empowered to address barriers and promote quality, sustainable and inclusive education and protection services for all children by end of 2026.
SOLO contribution area is towards the outcome 4 “Foster resilience and sustainable livelihood outcomes among adolescent mothers and foster parents to withstand a shock and stress”.
As such, the output 4.1: Increased participation of adolescent mothers and foster parents in viable and environmentally sustainable enterprises, is where this particular contributes to. A labor and market assessment was conducted in 2025 which identified multiple viable enterprise sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and services. However, despite this evidence, 100% of supported groups selected only livestock and retail trade. This has resulted in market saturation, increased competition, and declining profit margins. The 2026 assessment is therefore not a baseline study, but a second-round, corrective assessment focused on understanding behavioral, structural, cultural, and financial drivers of enterprise choice, and on identifying practical mechanisms to enable diversification into under-explored but viable sectors.
Purpose of the assignment
SOLO is seeking a firm/group of consultants to support its ongoing work for value chain interventions in Dadaab. The assignment will inform the project on the understanding behavioral, structural, cultural and financial drivers of small-scale entrepreneurs’ choice of sectors. The study will estimate the market size for different value chains and the skills needed to tap into these markets. All proposed value chains must be feasible within the regulatory, security, mobility, and refugee policy context of Dadaab and must not rely on external market linkages that are structurally inaccessible to refugees.
Key objectives of the assignment include:
To generate a Diversification Action Framework that specifies:
- At least 4-6 viable non-livestock, non-retail enterprise pathways.
- Entry requirements (skills, capital, risk).
- Expected income ranges.
- Gender suitability.
- Practical transition strategies for existing groups.
Behavioral and Choice Analysis
To analyze the non-market factors influencing enterprise selection, including:
- Risk perception and fear of failure.
- Cultural norms and social copying.
- Capital constraints and liquidity needs.
- Gender norms and mobility restrictions.
- Previous aid models and expectation of asset transfers.
- Time-to-income preferences.
Pease note that the project is supporting 30 groups as ongoing entrepreneurs, with additional 10 new groups as potential new enterprises (Newly formed groups (first-time entrepreneurs) and existing livestock/retail groups requiring horizontal diversification). Therefore, the findings may require separate segment documentation and recommendations.
Key Activities
This is a comprehensive assignment covering two broad areas, all of which will be led by the consultant(s) with significant input and oversight from SOLO. The areas of work are interlinked and will feed into the overall objective of the labor and market assessment.
The primary success criterion of this assessment is not the identification of viable value chains, but the generation of practical, behavior-sensitive mechanisms that lead to actual uptake of diversified enterprises by project participants.
Each area of work is detailed below tentatively as:
Areas of Work Timeline2 Approximate No. of Days
- Labor and Market Assessment 7th April 2026 10 days
- Existing curriculum review and
improvement including potential new
sector inclusion. 7th April 2026 10 days
- Sense check workshop with staff,
partners and communities 14th April 2026 1 day
- Training staff 15th and 16th April 2026 2 days
4.Final report 22nd April, 2026
Deliverables
- Labor & Market Assessment Report (The assessment shall include a comparative analysis between 2025 and 2026 findings, highlighting what has changed, what has not changed, and why)
- Diversification Action Plan (standalone annex)
- Value Chain Maps (visual)
- Gender & Inclusion Brief
- Enterprise Transition Toolkit (simple decision tool for participants)
Profile of Consultants/Consultancy Firm
SOLO requests that consultants submit proposals responding to the Terms of Reference outlined above. We expect the firm or team of consultants to demonstrate excellent skills and experience according to the criteria below:
- Excellent track record conducting detailed market research, including designing a methodology, collecting data, providing detailed analysis and delivering actionable, practicable recommendations. Previous experience providing research for or designing value chain or private sector development programmes will be an advantage.
- Strong track record conducting value chain and market analysis in an East African context, ideally across Kenya.
- Experience with participatory and mixed research methods, combining techniques and tools for quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
- Detailed knowledge of participatory market systems development approaches.
- Track record of working on projects targeting grassroots entrepreneurs and enterprises, self-help groups, and financial institutions.
- Demonstrated experience of successfully developing training approaches (curricula, training materials and practical capacity building) for value chain focused programmes. Previous experience providing Training of Trainer (ToTs) will also be essential.
- Proven experience of working alongside national teams within civil society organizations’; NGOs, academic institutions, social enterprises etc.
- Capacities with electronic data collection methods will be favorably considered.
- Fluency in verbal and written English and Kiswahili; Somali would be an added advantage.
