Company name : Civic Engagement for Accountability & Democracy in Zimbabwe (CEADZ)

Deadline: 27 January 2021 (COB)

Introduction

A leading Zimbabwean youth development agency is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from experienced research consultant(s)/consultancy firms who wish to be considered for conducting follow on research to a Zimbabwean Youth Situational Analysis study that was conducted in 2018. The initial phase of the longitudinal study was conducted between March and April 2018, and the final findings were published in February 2019. The main purpose of this research initiative is to establish the individual and collective aspirations of the youth through the collection of contemporary data on their political, economic, social and health situation, levels of their representation, participation and influence in the country’s political and socio-economic spheres as well as the wide range of opportunities and challenges influencing their participation.

Since 2018 when the initial research was conducted, there have been some significant changes in the political, health and socio-economic situation of Zimbabwe’s youth, their needs, aspirations, ambitions and range of opportunities as well as challenges influencing their experiences, perceptions and decisions. Given all these changes that have happened over the last two years, it is important to have a follow-on study that seeks to capture the changes that have happened and how these changes have affected the youth’s situation, their experiences and perspectives towards life.

Purpose and objectives

The purpose of this follow-on study is to track changes that have occurred to the youth’s experiences in the last two years (i.e. between May 2018 and December 2020) since the last Youth Situational Analysis study was conducted. The overall objective of the analysis is to establish the main shifts and new trends in the political, social and economic experiences of the youth and how these shifts have influenced the youth’s perspectives and behaviours, including participation in the political and socio-economic spheres in the last two years. The findings from the updated study are expected to guide the priorities of the development community and key stakeholders while contributing to the achievement of shared development objectives. Ultimately this study will be used to influence programming that seeks to empower young people to advocate for their rights.

Specifically, the analysis should help to achieve the following objectives: Broaden our understanding of how aspirations, challenges and opportunities of the different groups of young Zimbabweans within the prevailing political, social and economic context, have shifted/changed from 2018 to date; Deepen our understanding about changes/shifts/trends in how young persons are surviving, organising and mobilising around issues that affect them from 2018 to date; Establish changes/trends/shifts challenges and opportunities for participation, leadership and agency of youth in the social, economic and political dimensions; Assess young people’s knowledge about economic and political engagement opportunities available to them as well as an understanding of their rights, roles and responsibilities as citizens, including those provided for by the constitution and legislative framework of Zimbabwe; Review the effectiveness and constructiveness of young people’s different modes of organizing and mobilizing and suggest practical recommendations on how weaknesses noted can be strengthened (This will include identification of negative youth influences and their causes); Establish ways to strengthen youth advocacy and oversight at multiple levels and how to improve civil society advocacy and representation of youth views; Identify good practise models and programmes from comparative regional and international case studies to support youth participation, leadership and agency.

Methodology

The study will adopt a mixed-method approach that involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including the use of secondary research to leverage existing knowledge and analysis, the collection of primary data from targeted informants, focus group discussions with youth and targeted use of participatory research techniques. Although the analysis will draw information from existing studies, it should have practical issues from the youth by capturing voices based on lived realities. The fieldwork will involve the collection of primary data from all the country's ten provinces in districts to be determined.

Deliverables

Research proposal detailing a Step-by-Step methodology as well as data collection and analysis framework (i. e. survey design, methodology, data collection tools, work plan with clear timelines and budget) for researching the Youth Situational Analysis as defined in this SoW; The inception report including PowerPoint presentation of the data collection and analysis framework, a detailed set of data collection instruments e.g. Questionnaire for KIIs, FGD Guides to be used during the survey; PowerPoint slides summarizing key/topline findings of the survey two weeks after the fieldwork survey. Topline findings should specify demographics like gender, age, location (urban/rural) and province. Should also include details on response rates, non-response, any issues encountered in interviewing, etc; Youth Situational Analysis report, which establishes a comprehensive picture of key issues to youth participation, leadership and empowerment.

The findings report should have the following: Table of contents; An executive summary detailing the key findings/results of the survey; Background explaining the objectives of the study and the target population; d. Methodology explaining how the study was conducted including the sample size and areas surveyed; The findings of the survey that are broken by specifics like gender, age, geographic sector (i.e. rural/urban or resettlement farms and mining towns), district, province, education and class and clearing showing the changes or lack of, since the baseline study; Conclusions are drawn from the results of the survey; Recommendations based on the results of the survey; Relevant appendices. The report should include graphs, charts and other visual representations of the data.

The findings report should emphasize communicating key findings and recommendations, rather than a descriptive analysis of existing literature. Copies of original and cleaned raw data sets including field notes, questionnaires, audiotapes, and transcribed material. Quantitative data should be submitted in Excel and SPSS with appropriate weighting applied, if necessary

Timeline

The study is expected to be conducted between February-March 2021. Selected researchers are expected to commence fieldwork data collection from the beginning of February 2021 and submit the final report by Early-March 2021.