General Background
Artisan work is the second largest source of income in the developing world, after agriculture. This sector also shows promising growth and demand in Western markets. Date gathered from ProGres also shows that many populations of concern self-identify as artisans (i.e. in the case of Syrian crisis- approximately 15%).
Pilots in Lebanon and Egypt show proof of concept. These should be followed, and the project should be scaled to other relevant UNHCR operations. The consultant will be exploring with other operations, in order to identify the potential for similar projects in other regions.
There are over 50 million populations of concern globally today. The outflow of populations from conflict areas to host countries is unprecedented. Populations of concern require proportionate shares of a host country’s resources, including water, sanitation, education, and health care systems. As a result, public services are stretched, purchasing power reduced through high inflation, and increased competition for jobs is driving down wages. The combination of these factors leads to tensions between the two groups.
However, despite their dire situation and lack of opportunity in exile, many of the artisans seeking refuge would be able to contribute to their country of asylum if provided with appropriate opportunities. Many are educated and skilled – be it formally as professional craftsmen or artisans, or informally through, for example, embroidery work done in the seclusion of homes and families.
Within host countries, the design, arts and crafts scene may be growing, with thriving businesses and an increasing interest from both local and international customers. Often they are ready to utilize the unique skills of refugee populations to grow their own businesses. In pilot programs, UNHCR is collaborating with local designers to make the products modern and market-ready. Designers benefit by drawing on a uniquely skilled labor force that does not displace national workers. Such unique skills can be transferred to other local artisans. Established local designers are also able to help builds the artisans' capacity and skills for the long-term. This creates sustainable employment, and potentially, a whole new market of crafts products being exported from host country.
International retailers are also being identified by UNHCR for marketing the artisans’ creations. Expanding to new markets not only creates more jobs for populations of concern and locals, but also brings economic benefits for the regions where these populations are hosted. The local designers enjoy boosts in sales - invigorating the local economy - while artisans benefit by adding value to their crafts and generating regular income. By injecting income and boosting the local economy, it lets host communities and government see, in tangible terms, the value added of refugee livelihoods. In pilot projects UNHCR has partnered with private sector designers and retailers who have offered employment at decent work criteria. Other UN partnerships have been sought out as well. These will need to be nurtured and developed further. New partners will be sought out.
With support from UNHCR and partners, artisan refugees and other populations of concern could be provided with an opportunity to use and build on their existing skills and use them for income-generation to support their life in exile (and beyond), supplying the private sector with their goods. Livelihoods projects in the design, arts and crafts sector would thus not only cater for the immediate and medium-term needs by allowing them to earn an income, but they would also be a means to foster greater social cohesion and understanding between them and host communities while creating (economic) value for both groups.
Roles and responsibilities
Key activities include:
a. Build partnerships with private sector partners to connect refugees to the artisanal value chain at the national and global levels. In new field locations, create networks of refugee artisans, implementing partners, local designers and international design retailers to create inclusive value chains whereby poor artisans from both refugee and host community may earn decent wages, and local economies benefit from increased exports. Nurture and develop these partnerships in existing pilots.
b. Build partnerships with other UN agencies as well as other development actors in order to further placing refugee self-reliance and livelihoods on the development agenda.
c. Provide operational guidance to UNHCR and field partners for starting and scaling projects that facilitate refugee artisan’s inclusion into local, global, and online retail markets.
- Conduct craft sector assessments and evaluations of local retail and export potential, assessing the feasibility of a particular artisan population’s products and their viability in the marketplace. Missions will be undertaken by the consultant to assess market potential for crafts, provide recommendations as to which products to pursue, ways in which they can be tweaked (design, raw materials, etc), which local retailers to engage, and to collect photos and information (prices, prototypes).
- Apply lessons learned in pilot countries in order to effectively replicate and scale up the project.
d. Expand employment and income for artisan populations of concern as well as host community artisans, by helping connect global retailers with centers of production in host countries. Identify roadblocks and their solutions to ensure artisans can export goods to global markets.
e. Engage in partnerships with established local designers to aid in (a) design and aesthetic consultations, (b) to hire skilled refugees, (c) to act as intermediary for UNHCR and international retailers, using the skills of artisans and their own entrepreneurial talent.
f. In coordination with field offices, help identify training opportunities to populations of concern in host countries, building in the areas of design skills and access to markets where needed, increasing self-reliance. Enhance skills in craft for both refugee and host community.
More specifically, he/she will:
a. Work with designers for product development and merchandising export collections: using existing artisanal skills, overseeing the design of prototypes to show to potential retailers in close collaboration with designer partners and field staff, and exporting logistics aid (systems development and good practices to ensure artisans can export their goods to global markets).
b. Establish and continue contact with global retailers to partner on the project. These include not only mainstream retailers, but also those specifically interested in sourcing socially conscious products, as well as relevant online retailers.
c. Identify avenues for additional UNHCR staffing, expertise and prioritization at the field level specifically for the artisanal projects. Aid field office in candidate selection and hiring.
d. Guide field office to Identify refugees and other people of concern who are trained artisans, by skill and region.
Monitoring and Progress Controls
- Artisanal project expanded
- Reporting on income and employment in the artisanal sector started and enhanced in targeted countries
Qualifications and Experience
a. Education
- University degree in business, economics, development economics or any other related field.
b. Work Experience
- 8-10 years of work experience in the private and non-profit sector, with: relevant focus on arts/crafts sector, proven project management experience, experience with business strategy development (strategic management) and preferably with market entry strategy.
- Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management, and developing key strategic partnerships with private sector and development partners, and with refugees and other populations of concern and intermediaries in value chains.
- Demonstrated experience as a Livelihoods Practitioner. Experience in conducting market assessments and value chain analysis with results in a market-oriented approach to employment for poorer and/or marginalized communities.
c. Key Competencies
- Excellent knowledge of the design and arts/crafts scene, including relevant private sector companies, UN development agencies and NGOs. Clear focus on product development and design and business and marketing aspect of home décor and design goods.
- Strong communications skills demonstrated by proven experience in writing and/or photography and/or film related to the artisan and design sector.
- Good knowledge of Public-Private partnerships specifically of private sector companies engaging in sourcing from poor communities (inclusive value chains, inclusive business, shared value).
- Excellent interpersonal, networking and analytical skills.
- Advanced English skills, written and spoken.
- Knowledge of spoken and written French and Arabic an advantage.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should send CVs and cover letters to livelihoods@unhcr.org by 6 January 2016.
