Consultancy (Research / Academic) Firm to Conduct A Youth Forecast Exercise

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RECRUITMENT OF A CONSULTANCY (RESEARCH/ ACADEMIC INSTITUTION)FIRMTOCONDUCTAYOUTHFORECASTEXERCISEContractType:Consultantfirm,researchinstitution/academicstoconduct aYouthforecast exerciseDutyStationRwandaTypeofcontractConsultancyfirm(bothnationalandinternational),researchinstitution/academicsLanguagesRequired:EnglishDurationofAssignment40workingdaysExpectedstartingdateandtimingMarch- April20261.BACKGROUNDANDCONTEXTYoung people today are navigating an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global landscape. The world is undergoing profound transformations driven by technologicalinnovation, climate change, shifting economic paradigms,and geopolitical instability. Multipleoverlapping crises and transformation — from pandemics and conflicts to environmental degradation and economic uncertainty to emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence — are redefining the future of work, education, and civic engagement and reshapingindustriesandsocietiesatapacethatoftenoutstripsthecapacityofinstitutionsto adapt. While these changes offer unprecedented opportunities, they also pose significant challenges for youth, especially in terms of skills readiness, social inclusion, and access to dignified livelihoods. In this context,understanding the aspirations,concerns,and capacities ofyoungpeoplebecomesnotonlyurgentbutessentialforbuildingresilientandfuture-ready societies. Given those challenges, we must confront the reality that traditional pathways to youth empowerment employment are no longer sufficient. The rapid pace of technologicaladvancementandautomationdemandsanewapproachtoskilling,onethatisbothinnovativeand inclusive.Rwanda has a youthful population with a median age of 19, where 27.1% (3.6 million) are aged 16–30. While youth represent 65% of the population, challenges persist inunemployment,skill gaps,andlimited entrepreneurial opportunities. The unemployment ratefor youth is 21%, higher than the national average of 15%, and 25% of youth are neither in employment,education,nortraining(NEET).Ruralyouthfacegreaterchallenges,withhigher unemployment and fewer opportunities compared to urban peers. Many young people remaininlow-productivityagriculture,with46%engagedinagriculture-relatedsectors, especially in rural areas. Youth also lack technical and soft skills aligned with labor market demands in sectors like ICT, tourism, and manufacturing, exacerbating employment challenges. Gender disparities further affect youth, with young women facing higher unemployment and NEET rates than men. Vulnerable youth, including rural youth, young women, and youth with disabilities, face unique and intersecting challenges that limit their full participation in social and economic life. Rural youth lack access to education, training, and skilling programs and are disproportionately engaged in subsistence agriculture. Young women experience structural barriers, including limited access to finance, entrepreneurial opportunities, and persistent gender inequalities in employment sectors. Youth with disabilities, representing 2% of the youth population, encounter significant barriers in employment and education due to limited accessibility, employer biases, and lack of accommodations. Their unemployment rate is nearly twice as high as that of young people without disabilities. Additionally, limited access to accurate and timely information on education, employment, and skilling opportunities further marginalizes vulnerable youth, leaving them unable to take advantage of existing programs or resources. These challenges demand tailored programs to bridge gaps and ensure inclusiveness. Health and well-being issues,suchaslimitedaccesstosexualandreproductivehealthservices,riskysexualbehavior, and a rise in adolescent pregnancies, compound youth challenges. Only 13.6% of health facilities offer youth-friendly services, and modern contraceptive prevalence is significantly low among adolescents (33%). HIV prevalence among youth is also concerning, with rising new infections among adolescents.YouthareatthecoreoftheRwandaNationaldevelopmentagenda.TheNationalStrategyfor Transformation (NST2) aims to create 1.25 million Jobs (250,000 annually). As per NST2, this will be achieved by enhancing entrepreneurship and improving access to resources (such as finance, business advisory services, and equipment) for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) with strong job creation potential. Key sectors will include agro- processing, service sector jobs such as global business services (GBS), tech start-ups and the creative industry. Special focus will also be placed on employment initiatives for youth and women, leveraging on community-based approaches in infrastructure, environmental protection and agricultural extension programs’’. Emphasis will also be put on skills development through workplace learning, employability skills for youth, and strengthened labourmarketsystemsthroughinitiativessuchasinternships,apprenticeshipsandre-skilling programs. Finally,anotherpriority is toaccelerate the transformationtowards a knowledge- based economy through major investments in digital literacy, equipping the Rwandan population with the necessary skills to fully benefit from digital transformation and prepare theyouthforfuturejobs.‘’TodevelopskillsfortheICTsectorandpreparetheyouthforfuture jobs,1millioncoderswillbetrained,and500,000peoplewillbeequippedwithadvancedICT skills.’’ It is within that framework that this assignment aims to conduct a Youth forecast exercisetoanticipatefuturetrends,challenges,andopportunities thatmaysharethelivesof young people in the coming years.2.OBJECTIVE,SCOPEOFWORKANDRESPONSIBILITIESObjectiveTheobjectiveofthisforecastexerciseistoanticipateemergingtrends,risks,and opportunitiesthatwillshapethelivesofyoungRwandansoverthenext5–10years.Byengagingdiversestakeholdersandusingforesightmethodologies,theexercisewillgenerateinsightstoinform strategic planning, program design, and policy development. It will help ensure that youth- focused initiatives—particularly in employment, skilling, entrepreneurship, mental and SR Health—arenotonlyresponsivetotoday’srealitiesbutarealsoresilientandforward-looking. Ultimately, the exercise seeks to support Rwanda’s ambition to build a knowledge-based, inclusive economy in which all young people are equipped to thrive.ScopeThisyouthforecastexercisewillexplorethefutureofyouthdevelopmentinRwandawithina 5–10-yearhorizon,focusingonkeydimensionsthatimpactyoungpeoplesabilitytothrivein an increasingly dynamic and uncertain world. The exercise will take a participatory and evidence-informed approach to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities, and their implicationsforyouthpolicyandprogrammingindifferentdevelopmentsectors. (Detailed are available in the shared / attached terms of reference)<ContactsLinksUNSPSC codesEmail address:procurement.rw@undp.orgSurname:Procurement UnitLinkhttps://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/fscmUI/redwood/supplier-registration/register-supplier/register-supplier-verification?id=TUW16eK6qcr64cJBxATKMoYCOHny7FmchTkUHIA1Tf3NyDgWiZn5%2BlRu6w%3D%3DSupplier Registrationhttps://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_negotiation.cfm?nego_id=42917UNDP Procurement Notices Adhttps://procurement-notices.undp.org/sharepoint/login.cfmPlease click on this link before accessing the Negotiation Document(s) linkhttps://undp.sharepoint.com/sites/Docs-Public/Procurement/Forms/AllItems.aspx?env=Embedded&isAscending=false&FilterType1=Text&sortField=Modified&FilterField1=NegotiationNumber&FilterValue1=UNDP-RWA-00346Negotiation Document(s)https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_negotiation_dlink.cfm?nego_id=42917Direct link to Quantum NegotiationCollapse allExpand allJ-Services80000000-Management and Business Professionals and Administrative Services80110000-Human resources services80111600-Temporary personnel services80111620-Temporary human resources services

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