ABOUT CESTRAR

Introduction

CESTRAR (Rwanda Workers’ Trade Union Confederation) is the most influential National Centre in Rwanda with 17 affiliated Rwandan Trade Unions, with a progressive membership of more than 300,000 workers in different working sectors across the country.

By its own nature and constitution, CESTRAR is an inclusive and non-political organization that only represents and organizes members according to their professions and believes that they should be given the same rights and opportunities regardless of political affiliation, gender, age, disability, religion, etc.

CESTRAR is governed by the National Trade Union Congress, the National Trade Union Council and the National Executive Committee. The National Executive Committee is responsible of the implementation of the decisions taken by the Congress and the General Trade Union Council as well as the representation of CESTRAR at all levels.

1. CESTRAR main objectives:

1.1. Improving socio-economic conditions of workers in Rwanda.

1.2 Promoting solidarity among workers and involving them in trade union activities.

2. Vision

CESTRAR, as a professional organization of workers, fights for social justice and an equitable redistribution of the national wealth without discrimination.

3. Mission

Our mission is to strengthen unions and provide a unified voice for all workers. We are committed to defending human and trade union rights, creating a healthy and safe working environment, fighting against exploitation and discrimination, promoting decent work and social protection for all.

4. Values

Solidarity: Workers and trade unionists in particular should work in solidarity and be able to constitute a strong force to achieve vision and mission of CESTRAR.

Commitment: unionists must be committed and engaged to the mission, vision, values, culture and principles of CESTRAR.

Loyalty: Unionist must remain faithful to their commitments, rules, and regulations of CESTRAR

Transparency: CESTRAR and affiliated unions are accountable to their members

CONTEXT

The formal economy refers to economic activities that are officially recognized, regulated, and monitored by government authorities. It includes businesses, enterprises, and workers that operate within legal frameworks and comply with taxation, labor, and other regulations.

This sector represents a significant sector of economic activity in Rwanda, yet challenges persist in ensuring that workers have access to decent work opportunities, fair wages, social protection, and safe working conditions. It refers to economic activities that are not officially recognized, regulated, or monitored by government authorities. It includes a wide range of unregistered, unregulated, and often cash-based transactions.

The informal economy comprises a significant portion of economic activity in many countries including Rwanda. According to the National Labor Survey carried out in 2022 published in March 2023, there were in total 3,209,144 persons with informal employment at main job, constituting almost 90.5 percent of total employment.

Mostly male workers (55.1 percent) held informal employment jobs however, the informal employment rate was higher among females (91.8 percent) as compared to males (89.5 percent) yet workers in this sector often face challenges in accessing decent work opportunities, social protection, and fair remuneration. Being unrolled and unregulated sector, the sector faces to many challenges to promote decent working conditions and productivity.

Recognizing the need to address these issues, CESTRAR is undertaking a project to assess decent work deficit in both Formal and Informal economic sectors to explore and propose strategies for improving working conditions through the support of ENABEL under Decent Work and Social Protection Portfolio

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

• To assess the current state of decent work deficits in construction, mining, manufacturing, and trade, including employment conditions, wages, social protection coverage, and occupational safety and health.
• To identify key challenges and barriers faced by workers in accessing decent work opportunities in above-mentioned sectors.
• To propose strategies and interventions for promoting decent work and improving conditions in assessed sectors.
• To facilitate dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and workers, towards addressing these challenges.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers, employers, and other stakeholders for addressing the identified challenges and promoting decent work in the assessed sectors.
• To propose strategies and interventions for promoting decent work and improving conditions in the construction, mining, manufacturing, and trade.

SCOPE OF WORK

• The consultancy team will assess decent work deficits in following sectors: Construction, mining, manufacturing, and trade:
• Conducting a comprehensive literature review and analysis of existing research and data on decent work deficits in construction, mining, manufacturing, and trade.
• Collecting primary data through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with workers, employers, and relevant stakeholders involved in economic sectors.
• Analyzing the collected data to identify patterns, trends, and key challenges related to decent work deficits in construction, mining, manufacturing, and trade.
• Organizing stakeholder consultations and roundtable discussions to gather input and feedback, recommendation, proposed strategies as well as interventions to improve working conditions in assessed sectors.
• Developing a report summarizing the findings and recommendations

GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE

The assignment will be performed Countrywide. However, the specific geographical scope will be determined by the inception report, which will be validated by the stakeholders.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

The assignment is expected to employ both qualitative and quantitative approaches. On the quantitative aspect, the consultant will collect relevant primary data from the sampled companies and members of tripartite constituents. The consultant will further be expected to collect and analyze other secondary sources of relevant information.

The qualitative component will draw on the understanding and perception of the key stakeholders which will also include sampled companies, employers’ and employees’ organizations as well as Government institutions relevant to the subject matter.

DELIVERABLES

The Consultant will deliver the following:

• Inception Report: This report will outline the methodology, work plan, and timeline for the project.
• Draft Report: A comprehensive draft report summarizing the findings, analysis, and proposed strategies for addressing decent work deficits in construction, mining, manufacturing and trade
• Final Report: The final report incorporating feedback received during the review process and presenting the finalized recommendations and strategies

The table below indicates key deliverables to be approved at each stage:

DURATION

The project is expected to be completed within two (2) months from the commencement date.

REPORTING

The consultant/agency responsible for implementing the project will be required to submit regular progress reports to CESTRAR SG or designated person, including updates on activities, challenges encountered, and achievements.

The final assessment report should contain the following, in English:

• Electronic and hard files with all raw and data analysis details in SPSS or other agreed format.
• Electronic copies of draft report, and electronic and hard copies of the final report, in English
• PowerPoint Presentation of Survey Process, Findings and Recommendations
• The report format should include, but is not limited to the following sections:

1. Executive summary
2. Background
3. Objectives and assessment data collection analysis survey questions
4. Pre-situational analysis methodology (to include project/survey locations, sampling design and sample size, questionnaire design and development, training, field work, data entry and processing, data analysis, limitations to the study).
5. Results to be presented in narrative, tables/graphs, matrixes, and pictures.
6. Conclusions and recommendations.
7. Annexes (to include references, definitions of key constructs, tables and figures, questionnaires, and other data collection instruments).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

Consultancy team

Team Leader

• University degree in development studies, social sciences, economics, or statistics with at least 5 years of experience in Decent Work promotion programs
• Professional facilitation skills
• Demonstrate good understanding of project evaluations.
• Provide traceable, recent, and relevant references to this task.
• Extensive experience in monitoring, evaluation and research is required.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative data entry and analysis skills and previous experience using statistical analysis software.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing in French, English and Kinyarwanda
• Excellent report writing and data management skills.
• Working experience with the Ministry of Public service and labour, Employers and Workers organizations, International Labour Organization, and any other employment related organizations would be an advantage.

Other team members

Additional to the Team Leader, the consultancy team will comprise specialists holding university degrees and qualifying for this assignment. They will oversee data collection, conduct interviews with key informants, focus group discussions and training of enumerators in their respective domains (construction, mining, manufacturing, and trade). Under team leader technical supervision, they will compile, analyze information and data collected and draft reports to feed the assignment global report.

ADEQUACY OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, PROPOSED METHODOLOGY AND WORK PLAN IN RESPONDING TO THE TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. The understanding of the Terms of Reference

The consultancy firm will interpret the Terms of Reference and indicate the proposed structure and content for each deliverable. This will serve as skeleton and an anticipation of how the consultant envisages the final report to look like. The consultant will also anticipate the expected outputs and activities to accomplish each deliverable.

2. Proposed methodological approach for each deliverable and work plan

The deliverables of the assignment complement each other to make the overall objective expected to be achieved. However, each deliverable has its specificity that needs to be addressed specifically. Therefore, the consultancy firm will be required to practically demonstrate specific approaches it will employ to accomplish each deliverable. This must indicate step by step approaches towards effective accomplishment of each deliverable.

For each deliverable, the consultancy methods will include but not limited to the following:

• Design tailored to each deliverable
• Practical steps to accomplish each deliverable
• Data collection methods and tools
• Data analysis methods and tools
• Quality assurance
• Ethical considerations

3. Work Plan

The work plan will include the following components:

• Expected deliverables
• Detailed steps to accomplish each deliverable
• Timeframe to accomplish each deliverable.

• SUBMISSION OF OFFER

The expression of interest should contain the following:

1. Technical Proposal:

• A cover letter expressing your interest in this assignment
• Technical proposal with a brief description of why you would be considered as the most suitable for the assignment, relevant expertise, and a detailed, clear methodology, your approach to complete the assignment
• CV of the Consultants
• Proof of successful completion of related assignments.

2. Financial Proposal: indicates the all-inclusive daily rate, supported by a breakdown of all costs. The costs must be in RWF and VAT inclusive.

Please submit electronically your proposal (technical & financial offer) in two separated emails and should be in PDF files to this email ONLY: cestrar@gmail.com until latest 15^th May 2024 at Midnight

Done at Kigali, on 03/05/2024

BIRABONEYE Africain

General Secretary