Call for proposal: Implementing partner to facilitate self-employment for skilled persons with disabilities in Kebrebeyah and Koloji, Somali region, E

Vacancy: Call for Proposal – Implementing Partner to Facilitate Self-Employment for Skilled Persons with Disabilities in Kebrebeyah and Koloji, Somali Region, Ethiopia

Country: Ethiopia
Organization: International Labour Organization (ILO)
Closing date: 31 August 2025

Background

Ethiopia is the third-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with more than 933,000 refugees and asylum seekers from South Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea. Somali refugees are among the largest groups, many residing in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, particularly in Kebrebeyah and Koloji.

Refugees and vulnerable host communities face multiple barriers in accessing skills development, employment, and livelihoods opportunities. These challenges are even greater for persons with disabilities (PWDs), who experience exclusion from education, assistive devices, accessible infrastructure, and job opportunities.

The Government of Ethiopia has committed to an inclusive approach through the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and Refugee Proclamation No. 1110/2019, which promote inclusive access to education, jobs, and local integration.

The Partnership for Improving Prospects for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities (PROSPECTS)—funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by ILO, IFC, UNHCR, UNICEF, and the World Bank—focuses on economic inclusion, education, and protection outcomes for refugees and host communities.

Since 2022, ILO, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD), has implemented skills training for PWDs in Kebrebeyah and Koloji. A total of 178 people with disabilities completed short-term training in tailoring, furniture making, metalwork, and beauty salon services.

In the second phase, ILO seeks an implementing partner NGO to facilitate self-employment and income-generation opportunities for these trained PWDs, while also strengthening disability inclusion capacity among partners in Somali, Amhara, and Addis Ababa.

Objectives

• Support 178 trained persons with disabilities in Kebrebeyah and Koloji to transition into self-employment.
• Facilitate linkages to financial institutions and start-up opportunities.
• Build the capacity of PROSPECTS partners, government institutions, and local stakeholders on disability inclusion.

Key Tasks

The selected implementing partner will:

1. Assess the situation of trained PWD beneficiaries in coordination with Refugee and Returnee Service (RRS) and OPDs.
2. Provide refresher training and on-the-job mentoring in furniture making and beauty salon trades.
3. Deliver Business Development Services (BDS) and mentorship to 178 PWDs, including facilitation of access to start-up capital and workspaces.
4. Organize a 10-day BDS training and continuous coaching for participants.
5. Collaborate with financial service providers to design a sustainable financing model (mix of loans and grants).
6. Conduct Disability Inclusion Scorecard (DISC) assessments and deliver 5-day disability inclusion training for 150 government and partner staff.
7. Monitor and report on beneficiaries’ progress and employment outcomes.

Deliverables & Timeline (12 Months)

• Inception Report – Work plan and methodology (2 weeks after contract).
• 10-Day BDS Training for 178 PWDs (within 3 months).
• DISC Assessments & Training Report (within 4 months).
• Facilitate Workspaces & Financial Linkages (within 6 months).
• Toolkit Distribution – Disability inclusion toolkit & dissemination strategy (within 7 months).
• Comprehensive Project Report – Activities, achievements, challenges, lessons learned (within 8 months).
• Monitoring & Evaluation Report – Employment tracking of PWDs (within 10 months).

Payment Modality

• 30% upon submission of inception report
• 30% upon deliverables 2 & 3
• 30% upon deliverables 4 & 5
• 10% upon deliverables 6 & 7

Eligibility Criteria

• Legally registered NGO in Ethiopia with authorization to work with PWDs.
• Proven experience (10+ years) in livelihood projects, skills development, and disability inclusion.
• Dedicated technical experts (at least 3), including a qualified Project Coordinator.
• Strong knowledge of Somali region context and experience working with refugees and host communities.
• Experience with donor-funded projects, M&E, and capacity building.

Evaluation Criteria

• Technical Proposal (70%)
  • Relevance and depth of response (30 points)
  • Technical compliance & sustainability (40 points)
  • Qualifications of key personnel (30 points)
• Financial Proposal (30%)
  • Must include detailed costs: assessments, trainings, workshops, logistics, toolkits, monitoring.

Only proposals scoring 60+ points in technical evaluation will proceed to financial review.

How to Apply

Interested organizations should submit:

• Technical & financial proposals
• CVs of key personnel
• CSO registration certificate
• Latest audit report
• Supporting documents

📧 Send applications to: ADDIS_PROCUREMENT@ilo.org
📍 ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, UNECA Compound, Addis Ababa

Email Subject: “Call for proposal – facilitate self-employment for skilled persons with disabilities in Kebrebeyah and Koloji, Somali region, Ethiopia”

🕒 Deadline: 31 August 2025, 2:00 PM (EAT)