Background
Oxfam is an international confederation of 22 organizations working in over 60 countries worldwide, seeking to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice around the world. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the world, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do, Oxfam works with partners, public and private sector institutions alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty.
In Kenya, Oxfam envisions a transformed Kenyan society that challenges poverty and inequality focusing on four pillars i.e. Governance and Accountability where civil society maximizes civil society space and ensures more equitable raising and spending of financial resources at county and national level, Natural resources pillar whereby poor and marginalized communities get a fair share of natural resources and their benefits, Gender justice and women’s rights pillar which enables women gain power over their lives to participate in, and contribute to public life and Humanitarian systems strengthening pillar that works with communities and local partners to reduce the severity of future humanitarian crises on communities in Kenya. Oxfam in Kenya works in both Urban, Rural and ASAL (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands) in Kenya.
Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), particularly remain highly vulnerable to recurrent droughts and seasonal flooding. Humanitarian systems in Kenya have increasingly adopted market-based approaches such as Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and electronic vouchers (e-vouchers) to deliver humanitarian aid. These modalities rely heavily on functioning local markets and vendors to ensure efficiency, choice, and dignity for communities.
Despite their central role in the supply chain, nano and micro enterprises (NMSEs) (e.g., agricultural traders, WASH NFI providers, and small retailers providing basic commodities to households) are often excluded from anticipatory planning and lack business continuity measures. This gap undermines market resilience, weakens supply chains, and affects affordability and availability of essential goods.
Oxfam, working with Strategies for Northern Development (SND) with support from the Visa Foundation, seeks to strengthen local market systems for humanitarian action in Marsabit. By conducting a pre-crisis market assessment, this consultancy will generate evidence to design anticipatory support mechanisms and activation-ready protocols that integrate NMSEs into early warning and disaster preparedness frameworks.
This consultancy aims to:
The consultant will be expected to undertake the following tasks:
The consultant will apply a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection. This will include desk review of relevant reports and secondary data, key informant interviews with government and private sector actors, focus group discussions with SMEs and community stakeholders, and structured surveys with targeted nano/micro-SMEs. Data will be analyzed to generate baseline SME profiles and market system insights, and findings will be validated through a stakeholder workshop.
The consultant will put in place measures to ensure data collection adheres to all necessary ethics and guidelines provided by local laws on data protection and ‘Do no Harm’ standards, Oxfam safe programming and feminist principles.
|
Deliverable |
Description |
|
Inception Report |
Detailed methodology, sampling, tools, and work plan. |
|
Draft Assessment & Baseline Report |
Preliminary findings, analysis, and proposed support mechanisms, with baseline summary report with key indicators aligned to the Monitoring and Success Metrics table |
|
Validation Workshop Report |
Documentation of stakeholder inputs and recommendations. |
|
Final Report |
Market mapping and SME profiles, barriers and enablers analysis, proposed support mechanisms, and coordination/activation protocols. |
The consultancy is expected to be completed within 50 working days spread across 3 months.
Interested consultants who meet the requirements of this assignment should submit an Expression of Interest (MAXIMUM OF 5 PAGES) which should include the following:
Oxfam will deduct withholding tax from the consultancy fees in conformity with the prevailing government rates and submit the same to the Government of Kenya. The consultant will be entitled to a copy of tax submission certificate on request from Oxfam.
How to apply:
An expression of interest that clearly articulates the consultant(s) understanding of the terms of reference, methodology for executing the work including key deliverables, workplan and budget should be submitted to KPConsultancyServices@oxfam.org.uk on or before 1700 hours EAT on 6th March 2026. The email title should clearly indicated “Expression of Interest for Consultancy to undertake Pre-Crisis Market Assessment of Nano and Micro-SMEs in Marsabit County, Kenya”.
Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.
Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.
A thriving diverse Oxfam:
It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.
To do that:
Subscribe & get all related jobs notification
© 2026 Oxfam