The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Egypt, working through the Learning Activity contractor Q2 Impact, seeks a senior-level consultant to lead the development of a study on the current state of Egyptian tourism, including contextual and background information that contributes to the draft design of a new USAID Activity on sustainable, adaptive tourism and addresses key factors influencing future tourism in Egypt including the environment, urbanization, and private sector engagement.
Estimated Start Date: 1st of November 2024
Estimated LOE: Up to 45 days

Project Background
The purpose of the Learning Activity is to provide monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) support services and build the capacity of USAID/Egypt and implementing partner (IP) staff. The objectives of these technical services and capacity building include improved use of Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA), support in implementing MEL aspects of USAID/Egypt’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and enhanced organizational effectiveness.

Position Overview
The Learning Activity seeks a senior-level consultant to lead research and guide and participate in consultations to inform the development of contextual information and recommendations for USAID activities that will contribute to developing the Egyptian tourism sector in line with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The consultant will also support in initial drafting of a new activity design concept with a focus on sustainable, experiential, and adaptive tourism. Additional cross-cutting themes to be explored are urbanization, gender, private sector engagement, and links to the environment.

Period of performance: 1st November 2024 to 15th January 2025

Level of Effort Expectations
This position is expected to have an LOE of 45 days. A brief timeline for illustrative purposes is below, but subject to change. The consultant is expected to be fully responsible and accountable for the timeline that ELA sets for receiving agreed deliverables.

Deliverables

• Desk Review of tourism in Egypt with a focus on experiential tourism
• Presentation of desk review findings to USAID design team
• Development of stakeholder consultation interview tools
• Final report of desk review and stakeholder consultations
• Illustrative Concept Note for tourism design, including Scope of Objectives

Illustrative timeline
Task Level of Effort
Work Plan that includes a methodology and timeline for the study 2 weeks
Desk review 1 month
Tools Development 2 weeks
Consultative Process, and data analysis 6 weeks
Report writing and initial findings workshop 4 to 5 weeks
Final Deliverables 2 weeks
Responsibilities

• Develop and submit a work plan outlining the full methodology of the study, including the list of desk review sources and stakeholders for consultations.
• Prepare for and attend all consultation meetings for the New Tourism Design (NTD)
• Conduct desk research and interviews with relevant stakeholders and potential partners, public figures or experts in the field.
• Ensure the delivery of a comprehensive and high-quality study on the current state of Tourism in Egypt
• Contribute to a design concept note, including the scope and objectives of a future activity design relevant to USAID Development Objectives.
• Plan and prepare (weekly) check-in and updates meetings with the Learning Activity (and) client (USAID) as needed.
• Maintain appropriate communication channels with the task team and document all communications.

Qualifications

• The candidate must possess an advanced degree in a relevant field
• Extensive experience in tourism projects in both public and private sector organizations. Experience with USAID is a plus.
• Excellent research and English writing skills
• A comprehensive understanding of Egypt’s tourism portfolio with experience in sustainable and cultural heritage tourism fields at both the national, regional and local levels.
• Familiarity with the global tourism ecosystem of international organizations such as the World Tourism Organization, UNESCO, UNDP, among others.
• Familiarity with the Egyptian Architectural and Historical wealth and the opportunities that can translate into tourism experience.
• Understanding of Egypt’s service economy and associated challenges within the tourism industry, including private sector investment, urbanization, transportation and accessibility
• Understanding of the impact of the environment and climate change on tourism is also highly valued.

Place of Performance
The SENIOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EXPERT AND RESEARCHER will work mostly and as needed in our Cairo office with potential occasional travel to other parts of Egypt as needed.

Reporting
The SENIOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EXPERT AND RESEARCHER reports to the Learning Activity Tourism Design Task Manager.