The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Egypt, working through the Learning Activity contractor Q2 Impact, is seeking to hire a consultant to support research and consultations to develop contextual and background information in support of activity design to support tourism in Egypt.
Estimated Start Date: 1st of November 2024
Estimated LOE: Up to 45days

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 consultant to support research and the development of contextual information on Egypt’s tourism sector. 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-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 the Learning Activity sets for receiving agreed deliverables.

Deliverables

• Desk Review of tourism in Egypt with a focus on experiential and sustainable 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

• Support the development of a work plan that informs the study methodology
• 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
• Compile interviews and meeting minutes of all consultations and support generating all required final documents for the tourism design
• Contribute to final deliverables

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.
• 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.
• Understanding of Egypt’s service economy and associated challenges within the tourism industry, including private sector investment, urbanization, transportation, and accessibility.

Place of Performance
The DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM RESEARCH SPECIALIST will work in our Cairo office with potential occasional travel to other parts of Egypt as needed.

Reporting
The DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM RESEARCH SPECIALIST reports to the Learning Activity Tourism Design Task Manager.