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 conduct research and facilitate consultations. This role will focus on developing contextual and background information that will eventually inform the design of new USAID activity aimed at enhancing tourism in Egypt.

Estimated Start Date: 1st December 2024
Estimated LOE: Up to 60 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 consultant to support research and collect contextual information on Egypt’s tourism sector. In consultation with the senior sustainable tourism and development expert, the consultant will also support 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 December 2024 to 31st January 2025

Level of Effort Expectations
This position is expected to have an LOE of 60 days. A brief timeline for illustrative tasks is below and 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 report of the tourism industry in Egypt with a focus on the potential for investing in experiential and sustainable tourism and improving the enabling environment for private sector engagement
• Support the senior expert in facilitating the roundtable discussions in key cities (e.g., Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea) with key stakeholders including private sector, academia, NGOs, Associations, government entities, local communities, other donors, among others to highlight tourism challenges, priorities, and potential opportunities to make the tourism sector a more competitive sector
• Support the Senior Expert in the preparation of the presentation of desk review findings to USAID design team
• Development of stakeholder consultation interview tools and support the team in preparation of roundtable discussions and meetings or events required to achieve the objective of this assignment
• Final report of desk review and stakeholder consultations
• Support the Senior Expert in the 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 1 weeks
Desk review 2 Weeks
Tools Development 2 weeks
Consultative Process, and data analysis 6 weeks
Report writing and initial findings workshop 4 weeks
Final Deliverables 1 week

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 through creation of the final tourism design requested by USAID
• Together with the Senior Expert, produce the final document required for the USAID Tourism activity

Qualifications

• The candidate must possess an advanced degree in a relevant field.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in international development projects design and work with private sector organizations. Experience with USAID is a plus.
• A comprehensive understanding of Egypt’s sustainable tourism portfolio with experience in sustainable and cultural heritage tourism fields at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Familiarity with the global tourism ecosystem of international organizations such as the World Tourism Organization, UNESCO, and 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 Tourism Design Task Manager.