Consultancy for Community Support and Waste-Based Handicraft Development

GREEN HURGHADA PROJECT

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy for Community Support and Waste-Based Handicraft Development

 

 

Project	(Green Hurghada Project), Egypt
Contract Type	Individual consultant
Duty Station	Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate,
Duration	Twelve months, potential extension subject to performance satisfaction
Expected Start Date	August 2026
Expected End Date	July 2027

 

1. Background

The Green Hurghada Project seeks to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and pressures on biodiversity by promoting sustainable tourism, resource efficiency, circular-economy practices, green investment and improved management of marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems in Hurghada and the northern Red Sea. The project is implemented by UNIDO in partnership with the Ministry of Local Development and Environment, with the participation of the Red Sea Governorate, tourism-sector stakeholders, local communities and other partners.

Hurghada generates diverse waste streams that can be reused as inputs for locally produced handicrafts. These include agricultural residues; selected, safely collected fisheries by-products; and textile waste from hotels, such as used linen, towels, curtains, staff uniforms and other fabric off-cuts. At present, the potential of these materials to support community livelihoods, women and youth, local identity and waste reduction is not fully developed.

The Project therefore intends to engage a qualified consultant to design and implement a practical community-support programme that converts suitable waste materials into marketable handicrafts while applying health, safety, environmental and ethical safeguards.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to establish and support a community-based waste-to-handicrafts initiative in Hurghada that strengthens skills and livelihoods, reduces waste sent to disposal, and creates environmentally responsible products that can be linked to the local tourism market.

3. Specific Objectives

• Identify viable community groups, artisans, women and youth who can participate in the programme.
• Map available waste materials and establish practical arrangements for their safe collection, sorting, cleaning, storage and reuse.
• Develop attractive, durable and market-oriented handicraft products using selected agricultural, fisheries and hotel textile waste.
• Build participants’ technical, design, business, quality-control and occupational health and safety capacities.
• Create partnerships with hotels, tourism businesses, waste generators, local associations, retailers and relevant public entities.
• Pilot production and market testing and provide a practical model for continuation after the consultancy period.

4. Scope of Work

4.1 Inception, Stakeholder Mapping and Needs Assessment

• Review relevant project documents, prior community initiatives and available studies on waste generation, circular economy, local crafts and sustainable tourism.
• Map relevant stakeholders, including community-based organizations, women’s groups, youth groups, artisans, hotels, fisheries actors, agricultural suppliers, waste-management entities, training institutions and possible buyers.
• Assess the skills, interests, constraints and support needs of potential beneficiaries, with attention to women, youth and vulnerable groups.
• Prepare an inception report with the proposed methodology, detailed schedule, target groups, coordination arrangements and monitoring indicators.

4.2 Waste Stream and Supply-Chain Assessment

• Identify quantities, seasonality, quality and accessibility of suitable agricultural residues, fisheries by-products and hotel textile waste.
• Recommend which materials may be safely reused and which must be excluded. The reuse of hazardous, contaminated or legally restricted materials shall not be permitted.
• Facilitate written or practical supply arrangements with participating hotels and other waste generators.

4.3 Product Design and Prototype Development

• Develop a portfolio of handicraft concepts that reflects Hurghada and Red Sea cultural and environmental identity.
• Produce prototypes using materials such as fabric off-cuts, linen, uniforms, selected plant fibres, palm residues, fishery by-products only where their collection and use are legal, safe, sustainable and non-detrimental to biodiversity.
• Ensure products are functional, aesthetically appealing, durable, easy to reproduce and appropriate for sale through hotels, gift shops, exhibitions, online channels and local markets.
• Develop quality specifications, costing sheets, production instructions, packaging concepts and environmental messages for each selected product line.
• Avoid products that encourage the collection or trade of protected species, coral, live shells or other ecologically sensitive materials.

4.4 Capacity Building and Mentoring

• Design and deliver hands-on training on material preparation, handicraft techniques, product design, finishing, quality control and safe tool use.
• Provide training in basic entrepreneurship, costing, pricing, record keeping, inventory management, branding, packaging, customer service and market access.
• Provide coaching and follow-up mentoring during pilot production.
• Prepare simple Arabic training materials and illustrated production guides that can continue to be used by participants.

4.5 Market Linkages and Pilot Implementation

• Assess potential demand from hotels, tourism operators, conference organizers, gift shops, public institutions and online buyers.
• Support the selection of a practical brand identity and product story emphasizing waste reduction, local livelihoods and Red Sea conservation.
• Organize product testing with potential buyers and incorporate feedback into final designs.
• Facilitate at least one pilot production cycle and one public or tourism-sector product showcase.
• Prepare a market-entry and sustainability plan covering production organization, material supply, sales channels, revenue management and future support needs.

4.6 Monitoring, Documentation and Handover

• Maintain beneficiary records and sex- and age-disaggregated participation data.
• Track materials recovered or reused, products developed, products produced and sold, income generated where applicable, and partnerships established.
• Document lessons, constraints, success stories and recommendations for replication.
• Submit all designs, guides, databases, photographs, training materials and other outputs to the Project Management Unit in editable and final formats.
• Conduct a final handover and validation meeting with the Project Management Unit and relevant partners.

5. Expected Deliverables and Indicative Schedule

No.	Deliverable	Main Contents	Indicative Due Date	Suggested Payment
1	Inception Report	Methodology, stakeholder map, beneficiary-selection approach, detailed work plan, indicators and risk-management approach	Within 3 weeks of contract signature	20%
2	Waste and Community Assessment Report	Waste-stream mapping, supply-chain options, community needs assessment, safeguards and selection of target groups	End of Month 2	15%
3	Product Design and Training Package	Product concepts, prototypes, specifications, costing sheets, training curriculum and Arabic materials	End of Month 4	20%
4	Training and Pilot Production Progress Report	Training delivered, attendance, mentoring records, refined prototypes and initial production results	End of Month 7	20%
5	Market Linkage and Showcase Report	Buyer consultations, market testing, branding/packaging, showcase results and partnership arrangements	End of Month 10	15%
6	Final Report and Sustainability Plan	Final results, indicators, product catalogue, business/sustainability plan, lessons learned and full handover package	End of Month 12	10%

Note: The final payment schedule may be adjusted during contracting. Payments shall be linked to the satisfactory completion and written acceptance of deliverables by the Project Management Unit.

6. Duration, Level of Effort and Duty Station

The consultancy will be implemented over twelve months, from  August 2026 to  July 2027. The consultant shall propose the level of effort required to deliver the assignment. The duty station will be Hurghada, with regular field presence and travel to participating communities, hotels, waste-generation sites, workshops and markets as required.

7. Institutional and Reporting Arrangements

• The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Green Hurghada Project Manager and in coordination with designated technical staff and relevant government and community partners.
• The consultant shall maintain regular communication with the Project Management Unit and participate in coordination meetings as requested.
• Deliverables shall be submitted in English, with beneficiary-facing training materials and practical guides in Arabic. Key reports may be requested in both languages.
• No public communication, publication, use of project logos or representation of the project may take place without prior written approval.

8. Required Qualifications and Experience

8.1 Education

• University degree in community development, design, applied arts, handicrafts, circular economy, business development or a related field.
• Relevant professional certification or substantial demonstrated practical experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

8.2 Professional Experience

• At least seven years of relevant professional experience in community development, handicraft production, artisan support, livelihood development, product design or circular-economy initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in transforming waste or secondary materials into marketable products.
• Experience working with women, youth, local associations, artisans or vulnerable communities.
• Experience in training, mentoring, small-enterprise development, costing, branding and market linkage.
• Knowledge of occupational health and safety, environmental safeguards and responsible material sourcing.
• Experience in the tourism sector, Red Sea Governorate or similar coastal destinations is an advantage.
• Strong communication, facilitation, documentation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Fluency in Arabic and good working knowledge of English.

8.3 Team or Service Provider Applications

A consultancy firm, NGO, social enterprise, design studio or qualified team may apply. The proposal must identify a lead consultant and any supporting experts, describe their respective roles, and provide evidence of legal status where applicable.

9. Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested applicants shall submit the following documents:

• A current curriculum vitae of the individual consultant, or an organizational profile with the CVs of the proposed lead consultant and key team members.
• A brief technical proposal describing the applicant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, work plan, community-engagement approach, waste-safety approach and expected level of effort.
• Examples or photographs of relevant previous work, product portfolios, training assignments or similar community initiatives.
• Contact details for at least two professional references or clients.
• A financial proposal presented as a fixed total amount, with a clear breakdown of professional fees, travel, accommodation, training materials, prototype development, workshops, communication, taxes and any other anticipated costs.
• A declaration of availability for the proposed period and confirmation that the applicant has no conflict of interest.

10. Evaluation Criteria

Criterion	Description	Weight
Relevant qualifications and experience	Education, years and relevance of experience, community engagement and waste-based handicraft expertise	25%
Technical approach and methodology	Understanding of the assignment, feasibility, safeguards, gender responsiveness and proposed implementation approach	30%
Relevant portfolio and references	Quality and relevance of previous assignments and demonstrated products/results	15%
Work plan and availability	Realistic schedule, field presence and ability to start in August 2026	10%
Financial proposal	Value for money, completeness and reasonableness of the cost breakdown	20%

11. Confidentiality and Ownership of Outputs

All reports, designs, catalogues, databases, photographs, training materials and other outputs prepared under this consultancy shall be treated as project property and may not be shared or used for other purposes without prior written authorization. The consultant shall maintain the confidentiality of personal, commercial and project information obtained during the assignment.

12. Application Deadline and Submission Method

• Application
• Bidders must submit their proposals in two parts: a Technical Proposal and a Financial Proposal.
• The Technical Proposal must include:
• Detailed information about the bidder’s qualifications for the consultancy, including CVs of the proposed team members, company background, references of previous relevant assignments, and any other supporting material.
• A description of the proposed methodology, technical solutions, implementation plan, and expected deliverables.
• The Technical Proposal must be no more than 30 pages, excluding annexes (e.g., CVs, reference letters, and project references).
• The Financial Proposal must:
• Be presented as a lump sum in EGP.
• Include a detailed cost breakdown by expert, task, and activity, incorporating person-day rates, operational expenses, travel costs, and all applicable taxes.
• Proposals must be submitted electronically in two separate files (one for the Technical Proposal and one for the Financial Proposal), by [16^th of August 2026] to the following e-mail addresses: Yousria.Hamed@greenhurghada.org ; recruitment@ouda.org.eg
• Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

13. Annex: Minimum Contents of the Financial Proposal

• Professional fees by consultant/team member and level of effort.
• Local travel, accommodation and field expenses.
• Prototype and sample-production costs.
• Branding, packaging, photography, showcase and communication costs.
• Taxes and statutory charges.
• Any assumptions, exclusions or reimbursable items.