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. This study will provide essential contextual and background information to inform the design of a new USAID activity focused on sustainable and experiential tourism. It will also address critical factors impacting the future of tourism in Egypt, including the environment, urbanization, and private sector engagement.

Estimated Start Date: 1st December 2024
Estimated LOE: Up to 60 days

Project Background

The purpose of the USAID/Egypt Learning Activity (ELA) 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 is seeking a senior-level consultant to lead research and facilitate consultations to deepen understanding of the tourism sector in Egypt. This work will inform recommendations for a new USAID activity focused on tourism and will support the advancement of the Egyptian tourism sector in alignment with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2030.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, digitization and links to the environmental and social impacts of tourism. Together with the design team lead, the consultant shall prepare for and deliver roundtable discussions and a selected list of site visits in relation to USAID former and potential geographically relevant locations. The consultant will also guide the associated researcher as required in the literature review and desk research to accomplish the design.

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 ELA sets for receiving agreed deliverables.

Deliverables

• Desk Review report of the tourism sector in Egypt with a focus on understanding the current market trend and opportunities of improving the private sector enabling environment in the sector
• Presentation of desk review findings to USAID design team, the review shall illustrate the challenges and key opportunities in the sector as well as current priority areas of the GoE
• Stakeholder mapping showing the existing stakeholders of the tourism sector, main private sector players,NGOs and private foundations, in addition to other entities such as tourism councils and authorities or relevant chambers and key individuals; this shall, also, include international donors and organizations or/and archeological missions in Egypt
• Development of stakeholder consultation interview tools as well as consultative workshops and roundtable discussions with key stakeholders
• Prepare and deliver site visits to various destinations in Egypt in relation to the work of USAID
• Final report of desk review and stakeholder consultations
• Concept Note for a new USAID activity focusing on tourism, 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 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,potential partners, public figures and/or experts in the field.
• Ensure the delivery of a comprehensive and high-quality study on the current state of Tourism in Egypt with a focus on enhancing the private sector enabling environment in the sector.
• Develop a design concept note, including the scope and objectives of a future activity design relevant to USAID/Egypt Development Objectives.
• Plan and prepare (weekly) check-in and update meetings with the Learning Activity (and) Tourism Design Team lead as needed.
• Maintain appropriate communication channels with the task team and document all communications.
• Finalize and deliver the required Sustainable Tourism Design document for the USAID mission in Egypt.

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 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.
• Familiarity with Egyptian architectural and historical wealth in order to translate those opportunities into tourism experiences.

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