Consultancy for Soap Making Training – Tsholotsho Makerspace 47 views

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Consultancy for Soap Making Training – Tsholotsho Makerspace
Project: Digital Skills 4 Youth
Location: Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe
Application Deadline: 04 April 2025
Type: Consultancy
Duration: 4 Days
Organization: Impact Hub Harare

1. Introduction

Impact Hub Harare is implementing the Digital Skills 4 Youth project, which includes the development of Makerspaces in rural communities such as Chiredzi and Tsholotsho. These centers aim to equip rural youth, particularly young women, with digital and entrepreneurship skills. A core component of the Tsholotsho Makerspace is a three-month skills development program, which includes a 4-day intensive training in soap making for 20 participants. This training focuses on producing soap using local, natural ingredients such as honey, goat milk, and marula, promoting both self-employment and community development.

2. Objectives of the Consultancy

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Conducting an initial needs assessment of participants’ existing knowledge.

• Developing a customized training curriculum blending theory and practice.

• Delivering engaging, hands-on training sessions, covering:

  • Basic soap-making techniques

  • Sourcing and use of locally available raw materials

  • Soap formulation, production, and safety standards

  • Branding, packaging, and marketing

  • Entrepreneurship fundamentals for small-scale soap businesses

3. Target Participants

• 20 youth participants (majority women) from Tsholotsho community

• Individuals interested in soap production and small business management

4. Training Duration & Methodology

• Duration: 4 Days

• Approach:

  • Theory-based instruction

  • Live demonstrations

  • Practical hands-on sessions

  • Group discussions and peer learning

  • Application of real-life scenarios to promote problem-solving

5. Key Content Areas

Participants will learn:

• Introduction to soap making and economic potential

• Chemistry of soap: Saponification and ingredient interaction

• Practical skills in producing soap using goat milk, honey, and marula

• Safety, hygiene, and quality control measures

• Branding, packaging, and marketing techniques

• Basics of pricing, costing, and running a soap production business

6. Expected Outcomes

By the end of the training, participants should be able to:

• Independently produce soap using natural, local ingredients

• Apply safety and hygiene practices in soap making

• Understand market readiness, branding, and business startup principles

• Explore income-generation opportunities in value-added natural products

7. Consultant Qualifications

The ideal consultant should possess:

• Minimum 3 years of hands-on experience in natural soap making

• Demonstrated experience in training, mentorship, or capacity building in cosmetics or natural products

• Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills

• Experience working with rural or youth-based projects is an added advantage

8. Reporting & Supervision

• The consultant will report directly to the Project Coordinator at Impact Hub Harare.

• A final training report and feedback summary will be required at completion.

9. Budget

The budget will cover:

• Consultancy fees (based on duration and deliverables)

• Travel expenses to and from Tsholotsho

• Additional training-related costs (if applicable)

10. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance and clarity of the proposed training methodology

• Experience and expertise in natural soap making

• Previous training track record and references

• Cost-effectiveness of the proposal

11. Conclusion

This consultancy is a key part of our mission to foster economic independence and sustainable livelihoods in rural Zimbabwe. By equipping participants with practical soap-making and business skills, we aim to support community resilience, innovation, and long-term economic empowerment.