Background
Skills play a critical role in pushing forward global development. They are among the building blocks of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda. Besides being explicitly address in Goal 4, skills are fundamental enablers of many other goals as they are key to unlock countries’ economic growth potential and enable decent work, end poverty, bridge inequalities, promote industrialization and innovation, support the greening of economies and build peaceful and inclusive societies.
As the recovery phase of the COVID 19 begins, skills development is one of the effective means to access decent work opportunities. Also, to make transitions from the sectors which have shrunk to the sectors which are recovering, to retain a job, to shift to another job within the same sector and to improve livelihoods - as it allows people and businesses to adapt to new economic realities.
Ethiopia continues to receive thousands of migrants returned from countries across the region and the Middle East, in response to the COVID-19 global health pandemic and other reasons such as deportation of irregular migrants. Migrants have been daily sent back to Ethiopia mainly from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to IOM, form September 2020 to January 2021, there was 1,000 returns per week from KSA, however, on 26 June 2021, the rate of returns increased to over 2,000 migrants daily as a result of an agreement between the two governments to deport 40,000 migrants in the span of two weeks.
Hence, in an effort to facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants by providing skills training through TVETs, it is important to access the capacity of TVET institutions in order to inform viable capacity building strategies to facilitate the workable reintegration of returned migrants.
The ILO works to forge policies to maximize the benefits of labour migration for all those involved. The ILO Project on Improved Labour Migration Governance in East Africa aims to strengthen the capacities of countries in East Africa to govern labour migration by using evidence-based policies, enhancing migrant workers’ qualifications and skills, and actively engaging the social partners for improved development outcomes.
To this end, the ILO country Office for Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia through the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Officer (FCDO) funded project of “Improved labour migration governance in East Africa” is seeking to hire a qualified national consultant to assess the capacity of TVETs in the regions where majority of migrants returned namely Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa.
Objective
General Objective
The general objective of this assessment is to assess the capacity of TVETs in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa in terms of skills provision, responsiveness to market needs, skills anticipation, skills certification and recognition, quality assurance of training delivery, accessibility for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. This will contribute to inform viable capacity building strategies to facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants.
Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of the assessment are to:
Mapping and profile the available TVET centers in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa
Undertake review of the capacity, needs and gaps TVETs in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa in terms of skills provision, responsiveness to market needs, skills anticipation, skills certification and recognition, quality assurance of training delivery, accessibility for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups
Assess the capacity gaps such as institutional capacity to design and deliver demand led, inclusive flexible training programmes and arrangements, available facilities, tools, library, materials to accommodate additional trainees
Review TVET centers existing mechanisms and programs targeted at integrating returnees
Based on the assessment, draw concrete recommendations that would inform policy level interventions in enabling TVETs to facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants.
Methodology
The assessment should use both primary and secondary sources, covering both qualitative and quantitative data available on TVETs in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa. A combination of methodologies will be used to ensure adequate, reliable, representative and valid data is collected for the assessment. Further to the methodology proposed below the consultant can propose additional methodology as required:
Desk review to appraise the existing evidence and analysis on TVETs in Ethiopia focusing on the regions where majority of migrants returned namely Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa.
Design data collection methodology, guided by the objectives and scope of consultancy including international guidelines and relevant framework to inform viable capacity building strategies to facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants.
Assess the existing capacity of TVETs to address migrant workers’ needs by using series of consultation, meetings, interviews, focus group discussions, etc. with Federal and Regional TVET Agency, MoLSA, TVETs, returnees, migrants, teachers/ trainers, trainees and other relevant stakeholder.
Present a summary analysis of assessment findings and recommendations including profile of TVETs in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa and how they relate to migrant workers’ needs, in particular as follows;
Map all public, non-governmental (non-profit) and private (for profit), formal and non-formal, TVETs in each region disaggregated in Zones/ Sub Cities and Weredas.
Map any programs specifically targeting return migrants
For each TVET, collect the following information, taking into consideration return migrants’ needs and their successful and sustainable labour market integration:
Address and contact of Director
Total capacity
Types of programmes (specialization, type and level of qualification, duration, number of students enrolled, fees, delivery mode: centre-based/work based)
Boarding facilities
Accessibility for accessibility for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities
Whether the provider works at full capacity or not, and if not, which programs operate under capacity
Number of teachers/trainers per specialization
Level of partnership with employers (how many employers do they collaborate with, financial arrangements under programs with workplace component (internships or apprenticeships, do employers participate in the design of programmes or standards, in final assessments)
Level of equipment per specialization
Governance arrangements (affiliation to national organization, executive board composition, advisory board composition)
Funding sources
Whether the provider already trains returnees, and if so, when, how many, post training follow up and whether particular support measures have been put in place
Type of support services provided including vocational guidance prior to training, counselling during training for people facing difficulties, post-training support including job search support, career counselling or entrepreneurship support
How programmes are established (central-level planning, autonomy over decision, own labour market assessments, demand-led by employers or donors etc.)
Whether graduates are followed through tracer studies and what general results are
What the provider sees as market opportunities in the region and why
Capacity gaps the provider identifies
What are average training durations?
Percentage of apprenticeship time
How prevalent is the practice of apprenticeship (Cooperative Learning), and in which occupations?
Do companies charge fees for apprenticeship
Apprentices job linkage
Do enterprises collaborate with TVETs to improve the quality of apprenticeship
Organize a validation workshop and finalize the report based on the feedbacks and opinions received from the stakeholders.
Deliverables
Inception report that will include a detailed methodological note explaining the understanding of the ToRs, presenting a proposed methodology, key resources/materials to be used, survey instruments, list of stakeholders for consultation, detailed work plan, mapping and profile the available TVET centers in Amhara, Oromia and Addis Ababa.
A draft report with details contextual analysis, objective, methodology on how the results were computed (i.e. estimation model if necessary) with a statement of statistical data quality and coverage, findings from the analysis of existing capacity and gaps and recommendations. The report will include a list of people interviewed for the study and provide contact details.
A copy of the full dataset (in Stata, SPSS or another system) containing the data collected.
Presentation of the report in a validation workshop.
The final report that has taken into account comments and inputs given by different stakeholders and acceptable to the ILO.
Tasks and number of working days
Submission of the inception report 2 days
Desk review and develop capacity assessment tools 3 days
Pilot testing 1 day
Data Collection 9 days
Data analysis and preparation of draft report 5 days
Presentation of the assessment in the national validation workshop 1 day
Based on comments received from the validation w/shop submit final report 2 days
Total number of working days 23 days
*23 days spread over a period from 01 September - 31 October 2021
Qualifications and experience of the consultant
An individual with the following minimum requirement**:**
Academic Qualification:
A postgraduate degree in relevant field in Education/Social Science/Research
Experience
· At least 8 years’ experience in working in Ethiopia TVET sector
· Familiarity with the reintegration of migrants
· Experience of working in the area of institutional capacity assessment and evident by publication
· Evidence of handling research using research tools and methods such as surveys, framing questionnaire, conducting FGD and interviews
· Having analytical publications or in the area of education or TVET will be preferred
· Experience of policy review, conducting stakeholder consultations and workshops
Competencies
· Excellent knowledge and skills of reading, writing and speaking in Amharic andEnglish.
· Knowledge and ability to use computer for research and report writing.
Some other expected broad competencies are:
· Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
· Must display a high standard of ethical conduct and exhibit honesty and integrity.
· Gender-sensitive behaviour and attitude.
Ownership and Disclosure of Data/Information
All documents, project data and information obtained in connection with this assignment shall be treated confidential and shall not without the written approval of ILO be made available to any third party. All the documents provided by ILO, both soft and hard copies are to be returned to ILO upon completion of the assignment. All documentation and reports written as, and as a result of this assignment or otherwise related to it shall remain the property of ILO. No part of the package shall be reproduced except with the prior, expressed and specific written permission of ILO.
Evaluation Criteria and Score
The successful candidate will have a mix of expertise and qualifications in the focus areas related to this assignment. Evaluation of the suitability of the Consultant to work on this assignment will be made against the following technical criteria:
Evaluation Criteria with maximum mark
- Expertise/Qualification
A postgraduate degree in relevant field in Education/Social Science/Research 10 points
The individual consultant should have at least 8 years’ experience in working in Ethiopia TVET sector 10 points
Conducted training for ILO/UN in similar contexts to Ethiopia is an asset. 5 points
Fluency in Amharic and English is a must. 5 points
Maximum Points 30 points
- Proposed approach to deliver the ToR’s scope of work
Applicant demonstrates (via submitted technical proposal) their expertise working as a research consultant. The technical proposal includes a realistic action/work plan. The evaluation to assess the understanding of scope, objectives and completeness of response. 40 points
Quality of the sample report suggests that the applicant(s) possess the required level of knowledge, analytical skill and ability to write the final report of the activities. 30 points
Maximum Points 70 points
Total for Both Section A (30 Points) and Section B (70 Points) 100
Minimum Acceptable Score for the Proposal to be considered for financial evaluation. 50
Recommended presentation of proposal
Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information:
· Technical Proposal, specifying the understanding of the assignment, methodology, approach, proposed work and management plan, key personnel qualifications and relevant experiences.
· Sample(s) of accredited publication(s)/reports of similar work done previously.
· Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar assignments, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references.·
. Financial proposal, The interested individual consultants are requested to provide a separate financial offer that is deliverable based AND includes ONLY professional fees related to the activity. Number of field mission dates , travel cost and daily allowance, ( activities cost will be managed by ILO)
. · Copy of a recent contract to be submitted as an evidence of daily fees offered to the candidate for similar assignment by other agency (preferably by any UN agency, Multilateral Development Bank, or bilateral donors).
The ILO promotes equal opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive employment in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
How to apply:
All interested Individual National Consultants can send questions to the ILO’s Procurement Unit in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ADDIS_PROCUREMENT@ilo.org) until 16 August 2021. Questions will be
answered and shared with the interested organizations by Close of Business on 19 August 2021.
Completed technical and financial proposals are to be submitted to ADDIS_PROCUREMENT@ilo.orgby Close of Business on 31 August 2021.