TVET Consultant

  • Full-time

Company Description

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.   

EDC is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

We are looking for candidates who share EDC’s commitment and understand the importance of cultural responsiveness in today’s context.

Project Description

The USAID South Sudan Youth Empowerment Activity [USAID YEA] supports South Sudanese youth and communities to develop, promote and strengthen the skills and assets of youth, and to create an enabling environment for the youth to be productive and positively contribute to their communities.

The purpose of USAID YEA is to support and empower at-risk out-of-school youth ages 15-29 with focus on developing the basic education and foundational skills of youth, strengthening employment skills for improved livelihoods, and supporting the creation of an enabling environment for improved youth productivity.  Gain the necessary skills they need to lead productive lives, gain employment, and positively contribute to their communities with the following intended results:

  • Improved youth access to functional literacy, numeracy, soft and life skills
  • Increase youth entrepreneurial, employment, and vocational opportunities.
  • Increasing behaviour changes among youth to make positive adolescent reproductive health choices.
  • Improve social cohesion among youth and their communities.

USAID YEA is implemented through a consortium led by EDC and comprised of at least 7 national and international NGOs. It supports service delivery via over 100 community-based organizations and entities, currently in eight counties.

USAID YEA provides six to nine months training to youth on functional literacy, numeracy, soft and life skills, Be Your Own Boss entrepreneurial skills. This should be followed by a practical short agro-pastoral skills training and support to be delivered by community-based agriculture extension workers/youth trainers.

Job Description

Scope of work:

Education Development Centre (EDC) is committed to enhancing vocational and technical skills among youth to improve their employability and entrepreneurship opportunities by equipping them with in demand, key and productive skills. In line with this mission, EDC seeks to engage a national TVET Consultant to guide the process by assessing the necessary in demand skills set for the youth to be train on, profile potential TVET institutions, setup cooperation mechanism, provide technical guidance during the youth selection and training implementation, the cooperation arrangement  and evaluate Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions for possible partnership, facilitate partnership agreements, provide technical support, and with the EDC team, monitor the performance of the training programs.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this consultancy is to identify and recommend TVET institutions capable of providing relevant and high-quality in demand/market driven vocational training to youth, facilitate partnership agreements, provide ongoing technical support, and support the EDC team to monitor the performance of the TVET institutions in delivering the trainings as well as the performance of the learners.

Key functions:

Initial Assessment:

  • Conduct a comprehensive mapping and review of existing TVET institutions within the targeted region.
  • Develop criteria for assessing and selecting those TVET institutions that can be suitably engaged by EDC to implement the youth skills training of TVET institutions.
  • With the TVETs institutions and using his/her experience, assess and recommend the types of TVET trades the youth should be trained on.

Identification and profiling of available TVET Institutions:

  • Identify a list of potential TVET institutions that align with EDC's objectives.
  • Provide details of the institutions programs and training calendar(s)
  • Ensure the institutions have the necessary accreditation and recognition from relevant authorities.

Evaluation and Analysis:

  • Conduct site visits to shortlisted TVET institutions.
  • Assess the institutions' infrastructure, faculty qualifications, curriculum, training methodologies, and industry linkages.
  • Evaluate the institutions' capacity to deliver training programs that align with current industry needs and standards.

Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Engage with key stakeholders, including government bodies, industry representatives, and community organizations, to gather insights and validate findings.
  • Facilitate discussions between EDC and potential TVET partners to explore collaboration opportunities.
  • Aligning of the training delivery with the available standards of the relevant authorities.

Agreement Facilitation:

  • Develop and draft partnership agreements between EDC and the selected TVET institutions.
  • Ensure that agreements cover roles, responsibilities, deliverables, timelines, and evaluation metrics.
  • Facilitate the signing of agreements and ensure that all parties understand and agree to the terms.

Technical Support:

  • Provide ongoing technical support to the TVET institutions to ensure they meet the standards and requirements set forth in the agreements.
  • Assist the institutions in curriculum development, faculty training, and enhancement of training methodologies.
  • Offer guidance and support to the EDC team in monitoring and evaluating the partnership.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

  • Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the performance of the learners and the effectiveness of the training programs.
  • Conduct regular site visits and progress reviews to assess the implementation of the training programs.
  • Collect and analyse data on learner performance, job placement rates, and overall impact of the training.
  • Prepare periodic reports summarizing the findings and providing recommendations for improvement.

Reporting:

  • Prepare a detailed report summarizing the findings and recommendations from the initial assessment.
  • Provide evaluation reports for each shortlisted and proposed institution.
  • Submit periodic progress reports on the technical support provided and the performance of the training programs.
  • Present the final report with recommendations and an evaluation matrix to EDC’s management team.

Key achievements expected in this assignment:

  1. Inception report outlining the methodology and work plan.
  2. Comprehensive list of identified TVET institutions with initial assessments.
  3. Detailed evaluation reports for each shortlisted institution.
  4. Draft and finalized partnership agreements with selected TVET institutions.
  5. Regular progress reports on technical support and monitoring activities.
  6. Final report with recommendations and an evaluation matrix.
  7. Presentation of findings and recommendations to EDC’s management team.

Qualifications

     Advanced degree in Education, Vocational Training, or a related field.

  • At least 5 years of experience in the TVET sector, with a focus on institutional assessment, capacity building, and partnership facilitation.
  • Proven experience in conducting evaluations and assessments of educational institutions including setting up of partnership and agreements.
  • Strong understanding of the vocational training landscape and industry/market needs.
  • Excellent analytical, report writing, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to work independently and engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
  • Very good social skills and coaching attitude for team.

Additional Information

Language:

Advanced proficiency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of and proficiency in at least two local languages spoken in the specific County is highly preferred.

Application Instructions:

Job closing date: 27th September 2024

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit the Careers Page at: https://go.edc.org/SouthSudanJobs

Or only if technical difficulties occur, applicants may send their resumes to: usaidyearecruitment@edc.org, listing “Job Title- TVET Consultant YEA South Sudan” in the Subject Line.

Or hand delivery applications, enclosed in an envelope to Afex Security Reception to the attention of Basic Education Specialist, Education Development Center, (EDC), USAID Youth Empowerment Activity. Indicate on the envelope the position applied for.       Or hand deliver applications, enclosed in an envelope to the attention of The Chief of Party, Education Development Center, (EDC), USAID Youth Empowerment Activity. Indicate on the envelope the position /County applied for.

Applications will be progressively reviewed as they are received. Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified. No phone calls, please.

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Note: EDC doesn’t solicit for money from applicants at any level of the recruitment & selection process.