UNDP Jobs - 54042- Weaving/Textile Specialist

Weaving/Textile Specialist

Location :

Yangon with travel to other regions, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The UNDP Myanmar country programme, as part of its ‘Pillar 1’ Local Governance programme, includes under its Output 4 (Strengthened institutional capacity of institutions to support sustainable livelihoods and reintegration programs) activities targeted to enhance institutional capacity to create employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.

One notable vocational training institution is the 100-year old Saunder Weaving School located in Amarapura Township in Mandalay Region. Weavings from Amarapura have a long history of being of high quality and the school enjoyed many years as a great vocational school producing high quality students. Now approaching its anniversary, the school’s importance and relevance to the region and the weaving sector overall has waned, as its infrastructure, machines and techniques have all become outdated.

The Small Scale Industries Department (SSID) in the Ministry of Co-Operatives developed a plan to upgrade the school to become the Saunder Weaving and Training Institution to include both weaving and training in other vocational sectors.

On the request of SSID, UNDP commissioned an institutional capacity assessment of the school in March 2014. It was recommended that the focus should be solely on transforming the school into a Weaving Center of Excellence, to serve as the country’s core place for modern and up-to-date skills development methods in textiles and weaving, to preserve the rich culture of textiles in Myanmar, and to produce graduates of substantial capacity ready to enter various areas of the textile sector. Establishing a Weaving Centre of Excellence would be under all circumstances a comprehensive project with a variety of components, including mission refinement; institutional capacity development; infrastructure set-up, curriculum development and management reorganization, over an estimated 4-5 year period.

UNDP agreed to develop a project document as a reference for the government,that can serve as an implementation guidance and could be used to attract development partners (DPs) for support. A number of DPs (ADB, GIZ, UNESCO, ILO and SDC) are involved in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector working group, established as part of the Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR) process, launched in October 2012.

For more details, please follow the link below:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=20703.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specific tasks of the assignment are as follows. As part of the technical proposal, each consultant is required to provide a work plan of the assignment, including planned travel locations, as well as any proposed modifications to this task list. These will be subject to final review and agreement by UNDP and SSID at the start of the assignment with both consultants present.

Consultants as a Team

Desk study of relevant documentation including, but not limited to, the institutional capacity assessment of Saunder Weaving School, CESR reports, and studies on TVET institutions and the weaving/textile sector in Myanmar;
Briefing and debriefing meetings with UNDP in Yangon and continuous coordination throughout the assignment;
Briefing and debriefing meetings with Small Scale Industries Department (SSID) of Ministry of Cooperatives in Naypyitaw;
Consultations with relevant DPs involved in TVET sector working group (ADB, GIZ, UNESCO, ILO and SDC);
Visit to Saunder weaving school, meetings with management, staff, current students and, if possible, alumni; collection, review and analysis of documents;
Visit to Meiktilar and Monywa Weaving Schools to compare approaches, best practices and experiences;
Prepare the proposal and project document for establishing the Saunder Weaving Centre of Excellence with relevant annexes based on joint and respective research and analysis, including analysis of regional and international best practice in establishing Centres of Excellence in the weaving/textile sector (e.g. Huddersfield Textile Centre of Excellence in the UK) and others. The documents should also make reference to and be in line with the Employment and Skill Development Law 2013 and relevant TVET and other laws and regulations. While the documents will be prepared jointly, the management specialist as team leader will be responsible for final compilation and editing.

Weaving/Textile Specialist

Consultations with Myanmar Skills Development Agency under the Ministry of Labour;
Conduct a market assessment for vocational weaving skills by textile businesses in the Mandalay region and beyond (suggested townships: Amarapura; Meiktilar; and Monywa townships);
Conduct a market assessment for different classes of locally produced textiles, including export potential (suggested townships: Amarapura; Meiktilar; and Monywa townships);
Carry out an analysis of the type of traditional skill and weaving technologies used by various ethnic groups in Myanmar (Suggested townships: Taunggyi; Myitkyinar; and Hpa-an).
Carry out an analysis of raw material availability, (cotton, silk, lotus, and others) from local and international sources, stability of supply and price fluctuations.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Good knowledge of the natural resource management particularly lake and watershed management, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development in the region and developing countries;
Ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs from a range of disciplines related to sustainable financial mechanism for environmental conservation;
Ability to advocate and provide technical advice on the relevant sector/theme;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in education, economics, public policy, development policy or related field.
Record of continuous professional development.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of working experience and in-depth knowledge of weaving and textile sectors, familiarity with traditional weaving methods and skills;
Proven track record of curriculum development for specialized institutions of higher learning with experience in education sector issues, with specific experience in TVET policy;
Proven track record in market research and thorough understanding on market research methodology;
International experience - preferably including South East Asia, experience of working in Myanmar is an asset.

Language:

Excellent English proficiency including communication skills and report writing.