UNDP Jobs - 16967- Career Advisory and Placement Service (CAPS) Inter

Career Advisory and Placement Service (CAPS) International Consultant

Location :

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

04-Jun-10 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Two months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 youth population in Sierra Leone is estimated at 33% of the total population, with 60% of the youth being unemployed, under-employed or working in the informal economy. This represents the highest youth unemployment in the world. School enrolment is at a dismal level with more than 70% of all children not enrolled in primary school. Many of the youths that roam the cities and rural areas were former children/youths associated with fighting forces and groups. The many years they spent directly engaged in violent conflict has not prepared them for conflict resolution in non-violent ways.

Due to a lack of livelihood opportunities for the youth, they are vulnerable to re-recruitment for criminal and violent activities. If peace is to be consolidated in Sierra Leone, then the youth must be actively engaged in renegotiating their roles in society and included in the solutions that lay the foundations for political and social stability, economic prosperity and poverty alleviation.

Sierra Leone has prepared the way for a National Youth Commission which will be central to the strategic direction of the youth employment and empowerment schemes. Capacity will be built within the National Youth Commission to deal with youth employment and empowerment. There are ongoing youth employment initiatives, but new approaches will focus on relating the current projects to employment and income generation and decent work, rather than a concentration on skills training.

The UN will foster an environment that links all skills training directly to labour market demands and initiate programmes for work with public works schemes that provide the transition from vocational training and university studies to work, through placements, internships and apprenticeships in the public and private sectors as well as in the UN and NGOs.

As contribution, UNDP will focus on using market demand as the basis for creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people. This is to be achieved through the design and implementation of labour demand and labour supply strategies that are synchronized through matching mechanisms. UNDP will work primarily with the relevant line ministries but also with all ministries to make sure that youth employment is a specific and explicit goal in all their activities. Support will be given to the private sector and other private initiatives that can create small to medium size businesses, which in turn create employment. Improving the quality of education and vocational training will make youth employable and enhance their development. UNDP will build the capacity of relevant institutions such as establishing the National Youth Commission as well as other legal and institutional frameworks that promote youth employment and empowerment.

In this connection, there is a need for an environment that links all skills trainings directly to labour market demands and initiate programmes for work with public works schemes that provide the transition from vocational training and university studies to work, through placements, internships and apprenticeships in the public and private sectors as well as in the UN and NGOs. The following initiatives will be conducted for next two years.

Three established Career Advisory and Placement Services (CAPS) at the three universities for graduates, highly-skilled youth and senior secondary scholars nationwide;

Internship and placement programmes established with government agencies and private sector: 1000 interns and placements a year.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose and Objective

The overall objective is to establish the institutional framework for the programme and foundation to initiate and implement CAPS in Sierra Leone.

The specific activities of the assignment will involve

Initiate and operationalize the CAPS at Fourah Bay College as the first pilot programme case;
Establish the institutional system of CAPS to be sustained by the FBC;
Conduct necessary skills training for CAPS staff to operate the system;
Establish the partnership with the public and private sector, international and national agencies to receive graduate youth for internship;
Build the partnership and link up MOESS and MEYS to own and operate the CAPS jointly;
Complete the model of CAPS FBC to be replicated at other two universities.

Expected Outputs

The consultants are expected to deliver the following outputs:

Established and operationalized system and structure of CAPS at Fourah Bay College to be sustained and replicated at the other universities in Sierra Leone;
Established a strong partnership with the public and private sector, international and national agencies to receive graduate youth;
Trained national staffs to operate the FBC CAPS and replicate at other universities;
Documented the process follows to establish the CAPS in Sierra Leone;

Methodology

The consultant should apply a combination of approaches such as consultations with Government Technical Partners, Donors, Private Sectors, and Universities based on:

Review of UN Joint Programme 19: Youth Development and Employment;
Review of the National Strategy 2010-2012 for Youth employment;
Review the second Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP-2).

Competencies

Demonstrated expertise and experience of training approaches, tools, and methodologies for study.
Have an extensive experience in developing successful strategies for capacity development of governance institutions especially in development contexts.
Knowledge of UNDP partnership strategies and key bilateral agencies;
Knowledge of social, political and development issues, in Sierra Leone and the region considered as an asset;
Excellent oral and written communication skills and presentation skills.
Previous experience in establishing a programme framework and foundation for strengthening the capacities of national actors.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Master’s degree in Economics, International or Public Sector Management or related field;

Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant work experience in the field of employment or/and vocational training;
Five years experiences in employment and vocational training promotion in Africa;
Ten years practical experiences in establishment and operationalization of CAPS