UNDP Jobs - 81151- Consultant in Vocational Education and Training

Consultant in Vocational Education and Training

Location :

Home based with 8 mission trips (32 days) to Ajara, GEORGIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Oct-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

112 days during the period of October 2018 – May 2019

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 signing of the Association Agreement (AA) with EU in June 2014 (http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-430_en.htm) earmarked a new stage of cooperation between EU and Georgia. The AA aims to deepen political and economic relations between the EU and Georgia and to gradually integrate Georgia into the EU’s internal market. This entails, as one element, creating a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Georgia.

The Article 333 of the Association Agreement (Cooperation between the Parties in the field of agriculture and rural development) provides with the clauses on ‘facilitating the mutual understanding of agricultural and rural development policies’. This is the basis for the formulation of a Rural Development Strategy for Georgia which will in turn yield specification of measures which will benefit from funding under the European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD).

A National Rural Development Strategy elaboration process has been supported by FAO and UNDP under ENPARD programme and with UNDP’s support to Ajara Government within the framework of EU supported ENPARD Programme. The Ajara Rural Development Strategy approved by Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic (March 2016) was followed by the establishment of the Rural Development Council of Ajara (hereinafter referred to as RDC).

The goal of the Rural Development Strategy for Ajara 2016-2020 is to support region’s sustainable economic development through growing and diversification of local economies, improving of social and public services, sustainable use of national resources and increasing of employment in rural areas.

The provision of vocational education and training (VET) programmes is considered as the main tool for increasing skills and employability of job seekers in the rural areas as well, At present there are no formal or institutionalized training programmes provided by the public sector in rural Ajara in connections with this, there is a strong commitment of launching agricultural VET programmes (in farming an non-farming professions) in Ajara through establishing a branch of Batumi College “Black Sea”, in Keda Municipality. The organizational and infrastructural arrangements of this work now is on progress and the project has identified the needs and is providing support for developing the capacities of the college’s new branch, building partnership with private sector and developing learning environment in rural areas.

LEPL Vocational College “Black Sea” is one of main vocational education provider in the Ajara Autonomous Republic. UNDP with assistance of various donors has supported the vocational College since 2009. The overall objective of this assistance was to develop a standards-based qualifications and training system in many professions (IT, Contraction, Tourism and Agriculture) that responds to labor market needs and provides a trained workforce to meet skill requirements in the economy. Post education surveys, performed in 2016 by Vocational College workers, reveal average employment rate of 62%.

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary objective of the consultancy is to provide technical and methodological advice to the Management of Vocational College “Black Sea” on the establishing vocational training programmes in rural areas of Ajara AR. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of National Project Manager of the “Support to Rural Development in Georgia”, Coordinator for Ajara Component and in close consultations with the UNDP Economic Development Team Leader.

The major tasks and responsibilities of the incumbent shall include, but not be limited to:

Methodological support and guidance of the college and its contractor in assessment of Ajara AR labor market demand in rural Ajara (Khelvachauri, Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo Municipalities) - identification of market demanded courses (farm and non-farm):
- Methodology elaboration for labor Market Study in rural Ajara;
- Coaching the college and contractor on Labor Market survey;
- Feedback on analysis of the study.
Guidance in elaborating of college’s development plan;
Support to the College in identification of Employers and their readiness for hosting vocational skills-based learning programs;
Support to College in planning of outreach and promotion of the vocational training programmes;
Support in development of teachers training activities in line with on-job (practice-based) learning programs’ requirements;
Support in planning and implementation of short-term vocational programs in accordance with labor market demand;
Support in designing at least new 3 vocational training programs is accordance with National Vocational Qualifications Framework;
Support in Introducing activities for mutual learning and quality improvement between VET Colleges (peer learning);
Support in improving the supply and relevance of educational materials for teachers.

Deliverables:

Methodology for labour Market Study in rural Ajara developed; Black Sea College development plan elaborated: due in October-November 2018; 25% of total amount;
Report on priority professions identified (non-farm sector in rural areas): due in December 2018; 25% of the total amount;
New vocational educational programs developed in accordance to the labour market demand; educational materials for new programs developed/improved: due in January-February 2018; 25% of the total amount;
Report on technical assistance provided to college on employers and their readiness for hosting practical skills-based learning programs including a list of teachers training activities in line with on-job (practice-based) learning programs requirements: due in March-April 2019; 20% of the total amount;
Report on technical support to College in planning of outreach and promotion of the vocational programmes: due in May 2019; 5% of the total amount.

The Consultant will be requested to provide Mission Reports on the tasks accomplished in English Language; Elaborated deliverables shall be produced in Georgian language.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Shares knowledge and experience;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of program, managing data, reporting;
Strong communication skills;
IT competencies in Word, Excel, Power Point and internet.

Leadership and Self-Management:

Focuses on result for the client and responses positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in economic, social science, education management, policy analysis, public administration or related fields (minimum requirement: 5 points);

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of vocational education and training in Georgia; (minimum requirement: 7 years - 8 points; more than 7 years and more - additional 7 points);
At least 5 years of experience in VET curriculum development, VET teaching/learning materials development, design, monitoring and evaluation as well as training VET curriculum experts (minimum requirement: 5 years - 10 points; more than 5 years - additional 5 points);
At least 3 years of experience in international development projects, especially in developing and evaluating VET programmes (minimum requirement: 5 points);
Knowledge of the country specific social-economic context, farm and non-farm sector as well as prior experience in providing technical assistance within a comparable transition context would be a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in Georgian is a must
Fluency in English is an asset.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis against combination of technical and financial criteria. Technical evaluation stage encompasses desk review and interview of applications. Experts not meeting any of minimum technical qualification requirements will be automatically excluded from the list of candidates for further technical evaluation. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 points (70%) and for financial criteria 30 (30%). Technical criteria composed of desk review (40 points) and interview (30 points). Offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores of the desk review (i.e. 40 x 70% = 28 points as a result of a desk review of applications will be invited for the interview. Those offerors who pass 70% of maximum obtainable scores for interviews (i.e. 30x 70% = 21 points) will be considered as short-listed offerors and requested to provide financial proposals.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum. Payments are based upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In order, to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.