National Consultant to draft National Policy on Vocational Training and Skills Development

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

As a part of the implementation of Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU), the Ministry of Labour was separated from the Ministry of Public Services and Human Resource Development.

With an aim to promote employment opportunities, the Ministry of Labour has been engaging the private sector and has organized a series of consultation meetings to this effect. Throughout these meetings, the Ministry of Labour has acknowledged the crucial role of regulatory frameworks including relevant policies to enable the labour market and develop the private sector to contribute the South Sudan’s inclusive economic growth. The Ministry of Labour came into conclusion that adequate policy and regulatory framework must be put in place to enable the effective facilitation for the private sector including potential foreign investors to create employment opportunities.

Currently, UNDP is implementing Youth Empowerment and Employment through Private Sector and Value Chain Development Project in close coordination and partnership with the Government of South Sudan, Ministry of Labour in five different areas in the country- Juba, Yambio, Torit, Bor, and Rumbek. In this regard the renovation, in some areas, establishment and operationalisation of vocational training centres (VTC) has become pivotal for enhancing employability, employment promotion and improving productivity in the country. In this connection, technical assistance to the government line agencies at national and state level will add advantage in accelerating results-based programming as well as sustainability.

Therefore, upon the request of the Government of South Sudan through the Ministry of Labour, UNDP has agreed to extend possible technical assistance to the Ministry in the following prioritized areas for policy and regulatory framework review and development:

1. Separation and Review of the Ministry’s Five Years Strategic Plan
2. Formulation of policy on Occupational Safety and Health
3. Formulation of policy on Minimum Wages
4. Formulation of Regulations on Employment
5. Review of the validated Policy on Vocational Training and Skills Development

In this context, the Ministry of Labour in partnership with UNDP South Sudan seeks to procure the services of a qualified national consultant to support an International Consultant to review and draft South Sudan’s Policy Labour Policy on technical vocational education and training for skills development

With an aim to perform above policy and regulatory framework review and development, the relevant Directorates within the Ministry of Labour will work collaboratively and leading the initiative through the Directorate of Vocational Training which is principal for technical guidance and processes for policy formulation and implementation; for the establishment & maintenance of Labour vocation training; and development of labour employment and standards and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of the Consultancy The scope of the assignment will be focused in providing technical support and guidance to the Directorate of Vocational Training in drafting the policy framework and review of South Sudan Vocational Training Policy in collaboration and assistance to the Lead International Consultant. The National Consultant will work closely with the Director General of Vocational Training and other concerned staff to this effect especially focused on facilitation and support to the Lead International Consultant. In support to and collaboration with the Lead International Consultant, National Consultant will seek to ensure that regulatory framework and respective policy on vocational training is developed consistent with the Labour Act 2017, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards in regard to vocational training and other related policies and legal framework surrounding employment, training and education in the country.

Objective of the Consultancy

The main objective of the Consultancy is to strengthen technical vocational skills development in the country to ensure a technical vocation education and training (TVET) sector that is demand driven and labour market led.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support international consultant to Prepare detail work plan in close consultation of concern focal person in the Ministry of Labour and the UNDP South Sudan

• Prepare groundwork and facilitate stakeholder consultations necessary for the review ad redrafting of the technical vocational education and training policy and the alignment of relevant existing procedures, guidelines and standards;

• Work in close collaboration with and support the Lead International Consultant in:
• Conduct desk study of policies, legal framework, and guidelines related to the development of a skilled workforce
• Review and evaluate existing validated South Sudan Policy on Vocational Training for the purpose to update, establish gaps and improvement on the policy.
• To review with a view on skills development with focus on competency-based skills for employability and, demand driven to the about market in line with the country’s development agenda
• To redraft and align the validated draft policy to other policies including education, employment, entrepreneurship
• Lead, in collaboration with the Directorate in the review, development and design of policy on vocational training appropriate to South Sudan’s labor and employment environment
• Develop an advocacy, engagement, and implementation strategy for the vocational training policy framework
• Ensure that the vocational training policy is the foundation for the procedures, rules and regulations
• Perform other related duties as may be deemed appropriate by the Directorate

Deliverables

1. Detailed work plan
2. Inception Report
3. Policy Document on review/updating of South Sudan Vocational Training including:
   • Stakeholders consultation, mapping and analysis report
   • Review and analysis of related policy and legal framework
   • Comprehensive review of the employment and education and skills training market and corresponding policy recommendation for the development of skilled workforce in South Sudan as a means to achieving the country’s development agenda, including strategy for implementation and engagement and a medium term investment plan for sustainable vocational and skills development in the country that is demand driven and labour market led.
4. A final assignment report including appendix(s) and knowledge products produced in the process of preparing the key policy document.

NB: These will be developed in close collaboration with the Lead International Consultant.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates technical competence and expertise on the subject matter
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Able to work in team environment
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent critical reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Excellent skills in the use of computer software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, clients, and external actors
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
• High degree of self-motivation and initiative
• Willingness to learn and apply new analytical approaches

Language Competencies:

• Fluency in written and spoken English as well as excellent technical writing skills and computer literacy.
• Spoken and written Arabic will be an added advantage

Academic Qualifications for the International Consultant

• Master’s degree in relevant field including education, public policy, public administration, development planning, management and administration from recognized University or institution.
• A PhD in education, particularly technical vocational education and training would be an added advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in relevant field including education, public policy, public administration, development planning, management and administration from recognized University or institution.
• A PhD in education, particularly technical vocational education and training would be an added advantage.

Experience

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience working on at least 10 years of professional experience related to labour and industrial relation as well as labour policy development and similar issues.
• Substantive and technical expertise in the areas mentioned in the criteria.
• Extensive experience of providing policy advice (including report writing) at international level

Language

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Institutional arrangements

The Consultant will work in the National Ministry of Labour, Directorate of Vocational Training Office in Juba and UNDP’s STARR Unit or any other suitable place that would be recommended by Ministry of Labour and UNDP as per COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. As and when required, he/she should visit various stakeholders in the course of undertaking the assignment.

Payment Schedule

• Detailed workplan and Inception Report 10%
• Draft Policy Document 20%
• Final and Validated Policy Document 50%
• Final Consultancy Report 20%

The available starting date and fees of the assignment which is subject to negotiation should be clearly stated in the Letter of Interest.

Technical proposal shall comprise of the following:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all prior experience with similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and three (3) professional references
• Brief description (max. 1 page) of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology (max. 1 page) for how you will approach and complete the assignment

Financial proposal: Indicating the all-inclusive, fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs.

Consultancy Evaluation Criteria Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.

Technical evaluation criteria

Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and Required Skills and Experience is outlined below:

• Qualifications of the candidate in the required area or course applied for: Master’s degree in public Policy, Business Administration, Industrial Relation, Law, Public administration or any related fields from recognized University or institution; PhD in Public policy would be preferable. (20%).
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience working on at least 10 years of professional experience related to labour and industrial relation as well as labour policy development and similar issues. (20%).
• Substantive and technical expertise in the areas mentioned in the criteria (20%).
• Extensive experience of providing policy advice (including report writing) at international level (10%).

NOTE: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation (total 30 points)

All technically qualified proposals will be scored up to 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p y (/z) Where:

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal price of the lowest priced proposal
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

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.