International Expert in Private sector and Innovation

Location: Pristina

Deadline for submitting the application: 01/12/2024

Start date: 01/02/2025

Contract type: Limited

Contract term (months): 18.00

       1. Background

In November 2023, LuxDev was mandated by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development cooperation and Foreign trade (MFA), Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, to implement the project KSV/021 – Skills for sustainable jobs in Kosovo.

The project should contribute to the economic growth of Kosovo through the modernisation and the support of the VET sector and its reforms.

The project’s focus is on:

• strengthening of initial and continuous vocational education and training systems in the relevant sectors which offer more job opportunities in the energy and ICT sectors;
• integration and economic insertion of young men and women in the relevant sectors through the provision of qualified workforce according to the private sector’s needs;
• setting up a professional retraining module for job seekers in line with current and future market needs.

       2. OBJECTIVES

Under the direct supervision of the project manager (PM), in close cooperation with the project’s team, the expert will be responsible for providing advice and guidance and to implement the activities under the Result 1 of the project.  

The expert is responsible for the operation and design of project activities, the coherence of activities, capacity development and internal and external communication.

      3. RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning and Development

• Component leader for the project Result 1;
• Provide expertise and advice for the preparation, follow-up, and evaluation of interventions related to the entrepreneurship and other domains of the project requiring private sector involvement;
• Assist in the development of a comprehensive vision and operational strategy for the project in the private sector/innovation domain;
• Identify, initiate, and provide technical support for private sector/innovation development initiatives;
• Participate in the design, implementation, and monitoring of project activities related to private sector/innovation;
• Provide the technical inputs necessary to achieve the expected results of the project;
• Collaborate with thematic experts and ensure quality assurance of project deliverables;
• Assist the drafting and review of reports, annual operational plans (AOP), financial reports, M&E reports and other regular reports;
• Contribute to the communication of the project;
• Contribute to building a national and international network of expertise;
• Collaborate with a team of technical experts, both international and national, to execute project activities effectively;
• Assist ensuring coherence between technical and financial reporting;
• Perform any other tasks as requested by the project manager in the framework of the project’s result.

Private Sector Collaboration and Innovation – grant scheme

• Strengthen cooperation between the private sector and VET schools, with a particular focus on incentivizing private sector engagement through a grant scheme;
• Support the development of the grant scheme and ensure the technical monitoring of grants provided under the project, this includes: revision of interim and final narrative/technical monitoring reports, planning follow-up calls with project partners, planning and carrying out monitoring missions to assess the quality of project implementation;
• Identify and promote sustainable partnerships between public educational institutions and private companies, emphasizing work-based learning (WBL) as part of dual education;
• Identify private companies running training centres that can collaborate effectively with the VET system and support them through evaluating their capacities; building the capacities of instructors, teachers, and school leaders to implement and monitor work-based learning opportunities; and, training the coordinator/industrial liaison officer for WBL;
• Facilitate potential operational partnerships with international or national organizations such as Business Management Organisations (BMOs), working closely with LuxDev in direct project management;
• Improve coordination between public and private sector and provide technical support for the design and formalisation of innovative public-private partnerships;
• Develop and promote innovation as well as tools facilitating and supporting innovation;
• Foster relationships with the innovation ecosystem and especially in IT;
• Support the development of innovation challenges (together with the other projects implemented by LuxDev especially the MAE/023, KSV/024 and KSV/023), hackathons, project incubations, employment fairs, etc.

Capacity Building:

• Contribute to capacity development in partner organisations that are in charge of implementing the grants and the national partners involved in the project;
• Contribute to the knowledge management on partner project experiencs (e.g: good practice and lessons learned) and proactively identify relevant topics for the project’s capitalization efforts (together with the M&E and KM Expert)

Deputy project manager:

• Collaborate with the Project manager in the planning, management and supervision of the project;
• Deputize for the PM in his absence and/or when necessary;
• Coordinate the implementation of activities as outlined in the project document, ensure day to day guidance and management of the 4 components and suggest further development of the programme activities;
• Coordinate workshops at national and sub-national level to ensure information transfer
• Contribute to the development of the Annual Work Plan (AWP) with timeframes, activities, outputs and outcomes;
• Participate in review of the work plan and budget ;
• Supervise the procurement process, including issuance of contracts and sub-contracts;
• Upon request of the PM and during his absence, efficiently manage all human resources.

4. PROFILE

• master’s degree in economic or business sciences, management, education or a related field;
• at least seven years of combined experience in VET and private sector development;
• experience in setting up business development facilities;
• working experience in development cooperation or good knowledge of international development (context, challenges, partners, functioning…);
• proven expertise in private sector development and innovation;
• strong interest in digital tools and new technologies;
• fluent with monitoring, evaluation, learning and capitalisation of projects;
• excellent spoken and written English skills.

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