Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Consultant, Beirut, Lebanon, (120 days over 6 months)

Job no: 562873
Position type: Consultant
Location: Lebanon
Division/Equivalent: Amman(MENA)
School/Unit: Lebanon
Department/Office: Beirut, Lebanon
Categories: Adolescent Development

‍

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

‍

For every child, support

The COVID‐19 outbreak and Beirut port explosion on 4 August 2020 aggravated the growing socio‐economic crisis in Lebanon and had serious implications on the future of Lebanese and non‐Lebanese adolescent and youth in Lebanon, undermining access to education, basic services, nutritional needs, livelihoods opportunities, while impacting their psychological well‐being and ultimately further threatening inter‐communal coexistence. In addition, many of the children in school are not moving smoothly through the primary education system and many others are repeating or not attending on a regular basis to achieve basic learning outcomes, thus, even if they are still involved in the study, the possibility that they will leave it is high.

Multiple overlapping crises have contributed to an environment of prolonged and extreme vulnerability for children in Lebanon, with roughly 82 per cent of the country now living in multidimensional poverty (ESCWA policy brief, Sept. 2021) and over 90 percent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon living in extreme poverty (VASyR 2021). As outlined in the National Youth Policy Action Plan (2022), the recent unfortunate events that hit Lebanon have created multiple challenges for students and their families in terms of access to education, affecting the enrollment and continuity of learning pathways for thousands of children and youth and leading to an increase in dropout rates. On the other hand, and despite rapid expansion in the provision of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Lebanon, the current TVET system does not meet the personal aspirations of young people or the needs of local and regional labor markets.

Consequently and in order to address the impact of the learning crisis on students in schools and out of education, specifically for the youth and adolescent who have an advanced or higher learning level and whose learning has been impacted by the education crisis and lockdown in Lebanon, and to help deal with the dramatic increase in the number of out of school children in Lebanon and the impact of the deteriorating economic situation on both public and private schools, UNICEF Lebanon have developed a new innovative education approach to support the education sector through a flexible education pathway. It is a whole‐system approach, using multiple and flexible pathways to increase equitable access to high quality education for out‐of‐school children.

Based on the above, the TVET National Consultant position will continue the work on the UNICEF TVET program kicked off with TVET Directorate (MEHE) from 2015 to launch the finalized TVET National Strategic Framework(2023‐2027), launch and roll of 4 BT industrial curricula in TVET schools during the new academic year in TVET, keep supporting TVET Directorate in official exams, monitor schools supplies and consumables support to enable access into practical courses in TVET schools, prepare for the new TVET school year enrolling each academic year around 100.000 young people in TVET schools, design the TVET programme in new prospect project, establish public private partnerships between TVET schools and finally technically develop the TVET alternative pathway

‍

Purpose of the consultancy:

To ensure necessary technically support is available for the strengthening of the formal and non‐formal TVET system in Lebanon in alignment to the endorsed TVET MEHE AWP for 2023 and 2024 and to the strategic objectives of the new TVET National Strategic Framework (2023‐2027), the TVET consultant will support the technical work on design and implementation of main activities related to the UNICEF TVET program under the supervision of Youth and Adolescent specialist and will technically analyze and implement the different aspects of the UNICEF TVET programmes.

One of the main purposes of the consultancy is to technically design and develop an alternative TVET pathway based on accelerated training hours in TVET public and private schools to support transition from general education to TVET for adolescent aged 12 to 18 years who have recently dropped out or are at risk of dropping out from education.

The TVET pathway program will facilitate re‐entry for 10,000 out‐of‐school adolescents and youth into formal education by end of 2025 through an accelerated certified training package. For older youth, a specific skilling and employment pathways is already in place by the youth programme.

The TVET Consultant is expected to provide the needed technical expertise to ensure proper implementation of UNICEF program in TVET system through data collection, programme monitoring, quality assurance and sharing of best practices across the different 158 TVET public and 258 private schools, through the application of monitoring, researching, collecting, and analyzing technical programme information. The TVET consultant is responsible for supporting technically UNICEF in developing different scenarios for supporting TVET Directorate during the academic year of 2023‐2024 where around 100.000 young people are enrolled each year across Lebanon. The work assignment will cover day to day technical support to UNICEF TVET programme implementation through ensuring quality assurance mechanisms are implemented.

The TVET consultant will technically support UNICEF Lebanon Youth and Adolescent programmes with the overall design and implementation plan of the ‘TVET pathway program’ aiming to increase access into formal education, establish a general framework for a public private partnership approach in TVET through the needed support from the private sector and implementation of 3 to 4 key recommendations from the new TVET National Strategic Framework. The consultant will be responsible for guiding technically on key activities that UNICEF aims to support over the duration of the consultancy period and should agree with UNICEF before negotiating key actions regarding the overall program implementation with TVET Directorate.

Scope of Work:

5. Supporting Technically the overall implementation of UNICEF program in TVET Directorate and 158 TVET public schools: Providing technical support in organizing, managing and implementing TVET program of UNICEF with the different partners and in close cooperation with TVET Directorate. The consultant will be managing and monitoring the support. provided by UNICEF to TVET for school funds, official exams, teachers incentives, practical courses support, field visits to TVET schools and Key ministries as well as the preparation for the next academic year in TVET.
6. Access to flexible MSSC TVET Education and Learning: Designing and developing the ‘TVET pathway program’ aiming to increase access into quality education in 25 TVET public and private schools and providing technical guidance and technical recommendations on a detailed action plan for the implementation of the TVET pathway program through a pilot phase during the academic year of 2023/2024.
7. Public Private Partnership between TVET Public and Private Schools or Private sector: Establishing mechanisms for the participation of employers and workers in the various aspects of the TVET system through public private partnership to identify the needs, skills and competencies requested by the labor market to ensure their acquisition by the students and trainees in TVET schools. Strengthening partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders. This involves facilitating collaborative frameworks between public and private training providers and including employers in the design of training standards and curriculum reviews.
8. Design the TVET package in the upcoming prospect programme: Enhancing the quality and relevance of TVET. This incorporate professional development of TVET instructors/educators and making TVET provision more demand‐driven to meet the skills demand in the labor market, forming part of a larger education system with multiple pathways to encourage lifelong learning.
9. Launch of TVET National Strategic Framework (2023‐2027): Implementation of 3 to 4 key recommendations by UNICEF in cooperation with TVET Directorate from the TVET National Strategic Framework as reform activities to improve TVET system in Lebanon through leading the process for negotiation, design and planning programmes and projects related to the reform of TVET in Lebanon that could be implemented by UNICEF in cooperation with TVET Directorate during the upcoming 3 years.
10. Technically support the launch and roll out of the 4 BT curricula in 30 TVET schools in cooperation with private sector and enhance and improve the quality of education in TVET schools through capacities building programs for educators and schools directors and working on specific action plan to implement key recommendations from the TVET National  Strategic Framework in cooperation with the private sector, UN agencies and donors.

‍

How can you make a difference?

Tasks

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

‍Provide technical support for designing the TVET pathway program to support the re‐entry for 10,000 out‐of‐school adolescents and youth into formal education through a flexible education pathway by end of 2025.

The TVET pathway program will be designed from July 1 2023 to 29 September 2023 and will be technically discussed for final endorsement by TVET Directorate in order to start the pilot phase in November 2023 and the TVET consultant will be responsible for:

1. Contribute technically to the overall design of the TVET pathway program through 2 consultation workshops with UNICEF and TVET key stakeholders including TVET schools, technical meetings with schools’ directors, head of the Vocational Training Department at DGTVE, TVET Director General and concerned TVET Key stakeholders especially private sector.
2. Analyze technically good practices and lessons learned from ongoing or previous leaning pathways programs to link the TVET pathway program objectives to ongoing out of school programs of UNICEF and MEHE such as MAKANI and DIRASA by assembling information from key education stakeholders in Beirut and across different governorates.

July 2023

Provide technical support for designing the TVET pathway program to support the re‐entry for 10,000 out‐of‐school adolescents and youth into formal education through a flexible education pathway by end of 2025.

Collaborate technically with TVET Directorate and UNICEF for approving the outlines of the TVET pathway program and facilitate the overall coordination between different TVET key stakeholders for discussing the pilot phase of the TVET pathway program in TVET schools/Hubs: A detailed action plan for the implementation of the TVET pathway program in a pilot phase should be submitted to UNICEF and TVET Directorate in August 2023 based on the recommendations of the 2 consultation workshops.

1. Contribute to the launch of the TVET National Strategic Framework (2023‐2027) under the patronage of MEHE and identify technically key 3 recommendations to be implemented by UNICEF to reform and strength the Lebanese TVET system.
2. Develop a document identifying the different scenarios for operating 158 TVET public schools allowing around 65.000 young people to access schools during the next school year in TVET based on an assessment and analyze conducted with TVET Directorate and advise UNICEF on a the most efficient support to be provided for operating schools and supporting young people and educators starting October 2023.
3. Contribute technically to the accreditation of 8 NFE curricula developed by UNICEF and ILO in cooperation with TVET educators and under the supervision of TVET Directorate to ensure that the NFE package is accredited.

August 2023

Public Private Partnerships between TVET Public and Private Schools

a)The framework for establishing partnerships between public and private TVET schools will be finalized by end of October 2023 and the consultant will be responsible for:

1.Facilitate technically 2 workshops between 3 TVET public schools/Hubs and 3 TVET private schools to kick off technical discussions to enhance collaboration between TVET public schools and TVET private schools through focusing on quality education, TVET teachers’ capacities buildings, and exchange of best practices and resources such as exchange of curricula, knowledge and best practices to support and strengthen TVET public schools

b) 3 TVET public schools/hub and 3 TVET private schools will implement key recommendations from the public private partnership framework designed starting November 2023 to kick off the partnerships between private and public TVET schools in close cooperation with TVET Directorate, UNICEF and key private sector companies.September 2023TVET National Strategic Framework (2024‐2028) key recommendations implementation and roll out of 4 BT industrial curricula during the new academic year in TVET.

1. Responsible for guiding technically UNICEF, TVET Directorate and private sector on the implementation of 3 to 4 key recommendations related to the TVET National Strategic Framework (2024‐2028) to scale up the recommendations implementation in TVET public schools in parallel to the work related to the scale up of 4 BT curricula developed and endorsed in 2023, accreditation of the UNICEF NFE program in cooperation with TVET experts at TVET Directorate and participate in the development of an action plan to implement key recommendations from the new TVET strategy.
2. Support the development of high‐quality progress & utilization reports for donors and key audiences around TVET (Formal and Non Formal ) and facilitate partnership and collaboration with internal and external counterparts, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate best practices, lessons learnt and innovations aroundTVET and to effectively report on the work outcomes in the TVET system.

October 2023

Kick off the TVET pathway program to support access into formal education through a flexible education pathway in a pilot phase in 5 TVET schools ( 3 public and 2 private )Support technically the pilot phase in 5 TVET schools for the kickoff of the TVET pathway program in collaboration with UNICEF partners and TVET Directorate and assess the progress made during the pilot phase as well as the challenges faced.November 2023Identify technically the needs as well as the priorities in the TVET sector ( Formal and Non Formal ) for the year of 2024.Support technically the development of a road map to identify the needs to strength and reform the TVET sector in Lebanon during 2024 (Formal and Non Formal ) through 2 consultation workshops with TVET Directorate and key TVET stakeholders: This activity will allow UNICEF to implement the new prospect project in 2024.December 2023

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A university degree in social science, education, management, international relations, finance or any other related field.
• A minimum of 05 years of relevant professional experience in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and in working with the Lebanese government and private sector.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

‍

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Extensive previous experience and work in TVET strategy implementation and technical support in Lebanon with government, syndicates, private sector, United Nations and key ministries.
• Experience in planning, strategy development in TVET associated with proven experience with government decision makers (Ministers and Director Generals) and private sector stakeholders.
• Extensive experience and familiarity in the Lebanese TVET system (Good knowledge of national education policies, MEHE and TVET Directorate rules and regulations) not less than 5 years.
• UN previous experience in TVET (Formal and Non Formal) and skills training programme is an asset
• Having previous experience and familiarity in the field of Lebanon TVET system.
• Demonstrate good level written and verbal communication skills in English, and Arabic.
• Detail‐oriented and deadline‐driven with strong organizational skills and the ability to perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities often within a limited timeframe and in education emergencies context.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

‍