TVET Pathway Development Consultant

Job no: 568080
Position type: Consultant
Location: Lebanon
Division/Equivalent: Amman(MENA)
School/Unit: Lebanon
Department/Office: Beirut, Lebanon
Categories: Adolescent Development

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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

Lebanon is facing an unprecedented economic crisis that has now extended into its fourth year, resulting in severe hardships, pushing more than 80% of the population into poverty.1 For the first time in 27 years, the World Bank demoted Lebanon to a lower‐middle‐income country, and the COVID‐19 and recent cholera outbreaks have strained the country’s health sectors and resources to a breaking point. As a result, Lebanon’s financial and humanitarian situation ranks among the most severe crises in the world today affecting the education sector and the private sector.

Additionally, unemployment affects both skilled and unskilled youth with around 47.8% of the youth unemployed.2

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 from education.3 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 labour markets due to the mismatch between the labor market demand and TVET curricula (formal and non‐formal), whereby TVET graduates’ competencies do not match the needs of the labor market.4

As a response to the unprecedented economic crisis challenges mentioned above, UNICEF in cooperation with MEHE is working on expanding access into education through UNICEF’s School Bridging Program (DIRASA and MAKANI) by developing a comprehensive and innovative approach to provide multiple and flexible pathways for out‐of‐school children based on their age group, academic level and education background, facilitating their re‐entry into the formal education system. This model, currently being tested by UNICEF, is showing positive results and should be replicated at secondary level to ensure a complementary learning programme.

and create pathways to quality education in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and youth programmes for older adolescents.

The UNICEF Adolescent and Youth Programme will contribute to UNICEF’s efforts to enable access into quality education through the TVET flexible learning pathway program by establishing a transition framework 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 through. The transition framework will target out of school children for less than 2 years from Grade 5 or Grade 6 at General Education/MEHE. The TVET pathway program will facilitate in its first phase the re‐entry for 3,500 out‐of‐school adolescents and youth into formal education by end of 2027 through an updated and revised certified non‐formal education program of 400 and 800 training hours in public and private TVET schools. The beneficiaries will be from all nationalities and gender. For older youth, a specific skilling and employment pathways is already in place by the youth programme.

As an overall, the TVET pathway program will technically support UNICEF Lebanon Youth and Adolescent programmes and TVET Directorate/MEHE with the design and implementation plan of the ‘TVET pathway program’ aiming to increase access into formal education under the supervision of the Adolescent Development officer and in close coordination with TVET Directorate departments, focal points from TVET public/private schools and private sector.

Scope of work:

The TVET flexible learning pathway consultant is expected to provide the needed technical expertise to ensure the design, testing and roll out of the TVET pathway program development through working on (1) Information and lessons learned on best practices in Lebanon and across MENA region on existing flexible learning and training opportunities from General Education systems or out of school to TVET, (2)  Developing a legal framework for the TVET pathway program and implementation in Lebanon, (3) Designing or upgrading the educational content of the 400 and 800 hours of vocational trainings of the various specializations required in the TVET pathway (examples of specializations: Beautician, Tailor, Restaurant server, Confectioner, Assistant accountant etc), as well as the methods of TVET education and evaluation and the bridging between the various levels of education from General Education to TVET.

How can you make a difference?

Tasks/Milestone:Deliverables/Outputs:Timeline

1. Conduct technically a research desk work for 3 education pathways programs in Lebanon and MENA by analyzing information to explore best practices in the region before adapting it to the Lebanese context
2. Contribute technically to the TVET pathway overall design and development through 4 consultation workshops with UNICEF, government, and Education key stakeholders.
3. Conduct at least ‐ 7 KIIs involved in education pathways programs for out of school’s children in Lebanon.

The TVET pathway program is designed technically in a first phase through the following workshops:

1. 1 consultation workshop with YAD and education sections including partners currently implementing MAKANI program in Lebanon.
2. 1 consultation workshop with TVET Directorate departments to present the overall outlines of the TVET pathway program. TVET pathway program development and reports design in cooperation with DGTVE.
3. 1 consultation workshop with 3 TVET public and 3 private schools including enrolled youth in BP programs.
4. 1 consultation workshop with TVET private sector task forces.

• Submission of 1 detailed report (in English and Arabic) reflecting the outcomes and recommendations of the 4 workshops, KIIs and the research work to UNICEF and TVET Directorate to analyze the outcomes and findings before moving to the TVET pathway curricula development phase since the 4 consultant workshops are considered as a baseline for developing the TVET pathway program.

January 2024

(10 working days)TVET pathway program outlines development

• Design technically and develop the main outlines of the TVET pathway program.
• Collaborate technically with TVET Directorate and UNICEF for approving technically the overall design and outlines of  the TVET pathway program based on 4 workshops conducted during the first month of consultancy in preparation to the pilot phase in TVET public and private schools.

February 2024

(10 working days)TVET pathway content development: Design of the 400 and 800 training hours of Vocational Trainings in 2 specialties.

• Based on the approved outlines of the TVET pathway program, the TVET pathway development consultant will be working on the following:Designing the non‐formal education program of 400 and 800 training hours in 2 TVET specialties for out of school children and youth for less than 2 years. The 2 specialties will be agreed upon between UNICEF and TVET Directorate.
• Presenting and discussing the developed non‐formal education program of 400 and 800 training hours to the private sector task forces for their final endorsement during 1 workshop.

March 2024

(10 working days)TVET pathway content accreditation and design of the ToT to build the capacities of 20 TVET teachers on the developed pathway content.

• Contribute technically with TVET Directorate on receiving the final endorsement and accreditation on the non‐formal education program of the 400 and 800 VT based on the accreditation criteria of TVET Directorate.
• Design the ToT material for training 20 TVET teachers on the content developed for the TVET pathway program.

April 2024

(10 working days)ToT implementation in preparation to the piloting phase of the TVET pathway program and TVET pathway kick off in 5 selected TVET schools.

• Roll out the ToT for 20 TVET teachers selected to be part of the TVET pathway program through 3 workshops to build the capacities of TVET teachers.
• Based on the technical work designed and implemented during the 4 months of the consultancy, the consultant is expected to develop 1 action plan and SOP related to the kickoff phase of the piloting period in 5 selected TVET schools.

May 2024

(10 working days)

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

• A master’s degree in the field of education , social science or other related area.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in  in TVET systems; out of which experience includes in Lebanon and within the TVET directorate of MEHE specifically.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)  is an asset.
• Previous experience with the TVET system in Lebanon, preferably the MEHE TVET directorate is a must for the legislative pillar of the framework.
• Extensive previous experience in TVET curricula development (non‐formal specifically) and in designing out of school programs for vulnerable children and youth.
• Previous experience in designing out of school programs targeting vulnerable children and youth.
• 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.

Please indicate your ability, availability and a detailed cost proposal  to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered. ( you can refer to the table of deliverables above)

UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the recruitment process.