Afghanistan: International Expert (P5) for a Quality assessment of the Vocational Training Centers in Afghanistan

Background

The Afghanistan National Strategy for TVET (NTVETS), developed with the support of UNESCO, focuses on four key objectives, identified by the Government of Afghanistan as essential to the creation of “a competent, motivated, adaptable and innovative workforce in Afghanistan in order to contribute to poverty reduction and social and economic development” (NTVETS: 22). These objectives are strengthened governance, expanded TVET access, improved quality, and the development of sustainable financing mechanisms for TVET.

The UNESCO Office in Afghanistan intends to provide key technical support to the Government of Afghanistan in the achievement of the Strategy’s objectives. This current assignment seeks to further develop and strengthen quality within the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector, in support of the Strategy’s third objective, improved quality, and focussing specifically on the non-formal TVET sector. A comprehensive quality assessment is planned to assess Vocational Training Centres (VTCs). These Centres, 42 in total with 16 operational, are organized administratively within the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, and enrol approximately 10,000 students in non-formal TVET programs.

Following the preparation of an assessment framework, including relevant indicators of quality, the consultant will complete a comprehensive pilot diagnosis of quality at a selected VTC, using the framework developed. The assessment will collect information on the human resources, management practices, pedagogic organisation, quality assurance practices, budget, equipment, etc from the VTC selected. This assessment will contribute directly to the the preparation of a strategic development plan for selected VTC, setting clear improvement objectives on the enhancement of management capacity and improvement of quality at the VTC.

Whilst hardware and infrastructural needs are expected to feature in both the needs assessment and strategic development plans, particular emphasis will be also be placed within these deliverables on the ‘soft skills’ capacity building. These may include operational recommendations in the field of training centre governance, labor market linkages, curriculum, pedagogic practices, assessment tools, certification and quality assurance practices, academic, staff, and student management, and enrolment, outreach, and marketing strategies.

It is possible that this activity may be extended through 2016, depending on availability of funding, to encompass an expansion of the centre-level quality assessments and development of strategic plans to other VTCs in Afghanistan to produce an aggregate assessment of quality, and, longer term, targeted capacity training for improved management capacity at the VTCs, further development of curriculum and teacher training capacities and the development and implementation (with associated training) of a policy on quality assurance at the Ministry level.

This is a 2 month assignment, with the consultant based in Kabul, Afghanistan, throughout.

The consultant will be required to conduct travel within the Kabul region. Travel may also be required in selected provinces provinces. All travel is subject to UN security clearances, and will be in UN vehicles only. The UNESCO Office in Kabul will supply the vehicle when required and other logistical support (e.g. radios).

A period of time away from Afghanistan during the consultancy for the purposes of rest and recuperation may be negotiated.

Objectives:

Under the overall goal of improving quality within the TVET sector in Afghanistan, this assignment carries the following specific objectives:

1. Increase awareness amongst Ministry and VTC staff of the key components of quality in TVET institutes, with the production of the quality assessment framework,


2. Strengthen Ministry and VTC capacities for the evaluation and assessment of the components of quality in the VTCs, with the completion of an initial assessment report for the selected VTC


3. Identify areas for capacity development with the production of a strategic development plan for the selected VTC.

Duties and responsibilities:

The consultant will perform the following duties:

1. Develop a quality assessment framework for MOLSAMD, and conduct a training workshop introducing this tool to relevant MOLSAMD staff.


2. Utilize this assessment tool to conduct a comprehensive assessment to assess the current situation in a selected VTC, leading to the production of a diagnostic report detailing the findings for the VTC.


3. Develop a strategic development plan for the VTC selected for the comprehensive assessment, to be presented to the VTC and relevant government staff. Include clear recommendations for quality improvement.

Deliverables:

1. An assessment framework to be used for the remainder of the consultancy, and materials developed for an initial workshop introducing the quality assessment tool to MOLSAMD staff


2. A quality assessment report for each participating VTC.


3. A strategic development plan for each participating VTC

Proposed dates:

October 17-December 17

Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in education, TVET, skills development, international development, economics or a related discipline


• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in TVET or educational evaluation or planning, with a component of this experience preferably acquired at the international level.


• Excellent understanding of TVET systems, policies, planning and capacity development


• Excellent analytical and report writing skills


• Advanced cross-cultural communication skills


• High-level drafting and communication capacity in English


• Experience working in Afghanistan is an asset