Recruit project management- Junior Youth Employment specialist

Source: World Bank — Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES -INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

Position:                       Junior Youth Employment Specialist / Consultant

Organization:                Ministry of Labor and Skills

Project:                         Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project

Location:                      Addis Ababa

Duration:                      One Year (with possibility of extension upon satisfactory performance of the Consultant)

Salary:                          As per the Ministry of Finance the channel one salary scale

Reference No.:             ET-MOLS-291141-CS-INDV

1. Background Information

The Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS) is a public and federal institution established under the newly proclamation in Ethiopia since 2021, with a mandate to govern, monitor, and coordinate all government and non-government efforts in labour and skills.

The MoLS works specifically on:

1. Identifying and designing new labour and skills opportunities;
2. Building a coordination-platform for all labour and skills initiatives in Ethiopia;
3. Developing and implementing sectorial labour and skills strategies;
4. Formulating and adopting policies that favour job creation, private sector development, and the bridging of skill mismatch in the Ethiopian Labour Market.

MoLS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban Development and Infrastructure (MoUDI) and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA), is currently implementing the Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project (UPSNJP). UPSNJP builds on the successful Urban Productive Safety Net Project (UPSNP), which has been rolled out in 11 cities throughout the country. UPSNP’s objective is to improve the income of targeted households and establish urban safety net mechanisms through public works and livelihood support. The UPSNJP builds on the UPSNP by expanding the number of cities covered through the urban safety net mechanisms as well as strengthen social services to the urban poor and destitute.

In addition to these activities, UPSNJP also establishes apprenticeships for disadvantaged youth in urban centers across the country. This activity has been added in response to the significant challenge that Ethiopia has been facing in creating sufficient employment for its youth. This challenge is only expected to increase in intensity in the coming years: roughly 2 million young people enter the Ethiopian labor market every year. Ethiopia’s working-age population is projected to grow from 54.7 million in 2015 to 74.8 million by 2025 and 85.3 million by 2030. At the same time, the country is quickly urbanizing, as more youth move from rural areas to urban centers seeking new livelihood opportunities. The urban population is expected to grow from an estimated 22.8 million in 2019 to roughly 30 million by 2025 and almost 40 million by 2030.

The Apprenticeship Program aims to provide disadvantaged youth with a first work experience through a combination of life and digital skills development, apprenticeships, mentoring and job search assistance to youth. This experience of the apprenticeship program is expected to contribute to skills development and improve their marketability in the labor market. Prior to rolling out the apprenticeships in all sub cities across Addis Ababa in early 2021, a pilot is being conducted in two woredas in Kirkos sub city. The pilot aims to test the viability of the program and take lessons for the rollout of the nation-wide program.

1. Objective of the assignment

The objective of the assignment is to lead and provide technical support to the youth employment activities under UPSNP and UPSNJP. The Junior Youth Employment Specialist is expected to plan and implement the Apprenticeship Program under UPSNJP, as well as support the pilot under UPSNP.

1. Scope of the Work

The Junior Youth Employment Specialist / Consultant at federal level based at MoLS will be responsible for providing technical support for both UPSNP and UPSNJP on the Youth Employment component. The specialist’s specific duties and responsibilities

1. Execute relevant standard operating procedures for the execution of the project to guide the promotion, registration, selection, matching, placement and monitoring of apprentices and participating firms, including the delivery of the operational manual.
2. Execute activities in line with operational documents that will guide implementing partners and service providers during the implementation of the project.
3. Contribute to the development of businesses processes for the design of the Management Information System (MIS), job seeker registration app/website and other IT-related initiatives.
4. Where required, pre-test different procedural and operational aspects of the project to ensure the appropriate design details will be implemented.
5. Work closely with service providers to ensure they are effective at executing their services and their work is aligned with the appropriate businesses processes.
6. Ensure high quality intermediate and final outputs are achieved in line with the pilot and UPSNJP’s overall objectives.
7. Identify and evaluate the risks associated with pilot and project implementation and take appropriate action to control the risks.
8. Monitor the UPSNP pilot and UPSNJP activities on a regular basis and conduct periodic evaluations.
9. Report evaluation findings to the MoLS and PCU at a regular basis.
10. Liaise and coordinate between different government agencies, private sector and the World Bank to ensure effective project implementation.
11. Support and facilitate close and collaborative relationships between MoLS and PCU and other partners to fast track implementation.
12. Facilitate and support the establishment of different committees during the implementation of the project.
13. Follow up and coordinate the smooth and effective implementation of the activities with key stakeholders and the World Bank.
14. Collaborate and closely work with other MoLS and PCU team members.
15. Perform other duties assigned by MoLS.

1. Required Qualification and Experience

The Junior Youth Employment Specialist / Consultant should have experience in youth employment and job creation projects. He/she should have adequate knowledge and understanding of project implementation, and experience with job creation and/or apprenticeship interventions. The assignment also requires excellent report writing skills in both Amharic and English. The Specialist/Consultant should possess the following qualifications/competencies:

• MA degree or above in one of the following disciplines: economics, sociology, business administration, public administration, management, law, or a related field.
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in management of projects of similar scope and requirements, preferably World Bank or other international donor-funded programs.
• Previous experience as youth employment specialist or similar positions with a strong reputation for developing excellent collaborative working relationships with Government Ministries and development partners.
• Previous experience in youth employment, job creation and apprenticeship programs would be preferred.
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail.
• Strong analytical skills in economic and social dimensions of development, and basic understanding of Ethiopia’s economic and labor market policies.
• A proven track record of leadership and management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams is required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and a strong set of personal values.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Amharic.

1. INPUTS PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT

MoLS will provide an office with all facility and equipment as well as previously developed program implementation manuals and working documents required for the assignment. MoLS is also expected to provide internet, telephone and fax facilities at its premises for successful discharging of her/his assignment.

1. GENERAL DELIVERABLES

• Monthly, quarterly, six month and annual Progress Reports within one week of the end of the deadline.
• Relevant reports as required by MoLS.
• Challenges and lessons learned from the preparation and implementation of both the pilot and roll out.

1. SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES

• Preparation of five year and annual detail activity plans for the roll out of the project.
• Preparation of all the necessary TORs, including but not limited to the procurement of service providers and specialists in the selected cities.
• Support and liaise with all relevant service providers under the project, including but not limited to (i) training provider; (ii) service provider for firm registration and selection; and (iii) impact evaluation survey firm.
• Collect and organize data on the implementation of the UPSNP pilot and UPSNJP roll out to feed the youth employment data Management Information System (MIS).
• Contribute for the development and functionality of the Youth Employment MIS, and Labor Market Information System (LMIS).
• Preparation of operational documents which is required for the registration, selection, matching and placement of both apprentices and firms.
• Revise existing documents based on the lessons learned from the implementation of the pilot.
• Monitor and evaluate implementation progress of the project quarterly.
• Organize and share best practices obtained from the pilot to the roll out.
• Prepare consolidated monthly activity and budget reports.
• Conduct training need assessment of implementers and stakeholders.
• Set standards for the services provided in the implementation of the project.
• Prepare standard indicators and checklists for the monitoring and evaluation of the project.

• Test the suitability of operation materials and procedures
• Review plans and reports of the project prepared by cities and provide feedback.
• Prepare progress reports.
• Organize and establish a proper documentation or knowledge management system.
• Conduct other day to day activities as assigned by MoLS.

1. Evaluation Criteria

The following four technical evaluation criteria will be followed to select the right Junior Youth Employment Specialist / Consultant.

1. Specialist/Consultant Educational Background – 20 %
2. Specialist/Consultant General Work Experience - 20 %
3. Relevant work experience Youth Employment and Job creation – 60 %
   • • Experience in youth employment and job creation project—15%
     • Experience in apprenticeship and first work experience placements - 20%
     • Experience in working with urban youth projects - 15%
     • Relevant training on peer meeting facilitation skill and related topics- 10 %

1. Management procedures

Contractually, the Junior Youth Employment Specialist / Consultant will be accountable to the Ministry of Labor and Skills to whom all reports and deliverables as per the TOR should be submitted. MoLS will also be responsible for all payments to the consultant once the work is accepted and cleared for payment. 

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by November 28, 2023 on or before 4:00 pm Addis Ababa time (afternoon).

The Ministry of Labor and Skills

Urban Productive Safety Nets and Jobs Project (UPSNJP)

Attn: Ato Alexander Endale: procurement & Finance executive office

         Ato Yilkal Anteneh: procurement specialist

              Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Lam Beret Buss Station area, near to Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Training Institute,

The Ministry of Labor and Skill, Finance and Procurement Executive office, floor 4

Tel: +251116-671-425

E-mail: Alexander Endale: alexendalelemma@gmail.com

              Yilkal Anteneh:    aleyilkalpsnp@gmail.com