Request for Proposal (RFP) For National Employer Partnership Expert for TVET Schools (framework cons

 Request for Proposal (RFP) For National Employer Partnership Expert for TVET Schools (framework consultancy services.

1.Background to project

The Dakchyata TVET Practical Partnership project (hence: the Project) is part of the TVET Practical Partnership programme, the flagship skills development programme of the European Union in Nepal. The Project is being implemented by the British Council under the leadership of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), in partnership with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). The programme started in 2017, with an implementation period of 48 months, meaning that the Project has by now completed half of the planned 4-year long operational cycle.

The establishment and recognition of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approaches in TVET is central to the Project. By working together, government, employers and private training providers can jointly develop and implement TVET and related skills development practices to respond to the diverse needs of society, the economy and individuals. The Project is piloting an integrated Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach in three key economic sectors i) agriculture ii) construction, and iii) tourism.

The Dakchyata project delivers two components of the overarching TVET PP programme:

Component 2: an innovative grant fund mechanism has been designed to pilot PP projects in the construction, tourism and agriculture sectors. The aim is to generate learning on enhancing the relevance, quality and sustainability of TVET provision in Nepal

Component 3: technical assistance to the Government of Nepal and national TVET authority to strengthen governance, coordination and reform of the national TVET system, and raise the profile of TVET in Nepal

(Component 1 is being addressed as part of the inter-linked ‘Sakchyamta’ programme, delivered by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) in Nepal).

These consultancy services fall under Component 2, which is sub-divided into several grant streams; the most pertinent for this assignment is described in the below: 

Grant stream 2: CTEVT Dakchyata Supported Schools 

One part of the overall Dakchyata Practical Partnership grant scheme is to support selected CTEVT schools (e.g. Government TVET Schools) to enable these schools to play a leading role in their respective sectors (Agriculture, Construction, and Tourism) through more effective engagement with the private sector. Baseline research on a number of sector specialised TVET schools across Nepal has been conducted, leading to the development of a scope of work outlining ways to ensure that schools are enabled to undertake this role more effectively. The Dakchyata Practical Partnership Fund will support nine schools (Dakchyata supported schools, or DSS) through the provision of funding and capacity development support. 

Promoting TVET frameworks that respond to skills and occupational demands of employers is at the heart of the Dakchyata Practical Partnership Fund, and the National Employer Partnership Expert for TVET Schools (NEPETS) will – under the guidance and instruction of the International TVET Employer Partnership Expert (TEPE) -  be expected to work closely with CTEVT central level and the nine DSS to build capacity, providing advice and guidance on the optimum way forward to ensure that CTEVT as a training coordinator and the DSS as the delivery system are empowered and equipped to ensure this proactive employer engagement in their operations. Support will not only improve the daily operations of the nine DSS, but will also be expected to show the way for other TVET schools, in terms of being able to deliver quality training within those professions and with the skills that employers consider relevant, thereby leading to growth in livelihood, employment and entrepreneurship. It is expected that ongoing technical inputs, oversight, support and backstopping will be required for the schools to play that model role and contribute to the learning that the Project is seeking, in order to play a catalyst role in changing and improving the present day teaching/learning modalities through the TVET system in Nepal. The NEPETS will be tasked to assist the TEPE in the ongoing planning for these processes to happen and in mentoring, coaching and supporting the activities under their implementation, while at the same time capturing the lessons learned from the intervention.            

2.Description of assignment

The British Council is looking to appoint a National Employer Partnership Expert for TVET Schools (NEPETS) to provide capacity building support and expertise to grant beneficiaries within TVET overall and in particular on issues such as employer engagement in skills development for the labour market based on actual market demands. The NEPETS will be expected to deliver his/her services full time over the duration of the contract, providing ongoing technical support and backstopping to the 9 DSS, focusing in particular on ways that amplify the role and voice of employers in the setting of contents and outcome of training offered, leading to the schools providing skills that are in actual demand in the market. Aside from assistance to the 9 DSS themselves, this support must also take into account the learning of such measures on a systemic level, for the CTVET system to be able to support the CTEVT schools to deliver the services that employers/the market demand, so that the good practices achieved through grant investments in CTEVT can be replicated in other government and/or in privately operated TVET institutions. 

2.1 Objectives

The overall objective of the consultancy is for the NEPE to provide capacity building support to grant beneficiaries (stream 2 – nine DSS and CTEVT centrally) for the effective delivery of the agreed activities, under the leadership of the International TEPE and in coordination with other Dakchyata key staff. 

2.2 Required services/activities 

The required services are as follows:

In close collaboration with, and under the guidance of in particular TEPE, the NEPETS will provide capacity building support, strengthening the 9 DSS under CTEVT and assisting CTEVT in reaching out to the DSS, ensuring that grant funds are used to strengthen and improve service delivery through the DSS, aiming for those to become resource centres for the Agriculture, Construction and Tourism sectors respectively.  

Assist the school management of the DSS in implementing agreed activities funded under the Dakchyata Practical Partnership Fund which will focus on strengthening employer engagement across a range of areas e.g. the capacity development of school management staff, teacher training programmes, upgrade of course contents, integrating and operationalising new equipment etc. The aim is that the selected schools are empowered and capacitated to pro-actively involve employers and their associations in being active members in School Management Committees for decision-making and act as input providers for skilled workforce demand: determining the contents for curriculum development, linking trainees to work of world through work-placed based training approaches and in the everyday life of the TVET schools, leading to marketable skills and improved employment rates.  

Advise and assist TEPE and the Team Leader in technical monitoring of progress against milestones and benchmarks, to ensure that the agreed activities lead to CTEVT centrally and the DSS being able to play a model role for other TVET schools, not least by demonstrating new and innovative ways to boost employment through teaching of demand-driven qualifications/skills and through finding best ways of pro-active involvement of employers in influencing the decision-making of the schools, thereby ensuring relevance/employment.

Assist in capturing the learning of systems and individuals of the above processes and outcomes, for later upscaling purposes and for possible reform measures to be taken. Support in the identification of lessons and learning from delivery of the project(s), including drafting specific case studies in various formats, to contribute to the body of evidence on effective public-private partnership in TVET in Nepal

Assist CTEVT central level to further develop the concept and working modality of a CTEVT Model School

Assist CTEVT Central Level and DSS throughout for efficient and effective implementation of the Dakchyata grant fund.  

2.3 Required outputs 

Specific outputs will be agreed in six-monthly work plans that the TEPE will draft, mapped against the Project work plan. While more details of expected outputs will be discussed and agreed on as the consultancy progresses, initial required outputs for the NEPETS will include:

On the basis of information provided by the Project and on the basis of a dialogue with the Project, and through knowledge of and engagement with CTEVT and the selected DSS, provide inputs needed by TEPE to draft a short narrative report, containing analysis, findings, suggestions, conclusions and recommendations, with the main text of the report focusing on those activities, where the TEPE suggests to initiate work, to kick-start the consultancy.  

Through further discussion of the above Report and upon reaching agreement with the Dakchyata Project on the type of work to be carried out in the initial stages of the consultancy (first 6 months), assist TEPE in drafting of an Inception Report, which outlines in some detail the roles, responsibilities and methodologies that the TEPE suggests to be assumed by in order to address the requirements of the consultancy, with particular focus on the Dakchyata grant for CTEVT.

As part of the above deliverable, contribute to a time-bound Work Plan, through which it is clearly stated, which activities the NEPETS will assume responsibility for undertaking, for further discussion and agreement with the Team Leader, the Deputy Team Leader and TEPE of Dakchyata. 

3.Logistical arrangements

3.1 Location

Kathmandu, with possible field visits outside of Kathmandu Valley and remotely as required. The NEPETS will be required to work from both the Dakchyata project office and from CTEVT in Sanothimi, with working days in each to be agreed in advance.

3.2 Input period 

The input period for this assignment will be from July 2019 to February 2021 (with possibility of extension). Work will be decided through mutual agreement on the basis of a framework contract, which covers the entire input period, but broken down in six-month planning periods, which will indicate the tasks to be carried out and the work-days needed to address the various tasks.  

4.Administrative information

4.1 Travel

The NEPETS will be required to work from office space of Dakchyata or in office premises of CTEVT in Sano Thimi, as required. Field visits outside Kathmandu Valley may be required. Any travel outside of Kathmandu will be agreed in advance - transport and accommodation outside of Kathmandu valley will be reimbursed as per the Dakchyata travel policy. 

4.2 Equipment

The NEPETS will be expected to provide own office equipment i.e. laptop, mobile phone etc. required to perform the services. 

4.3 Invoicing 

Payment will be made in arrears on acceptance of deliverables and receipt of corresponding invoice and timesheets. An indicative payment schedule will be agreed and form part of the service contracts.

4.4 Fee rate and expenses

The daily fee rate will be considered an all-inclusive fee, including all applicable taxes such as VAT, and cover all preparation, report writing and all other work required for completion of the services.

4.5 Working days

For the purposes of this assignment “Working Hours” and “Working Days” shall mean an 8 hour day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time Monday to Friday, unless otherwise agreed. (Work on weekend days may be required from time to time, and must be agreed in advance).

    5.Consultant specification

Final scores in terms of a percentage of the overall submission score will be obtained by applying the relevant weighting factors set out as part of the award criteria table above. The percentage scores for each award criteria will be amalgamated to give a percentage score out of 100. 

Following scoring the submissions, the top three scoring applicants will: 

i)be invited to attend an interview to further clarify their submissions, experience and skills.

ii)Following the interviews, evaluation scores will be adjusted based on the performance of each consultant at interview.   

The winning submission shall be the response scoring the highest percentage score out of 100 when applying the above evaluation methodology. 

1   6. How to apply 

In accordance with the instructions stated at section 12 of the RFP ( Please refer full RFP details in the link below ;

  https://www.dakchyata-nepal.org/join-us

Interested candidates should submit the following:

1)    A completed supplier response form (annex 3) available on  https://www.dakchyata-nepal.org/join-us

2)    Latest CV

Submissions should be sent to sudha.subba@britishcouncil.org.np with the title National Employer Partnership Expert for TVET Schools (NEPETS) – Dakchyata: TVET Practical Partnership Nepal’ by 18.00 PM local time on 11 July 2019.

Please note, we can only respond to successful applicants.