WUSC and CICan wish to retain a consultant to support an exploratory analysis of the Technical Vocational Education and training (TVET) sector in Nigeria and contribute to the design of an initiative focused on supporting the transition of young people (including young women) from skills training to employment.
This program aims to achieve improved employment outcomes for young people by improving workforce readiness and better aligning skills training program with labour market needs, in alignment with the government of Nigeria's economic growth priorities.
WUSC and CICan are specifically looking for a consultant who has familiarity with the Nigerian TVET system, the interplay between government, educational institutions and the private sector, can interpret and explain this to the team, provide linkages to key stakeholders, and support an analysis of the TVET and Skills for Employment realities in Nigeria.
This analysis will include the following elements:
Context Analysis:
Existing TVET System: Support the WUSC/CICan proposal development team to conduct stakeholder consultations with the aim of better understanding and analyzing the Nigerian Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Skills for Employment (S4E) sector, including;
How it is structured (including existing coordination and employer engagement mechanisms)
Major stakeholders at the national and state level (including key government, public/private and formal/informal training providers)
Major programs/initiatives and areas of focus
Government priorities
Key relevant documents, policies and statistics
Key gaps and strengths within the existing TVET/S4E system for priority in program design to support institutional strengthening.
Labor Market Relevance & Sector/Geographic Targeting: Further investigate sectors with strong growth and employment/entrepreneurship potential for youth including renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, ICT, mining, health, manufacturing, aviation, and logistics, to align training with actual workforce demands, including demand among Canadian private sector companies active in Nigeria. Consider opportunities at a national and regional level, including priority geographies of Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and Nasarawa, and locations supporting sustainable economic growth objectives around Lagos. Support the initial prioritization of 2-4 sectors for further investigation leveraging WUSC and CICan assessment tools Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Environment and Climate Change (ECC) considerations should be mainstreamed into the sector evaluation criteria, including opportunities/constraints for young people (including young women and internally displaced persons (IDPs) .
Employer & Private Sector Engagement: Support the mapping of key industry associations, chambers of commerce, and private sector actors in priority sectors and geographies, prioritizing companies with linkages to Canadian industry. Support engagement with these actors to better understand labour market needs and skills gaps.
Support Gender Equality and Social Inclusion analysis: Collaborate with a Nigeria-based GESI expert to ensure that GESI considerations are mainstreamed throughout the research process, including supporting the identification of gender-based barriers and risks that may limit equitable access to education and skills development opportunities and transition to employment.
Leveraging global expertise: Work with WUSC and CICan to identify opportunities for leveraging Canadian expertise, networks, and institutional partnerships, including educational institutions, industry associations, colleges, polytechnics, universities, training providers, and other relevant organizations, to support institutional strengthening, capacity development, knowledge exchange, curriculum development, labour-market-responsive approaches to skills development, and sustainable collaboration between Canadian and Nigerian institutions.
Specific Tasks/Deliverables
Co-develop a detailed consultation plan in close consultation with WUSC, and CICan. The workplan will clarify and refine the overall approach, methodology and timing for the consultations.
Take a leading role in identifying key stakeholders and organizing key consultative meetings in Nigeria for an anticipated 2-week scoping mission, leveraging private sector and TVET networks.
Participate in consultative meetings, taking detailed notes and working with the proposal team to interpret information collected.
Contribute to a consultation report following 2 weeks of field travel and consultative meetings
Participate in a review and interpretation workshop with WUSC and key stakeholders
Conduct in-country follow-up activities as required after the scoping mission
Qualifications
Master's Degree or MBA (or B.Sc. plus equivalent work experience) in Economics or other discipline relevant to this assignment.
Minimum 7 years of relevant progressive experience with national and international organizations, private sector companies and/or government institutions in the field of TVET.
Experience and competencies:
Experience with the Nigeria TVET sector, in a direct administrative role or as part of a development program
Deep understanding and networks in the Nigeria TVET sector/ system
Experience working in or with the Nigerian private sector or private sector organization
Work experience in the field of vocational training, employment promotion or career guidance is an asset.
Experience working with INGOs and various implementation partners, governmental and civil society is an asset.
Computing skills in office applications, including Word, Excel.
Ability to perform diverse and complex work.
Ability to work in a participatory manner within an international team.
Experience in various types of reporting
Ability to think systematically and strategically while setting goals and planning priorities
Demonstrable commitment to gender equality and belief in women empowerment and youth development
Fluency in English
Experience working with multidisciplinary global teams
Experience conducting similar assignments in Nigeria