Senior International Consultant for Skills Strategy Development in Afghanistan

Organizational Context

UNESCO has been actively supporting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills development in Afghanistan through various strategies and programs. However, significant shifts in the country's context since August 2021, including restrictions on women's education and participation, increased returnees, and a decline in international aid, have altered the landscape. In response, UNESCO aims to develop an updated skills development strategy that aligns with current realities, focusing on community-driven and private sector-led interventions for enhanced livelihoods and economic resilience.

Job Purpose

The Senior International Consultant will lead the development of a practical, evidence-based, and context-responsive Skills Development Strategy for Afghanistan. This involves adapting and updating previous TVET and skills development strategies to align with current socio-economic realities, emerging learner and labor market needs, and evolving delivery modalities. The strategy will emphasize community-driven and private sector-led interventions, focusing on inclusion for adolescents, youth, women, and returnees. It will also identify pathways for certification, quality assurance, skills recognition, and linkages to employment and further learning, ensuring alignment with global frameworks like the SDGs and UNESCO's TVET Strategy. The consultant will facilitate structured consultations with diverse stakeholders to ensure ownership and operational relevance, ultimately aiming to enhance livelihoods and economic development in Afghanistan.

Responsibilities

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of existing TVET strategies, policy frameworks, and related documents in Afghanistan, updating the knowledge base on non-formal skills development considering current realities, constraints, and stakeholder capacities. This includes analyzing ongoing initiatives, identifying structural challenges such as fragmentation and weak labor market linkages, and mapping stakeholders. The consultant will design and implement inclusive consultations with various partners and target groups, including private sector actors and vulnerable populations, to gather perspectives and inform strategy development. A key task is to lead the development of a concise and actionable Skills Development Strategy, presented in a results-based logical framework, and a costed implementation plan with a clear results framework. The strategy will address private sector engagement, inclusion of marginalized groups, and alignment with global priorities. Finally, the consultant will support the validation, finalization, and dissemination of the strategy, and provide recommendations for UNESCO's strategic direction in skills development and literacy initiatives in Afghanistan.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of relevant international work experience in TVET, skills development, and livelihoods, including in challenging contexts, is essential. Demonstrated experience in strategy development in fragile or conflict-affected environments, proven experience with non-formal and community-based skills systems, and experience in private sector engagement and labor market systems are also required.

Skills

Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills are mandatory, along with the proven ability to synthesize complex information concisely. Excellent stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and strategy development skills are crucial. A strong understanding of labor markets and livelihoods programming, the ability to work in complex environments, and strong IT skills are also required.

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