Consultancy - Capacity gap assessment of TVET colleges and employment facilitation actors for green job transitions in Afar region - Ethiopia

Introduction:

Ayuda en Acción (AeA) is an International Non-Governmental Organization founded in 1981 in Spain, dedicated to addressing the structural causes of poverty, inequality, and exclusion by empowering communities to achieve sustainable, dignified livelihoods. Operating globally across 18 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, including Spain and Portugal, Ayuda en Acción has been active in Ethiopia since 2002 through partnerships supporting development and humanitarian efforts. Following the establishment of its Ethiopia country office in 2018, the organization has expanded its programs to Oromia (Arsi and Borena zones), the South Ethiopia Region (Gamo, Wolaita, Konso and Derashe), and Afar Regional State (Zones 1, 2, and 4). Its country strategy focuses on three pillars: sustainable livelihoods and resilient food systems (emphasizing market development and women/youth employment), quality education and labour market transition, and humanitarian assistance integrated with resilience-building through a nexus approach.

In Afar Regional State, Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia has implemented humanitarian and resilience projects since 2021, collaborating with regional governments and NGO partners. Over the past four years, initiatives have included education in emergencies, protection, food security, WASH, and post-conflict mental health support. These efforts have restored livelihoods, enhanced learning environments, increased girls’ school enrolment, promoted violence-free schools, and improved access to clean water and sanitation. The projects have significantly strengthened community resilience and well-being in one of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable regions.

Project Description:

Funded by the European Union under grant EuropeAid/179149/DD/ACT/ET-1, the three-year ‘The Empowering Futures for Youth and Women beyond Agriculture’ (EMPOWER) project aims to enhance livelihood security for vulnerable women and youth in Ethiopia by strengthening access to inclusive and green job opportunities. Implemented by a consortium led by People in Need (PIN), with co-applicants Ayuda en Acción (AeA) and Development Expertise Center (DEC), the project targets individuals transitioning out of agricultural and agro-pastoral livelihoods, as well as those remaining in the sector. Operating across multiple regions, PIN leads implementation in Oromia, DEC in Tigray, and AeA in conflict and climate-affected areas of Afar National Regional State.

In Afar, Ayuda en Acción manages the EMPOWER project in Chifra woreda (Zone 1), Ewa and Gulina woredas (Zone 4), Abala (Zone 2), and Adadele TVET in Asayta. These areas face recurrent droughts, conflict, and socio-economic instability, which have disrupted traditional livelihoods, pastoral and agro-pastoral based livelihoods. In response to these challenges, the EMPOWER project aims to create sustainable, inclusive, and green job opportunities by strengthening local capacity in key agricultural value chains and improving access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET). However, numerous barriers, including limited access to marketable technical skills, financial services, and employment opportunities, continue to hinder the full participation of youth and women in the labour market and self-employment.

The EMPOWER project directly supports 1,750 individuals, including 950 youth (aged 15-34) and 770 vulnerable women (female-headed households, IDPs, GBV survivors, etc.), organized into 26 SMEs including Saving and Credit Cooperatives in Chifra, Ewa, Gulina and Abala. The project also targets 30 local leaders, 3 TVET institutions, regional government and private sector actors through building their capacities and technical assistance. The project will indirectly reach 584,350 individuals. Key outputs include enhanced capacities for green job transitions, strengthened SME access to markets, and improved public-private coordination to reduce barriers for women in education, employment, and markets. The major outputs of the project includes vulnerable women and youth have enhanced their capacities to transition to green jobs and nonfarm income generating agricultural activities via skills development and transfer of technological innovations; newly established women and youth-led SMEs in green and climate-resilient value chains have strengthened access to markets via enhanced private sector engagement and inclusiveness of local supply chains and; key public and private sector stakeholders have enhanced their coordination and introduced measures that improve women’s economic empowerment and minimize barriers for women to access markets, decent jobs and quality education.

Ayuda en Acción seeks to conduct a comprehensive Capacity Gap Assessment to identify gaps in curriculum relevance with pre-selected value chains and context, institutional capacities, partnership with employers and other support providers, market demands, and green job opportunities and climate resilient practice integration to enhance employability of youth and women.

The findings of the assessment will inform curriculum redesign/design, enable inclusive and market relevant service for youth and women transition to job market and job placement, and work-based learning schemes aligned with priority sectors (solar tech, honey, poultry, dairy, soybeans, livestock fattening, commercial fodder value chains).

This assessment builds on an initial diagnostic assessment conducted during project formulation, which revealed:

• Weak adaptation of curricula to local/regional contexts.
• Limited private sector partnerships for work-based learning.
• Insufficient integration of climate resilience, digital tools, and soft skills.

The findings will directly inform green job-oriented curriculum development through short-term and strengthen linkages with priority value chains (livestock, poultry, dairy, soybeans, honey) and enablers (solar technologies, digital finance, climate-resilient forage).

The objective of the consultancy service:

This assignment aims to assess capacity gaps in three TVET colleges (Adadale Polytechnic, Asa’le, and Keluwan), the Afar Bureau of Labor and Skills, Woreda Labor and Skills /one stop centers, and private sector actors to inform targeted interventions through skills development for green jobs, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy sectors, while strengthening institutional capacities to deliver market-aligned, climate-resilient training in the Afar region.

Specific Objectives:

1. Assess institutional capacities of TVET colleges (Adadale, Asa’le, Keluwan) and employment facilitation actors (BoLS, One-stop centers) to deliver training in priority value chains, including human resources, curriculum gaps, and integration of green practices (e.g., solar tech, climate resilience).
2. Analyze alignment of curricula with market demands and local contexts by mapping existing programs, identifying gaps in climate-resilient practices, digital tools, entrepreneurship, and soft skills, and evaluating feasibility of short-term courses for target priority areas (livestock, poultry, livestock fattening, soybeans, commercial fodder, solar energy-maintenance).
3. Mapping and analysis of workforce needs, assessing opportunities for internships/apprenticeships, and proposing models for cooperative training placements with private sectors, SMEs, SACCOs, and government bodies, ensuring gender-inclusive engagement.
4. Design gender-responsive, green-focused interventions by evaluating staff competencies in inclusive pedagogy, green technologies, and psychosocial support, and recommending tailored capacity-building (e.g., ToT programs).
5. Validate findings of the capacity gap assessment for the three TVET colleges and other key employment facilitation actors through multi-stakeholder workshop.

Scope of the Assignment:

The scope of the assignment includes developing an assessment framework and methodology, conducting field visits, and engaging with relevant stakeholders. The consultancy firm will collect and analyze using pre-developed tools by Ayuda en Acción which will be enriched by the consultant. The assignment entails assessing the alignment of TVET curricula with priority value chains and solar energy and regional labor market needs. It will evaluate the incorporation of green practices (e.g., solar tech maintenance, climate-smart agriculture) and propose tailored short-term courses. The scope includes mapping private sector partnerships, analyzing gaps in work-based learning (internships/apprenticeships), and designing collaborative models to bridge industry demands. Gender-responsive strategies will address barriers faced by women and ensure equitable access to green jobs. Institutional capacities of TVET colleges and employment facilitation actors will be reviewed, focusing on staff competencies (technical, pedagogical, digital) and systemic gaps. Findings will be validated through workshops with stakeholders (TVETs, employers, government, NGOs), ensuring actionable recommendations to enhance training relevance, inclusivity, and sustainability while fostering revenue-generating partnerships.

Methodology:

The consultant is expected to apply Ethiopian Technical and vocational Education policy and Strategy (2020) and Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Training (TVT) Green TVT Guideline by the Ministry of Labor and Skills (2023)

The consultant will propose a relevant methodology outlined in detail using general guidelines provided below:

• Desk review: review of the secondary data on Ethiopian Technical and vocational Education policy and Strategy and Green TVET guidelines other relevant technical studies conducted in the last 3 years; in addition to reviewing existing regional and national policies, plans, and interventions.
• Focus group discussions: these can involve diverse groups, however, Unemployed male and female youth , TVET students-male and female and FGD with TVET teacher should be prioritised.
• Key informant interviews: these can include collage administration, Private sector, small, medium, and large-scale businesses, SMEs, SACCOs, government bodies from region to woreda levels(Agriculture and Natural resource, Labour and skill development office, Women and social Affair and livestock and fishery) and Samara University and NGOs and etc
• Validation workshop with stakeholders.

Tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities consultant firm:

The following tasks and deliverables are expected:

1) Discussion with the Ayuda en Acción Team

The Consultant team will engage in a detailed discussion with the Program Director, Project Coordinator, MEL Manager, Area Manager, and other relevant team members to review the details of the Capacity Gap Assessment of TVET Colleges and Employment Facilitation Actors for green job transitions. Following this discussion, the Consultant team will update the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assessment to include any important elements identified. All relevant information from Ayuda en Acción, as per the discussion, will be incorporated into the inception report.

i. Inception report

The Consultancy team will review relevant documents and prepare an inception report outlining the detailed requirements. The inception report should include a work plan, detailed methodology, and the means of data collection, such as Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), desk reviews, and secondary data collection. The Consultancy team will present the inception report, which must be signed off and validated by Ayuda en Acción before the kickoff.

ii. TVET colleges visit and gap identification

The Consultancy team will visit the three pre-identified TVET colleges in the Afar region and engage with the relevant field staff and other partners to gather the necessary information. Following these visits, discussions will be held with the field staff, partners, and TVET college administrators. The team will then begin data collection using the pre-developed assessment tools.

iii. Gap dentification of Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs (BoLSA), woreda Labor and Skills and One stop center

The Consultancy team will visit the Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs (BoLSA) and the Woreda Labour and Skills offices to collect capacity gap data from BoLSA, Woreda Labour and Skills, Job Creation Councils and one stop center.

iv. Mapping Private Sectors, SMEs, Cooperatives (SACCOs) and Gap Identification

The Consultancy team, in collaboration with Ayuda en Acción, will map Private Sectors, SMEs, and Cooperatives (SACCOs) in the intervention areas and identify potential gaps using pre-developed assessment tools. In addition, the Consultancy team will utilize findings from the inclusive market system Assessment analysis in Afar conducted concurrently by another consultancy firm as input during the mapping and gap identification.

v. Developing and submitting TVET gaps and other employment facilitators’ assessment report

The Consultancy team will prepare a comprehensive assessment report with findings and recommendations, which will be submitted to Ayuda en Acción, along with a detailed presentation. After the field visits and discussions with the program and field staff, the consultant will prepare a work plan that clearly and concisely outlines the process and results of the assessment.

vi. Organize and Facilitate TVET gap assessment validation workshop

After submitting and discussing the comprehensive assessment report with the Ayuda en Acción team, the Consultancy team will organize and facilitate a validation workshop in collaboration with Ayuda en Acción.

vii. Deliverables

The main deliveries of the Capacity Gap Assessment of TVET Colleges and Employment Facilitation Actors include the following:

• TVETs private sector mapping for cooperative training

• The study will map out and identify the private sectors for TVET cooperative training
• The assessment will identify the available regular and short-term training programs, including highly demanded courses in the area.
• The study will Identify the available training resources and identification of resources lacking for cooperative training.
• Finally, the study will identify challenges for cooperative training and analyses capacity-building needs for those challenges.

• TVET Colleges capacity assessment

• The consultancy firm is expected to provide a comprehensive inventory of existing capacity related to short-term training on honey, poultry, dairy, livestock fattening, commercial fodder soybean, and solar tech. Additionally, the firm should identify and document any essential capacity building that is currently lacking but necessary to support effective training in these sectors.

• TVET colleges trainers’ knowledge and skills capacity gap and find potential trainer outside the college

• The study will compile data and profiles of available trainers, including the number and qualifications of trainers currently in place and those required. It will also identify key knowledge and skills gaps among existing trainers. Furthermore, the assessment will outline appropriate teaching methodologies and pedagogical approaches needed to address these capacity-building needs within TVET colleges, based on the identified gaps.

• TVET colleges curriculums and TTLMs capacity gap assessment

• The consulting firm will identify the existing curricula offered by TVET colleges for both regular and short-term training programs. It will assess and document gaps in curriculum content as well as in the development and availability of Teaching, Training, and Learning Materials (TTLMs). The study will compile a list of current curricula and TTLMs that require revision and update. Furthermore, it will identify newly emerging curriculum demands based on local market needs, with a focus on areas such as poultry, honey production, dairy, cattle and shoat fattening, fodder production, urban agriculture (including vegetable and cereal crop farming), and solar irrigation technologies.

• TVET colleges cooperative training assessment

• The study will identify the regular and short-term training programs currently offered, including those that are most in demand within the region. It will outline the methods used for training delivery and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs. Additionally, the study will assess existing capacity-building efforts and identify any gaps or needs for further development.
• The consultant will compile a list of available training resources and identify any gaps in resources required for cooperative training.
• Finally, the study will assess the challenges faced by cooperative training and provide a list of identified capacity-building needs.

• TVET colleges income generation activities gap assessment

• The study will identify the income generation activities currently implemented by TVET colleges, assess their effectiveness, and highlight the challenges and barriers hindering the successful implementation of these activities. Additionally, the study will propose interventions to address these issues.

• Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, and Career Centers Assessment

• The consulting firm will identify the specific requirements for apprenticeship programs and assess the status and capacity of career centers within the target TVET colleges. Additionally, the firm will compile an inventory of existing support services available to these career centers. The scope will also include identifying the available and evaluating job fairs and networking activities conducted across the target TVET institutions.
• The consultancy assesses the monitoring and evaluation of Apprenticeships, On-the-Job Training, and Career Centre Services activities for each TVET college.
• Finaly the firm will identify key challenges and gaps and provide future recommendations for improvements.

• TVET colleges Vocational Guidance and Counselling Capacity Assessment

• The study will identify the capacity gaps in vocational advice and counseling at each TVET college. It will also assess the status of TVET awareness creation, labor market assessments, TVET-industry linkages, job placement efforts, and the implementation of tracer studies.

• TVET Colleges green activities, gaps, solutions and opportunities

• The consultant firm will identify the existing green activities at each TVET college, assess any gaps, and propose solutions and opportunities for enhancing green initiatives.

• TVET College Gender and Inclusion related activities assessment

• The study will identify institutional strategies and support services within TVET institutions that promote gender inclusivity and address the needs of diverse learners. It will assess whether existing curricula are gender-sensitive and inclusive and examine the extent to which these curricula accommodate different learning styles and backgrounds.
• The study will also explore key barriers that prevent women from enrolling in and completing TVET programs, including mobility challenges and access to curriculum-related activities.
• Assess whether equal employment opportunities are provided to all genders, whether curricula encourage women's participation in non-traditional fields, and whether teaching schedules are flexible enough to support diverse learner needs.

• Employers/private sector mapping and analysis of labor demand including their capacity.
• Assessment of employment facilitation actors:

• The Consultancy team will visit the Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs (BoLSA) and the Woreda Labour and Skills offices and one stop center to collect capacity gap data and providing detailed recommendations for each key identified gap.

Responsibilities of Ayuda en Acción Ethiopia:

• Ayuda en Acción will provide details about the EMPOWER project, "Empowering Futures for Youth and Women Beyond Agriculture," in the Afar region of Ethiopia
• Ayuda en Acción country office team will provide clarification and all the necessary and available information project implementation areas and TVET colleges.
• Ayuda en Acción will avail previously developed tools for the consultancy firm together with diagnostic report conducted during the formulation process.
• Ayuda en Acción will arranging transport for the consultancy team to and from the field office for data and information collection, including all travel required during the field mission and assessment period.
• Provide security related information and security clearance.
• Ayuda en Acción will facilitate venue and cover all costs related to workshop and training.
• Ayuda en Acción will assign staff (three staff) to accompany the consultants during the data collection.
• Facilitate stakeholder participation throughout the assessment and curriculum development process.
• Assigns a contact person(s) for the consultants responsible to facilitate communication and the undertaking of activities that work towards the effective and efficient outcome.
• Avails staff for field travel and joint data collection and access to information of various kinds in methods like group discussions or individual interviews with the consultant and other engagements.
• Provides prompt feedback on inquiries, reports, and other deliverables.

Guiding principle:

The Consultancy firm should adopt AeA safeguarding and protection policies which will be signed by the selected consultancy firm.

Schedule of Activities / Tasks:

The project is expected to complete the assessment and curriculum revision and development including facilitation of workshop and training within 30 Calander days, see the details in Table-1.

Table-1: Schedule to undertake the tasks