1. Introduction
1.1. CARE International
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies.
CARE works in partnership with the government, international NGOs, civil society, leaders and local authorities in order to bring effective and lasting change to the most vulnerable communities. CARE currently works through three main programs: firstly, the Rural Women Program which supports poor, rural women and girls in addressing long term underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability as well as social, cultural, political and economic obstacles towards positive change. We help women and girls improve their economic status, access education and support them to play a greater role in local leadership and conflict resolution. Secondly, the Urban Youth program focuses on job creation and livelihood opportunities for poor youth through interventions such as secondary education, inclusive governance, vocational training and small business development. Thirdly, the Emergency program provides direct humanitarian relief to victims of drought and conflict in Puntland, Mogadishu, and Lower Juba.
1.2. The BRIDGES Project
CARE Somalia/Somaliland received funding from the European Union to improve the technical skills of the youth in roads and energy service sectors. The TVET and Higher Education for Boosting Road Infrastructure Development and Growth of Energy Services (THE BRIDGES) project aim to support the Government of Somalia/Somaliland plans to enhance inclusive economic growth and reduce poverty. The project has been assisting in the development of high-quality skills both for gainful employment and sustainable economic development. In order to meet labour the ever-increasing demand in road infrastructure and energy sectors, the project aimed to strengthen TVET and higher education (HE) to make them of high quality and responsive to the changing market situations in the selected priority sectors of the economy.
The specific objectives of the BRIDGES project were formulated as follows:
a) To improve access to markets and social services
b) To improve access to energy services and enhance sustainable use of natural resources through increased availability of skilled human resources for Somalia/Somaliland’s road and energy sectors.
The specific objective was to be achieved through three interrelated results described below. Given the increasingly dynamic employment market, the project supported the introduction of a private sector-led and a high-quality competency-based skills development approach facilitated by innovating and integrated internationally benchmarked frameworks, to increase the relevance of the skills training offered and to ensure optimal absorption of the (new) skilled workforce into the labour market. To attain these objectives, first national and local capacities in the design, management and implementation of skills development and employment promotion programs in TVET and HE linked to the road infrastructure and energy services was strengthened and training qualifications brought to higher quality and existing frameworks aligned with standardized norms
Relevant results areas and progress to date:
Result 1: Increased equitable access to private sector-led and competency-based skills development opportunities linked to road infrastructure and energy services for youth:
Indicators
· Number of trainees trained in road/energy sectors using CBT approach
· Number of share of trainees trained through “Dual Mode Approach”
· Number of share of trainees assessed & certified based on VQF
Activities
· Enrol and train 300 target beneficiaries for Craft/Certificate level training in priority occupations related to roads and energy sectors
· Enrol 150 and train target beneficiaries for Diploma level training in priority occupations related to roads and energy sectors
Progress to date
The project enrolled a total of 477 trainees in the road and renewable energy courses across four regions namely Somaliland, Puntland, Mogadishu and Jubaland. Of these 202 trainees were enrolled for roads costruction courses while 275 trainees were enrolled in renewable energy courses. Interms of type of roads and renewable courses, 306 trainees (135 roads, 174 renewable energy) were enrolled for certificate courses while 171 (70 roads, 101 renewable energy) were enrolled for diploma courses. Overall, 264 trainees (197 male and 67 female) have completed the certificate course in roads and renewable energy and another 115 trainees (78 Male, 37 female) trainees have also completed the diploma courses in roads and renewable energy. Of these, 70 (35 male, 17 female) of the trainees are enrolled in road construction training while 63 (78 male, 37 female) are for renewable energy.
2. Objectives of the tracer study
The main objective of the tracer study is to track the effectiveness of TVET program in equipping youths with the necessary skills for gainful employment. The tracer study is meant to track the beneficiaries of the trainings to establish what they are currently doing as part of evidence of the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability: Further, CARE will be able to fully account for the graduates enagement in apprehenticeship, self employment and formal employment.
The specific objectives of the tracer study is:
· To identify the type of employment (wage or self-employment) the TVET learners have achieved
· To generate information about the marketability and employability of the chosen course and challenges at market place.
· To benchmark and evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen TVET and entrepreneurship courses offered at different centres in Somaliland, Puntland, Mogadishu and Jubaland.
· To establish the factors inhibiting the employment (wage or self-employment) of TVET students in Somaliland, Puntland, Mogadishu and Jubaland
· To document the perception of TVET participants on the roads and renewable energy courses both diploma and certificate
· As part of a case study, review the project model, achievements lessons learned and recommendations that are significat for application in other context or scale up.
2.1 Scope of the tracer study **
The tracer study will aim to provide information on all the TVET graduates in both roads and renewable energy courses. The study will be conducted in Hargeisa (Somaliland), Garowe & Galkacyo (Puntland), Kismayu (Jubaland), Galkacyo south – (Galmudug) and Mogadishu. The tracer study will establish what the graduates are currently doing and include details as part of the evidence of the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability.
3. Trcaer Study design/methods
The consultant shall use a mixed approach, which includes desk review, key informant interview sample survey, and interviews with the TVET graduates. The tracer study will target all the TVET graduates or a sample size must be statistically representative of the population. The consultant will have interviews with the Ministry of Education and Science (particularly TVET directorate), the Ministry of labour/employment, youth and Sports (MoLYS/MESAF), Ministry of planning and National Development and all partners to gather more information on some of the objectives listed above as well as planning and policy development priorities.
· Desk review of secondary data (proposals, progress reports, baseline and mid-term evaluation and beneficiary databases)
· In-depth interviews with TVET graduates/beneficiaries (incl disaggregation by gender) at their business/employment sites or homes.
· Key Informant Interviews with Ministry of Education and Science (particularly TVET directorate), the Ministry of labour/employment, youth and Sports (MoLYS/MESAF), Ministry of planning and National Development and implementing partners.
· Sharing of initial findings and learning with regional team and partners in-country
4. Expected outputs
The consultants will produce the following specific deliverables after signing the contract:
· Inception report detailing the methodology including the actual tools to be used for all respondents, schedule for field data collection, data analysis and reporting, work plan, list of documentation to reference in the report and outline of the final report
· A detailed final report of not more 30 pages ( 2 pages executive summary, 20 pages main body of the report and 8 pages annexes- including photos and quotes from the respondents) outlining among others background characteristics of respondents
· A case study on CAREs Technical And Vocational Education and Training (TVET) capturing A short write up on the project model, achievements lessons learned and recommendations
· Field notes and questionnaires. Safe custody and safe return of all documents obtained from CARE
5. Work plan and Time schedule
The total duration of the tracer study is expected to take 21 days including the fieldwork and report writing. The final work plan and time schedule will be agreed upon between CARE and the consultant(s).
Tracer Study Activities
Completion dates
Obtaining offers
2nd – 8th April 2020
Selecting and contracting the consultant
9th – 12 April 2020
Inception report (to discuss the draft report) within three days after contracting
15th – 19th April 2020
Field work and reporting
20th April – 7 May 2020
Tracer study final report
8th – 12th May 2020
6. Qualifications required
The consultant should be an experienced and independent consultant with the following expertise:
· Minimum of 10 years’ professional experience in developing countries, including previous experience working in Somalia/Somaliland;
· University degree in Education, Project Management, or other development/relevant related subject;
· Experience in applying qualitative and quantitative methods, with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in tracer studies in the area of education/TVET
· Be conversant with the TVET system and concept
· Have practical experience in planning and implementation a tracer study using mixed method approach.
· Have excellent analytical and writing skills
· Be willing to travel extensively in the working areas of the project.
· Fluent in English (both reading and writing).
· Understanding of the Somali language is an advantage
Verification of these qualifications will be based on the provided curriculum vitae. Moreover, references, web links or electronic copies of two or three examples of recently completed tracer study reports shall be provided together with the technical proposal. Candidates are also encouraged to submit other references such as research papers or articles that demonstrate their familiarity with the subject under review.
7. Guiding Principles and Values
The consultant shall adhere to the “Do No Harm” principle and any other humanitarian principles. The consultant will be required to follow CARE Somalia’s security advice.
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
· Technical experience and expertise
· Quality of proposal
· Cost-effectiveness of proposal
The consultant shall ensure at all times the confidentiality of data, respect the privacy of all individuals concerned and make all data collected available to CARE in a usable format.
8. Terms and Conditions
Logistics: The consultant’s travel from base to the field and back after the end of the fieldwork (including airport tax), food, and accommodation will be covered by CARE