Request for Proposals (RfP) for consultancy service for reviewing skills development sector of Bangladesh

 

Swisscontact is a business-oriented independent foundation for international development cooperation. Represented in 39 countries with over 1,400 employees, it promotes - since 1959 - economic, social, and environmental development. The organization is based in Zurich. Swisscontact Bangladesh is registered as an International NGO under the NGO Affairs Bureau of Bangladesh. For more information, please refer to www.swisscontact.org/en/countries/bangladesh

Uttoron - Skills for better life is a skills development project, funded by Chevron under Bangladesh Partnership Initiative (BPI) and implemented by Swisscontact. The first phase of the project continued from 2016-2019 and provided skills training to 1400 community youth in Sylhet division. Uttoron phase II has expanded its work and consists of three components, details been stated in the attached Terms of Reference (ToR).

Objectives

The objectives of this assignment are:

  1. Current status of the skills development sector. An overall analysis.
  2. Develop a comparative analysis of different skills development programs implemented by government, NGOs, development partners.
  3. Evaluate the effectiveness of skills development training through collecting primary data from different level stakeholders.
  4. Explore perception of skills development sector beneficiaries on increased skill level and employability because of the training.
  5. Explore perception of private sector and industry in regard to existing skills training and possible ways of collaboration.
  6. Identify new and emerging sectors with high demand for skilled workforce.
  7. Assess the innovations/new activities incorporated in the skills development domain of the country by different development partner-funded projects and evaluate the effectiveness of those innovations/activities.
  8. Identify the major challenges of the skills sector.
  9. Provide specific recommendations to overcome those challenges

Contract Duration: Two (02) months.

Methodology

The study should include both primary and secondary data applying both qualitative and quantitative approaches. 

Eligibility criteria:

Expected profile of the lead consultant:

  1. Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant evaluation experience with strong expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
  2. Previous experience in conducting similar consultancy assignments.

3. Demonstrated understanding of the overall skills development domain and TVET context of the country.

4. Excellent analytical, research, writing (English), and facilitation/coordination skills.

5. If an individual consultant and not a research consultancy firm is applying to undertake this assignment, then the consultant must be able to mobilize a team of enumerators on short notices

Expected profile of the research consultancy firm:

  1. Previous experience of the research firm and the team members in conducting midterm and baseline evaluation surveys of development partner-funded skills development projects in the country.
  2. Strong experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
  3. Strong experience in training enumerators and ensuring quality data collection.
  4. Ability to translate data collection tools, pilot these tools and share feedback for revision, if necessary.
  5. Ability to deploy the lead consultant and enumerators who can work remotely and across several districts on short notice.
  6. Proven track record of working effectively with youth, community, and local level NGOs.
  7. Have a pool of qualified enumerators who is familiar with the TVET sector, have a track record of conducting interviews, FGDs, and KIIs, and have an appropriate academic qualification

Scoring Criteria for Technical and Financial Proposals

For detailed scoring criteria please see the attached document.

Submission guideline

Interested individuals/firms are requested to submit a technical and financial proposal. Technical and financial proposals need to be received at bd.procurement@swisscontact.org mentioning “Consultancy service for reviewing skills development sector of Bangladesh” in the subject line by 18 August 2022, 05:00 PM, no late and hard copy submissions will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a presentation on their proposal. The candidates will have to make a presentation in front of a selection panel of experts. The final selection decision will be made after the presentation. For detailed information, please refer to the ToR.