Lack of labor with adequate technical and vocational skills is a binding constraint to economic 
diversification in Azerbaijan. This is because of decade-long underinvestment in vocational education 
and training (VET). Given this, since 2016 the Government of Azerbaijan has prioritized modernization of 
the country’s VET system as part of the education sector development. This was first done through 
adoption of the Strategic Roadmap on VET in December 20216 and most recently as part of Azerbaijan 2030: 
National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development approved in February 2021. 

Improving infrastructure and strengthening human capital is a strategic pillar of the ADB’s Country 
Partnership Strategy for Azerbaijan for 2019–2023. Specifically, this pillar emphasizes support to 
strengthening the role of TVET in the education sector.

In April 2016, the government established the State Agency on Vocational Education (under the Ministry 
of Education) to coordinate the government’s policies and reforms in VET and oversee the performance of 
VET institutions under the Ministry of Education. In June 2018, the county’s first-ever Law on 
Vocational Education was adopted that (i) provided for a three-layer vocational education system 
(initial, technical, and higher technical vocational education), (ii) envisaged establishment of a 
vocational education fund as a sustainable and incentive-based financing arrangement for VET schools, 
and (iii) promoted transformation of VET schools to public legal agencies to enable them to act more 
independently and financially autonomous as VET service provider in the market.

Given the strategic context above, ADB has initiated preparation of Modernizing Vocational Education and 
Training for Economic Diversification Sector Development Program (SDP) comprising a policy-based loan to 
promote important reforms and a project loan to support modernization of selected VET institutions 
supervised by MOED and SAVE. The preparation of SDP is done in close coordination with the Ministry of 
Education (MOED) and its State Agency for Vocational Education (SAVE).

The expected impact of the SDP is modernization of Azerbaijan’s human capital as a driving force for 
accelerating sustainable, inclusive, private sector-led, and diversified economic growth. The expected 
outcome will be the improved responsiveness of the VET sector to the needs of the labor market and the 
4IR. The outcome will be achieved through implementation of policy measures and investments in three 
reform areas: (i) financing of vocational education and training improved, (ii) quality and relevance of 
vocational education and training strengthened, and (iii) institutional framework of the vocational 
education and training sector strengthened.

The consultant will report to the senior education sector specialist and team leader and will support 
the international procurement consultant being selected in parallel. 

The specialist’s key tasks will include provision of support (including data collection and coordination 
with the government stakeholders) and inputs to the international procurement specialist for: (i) acting 
as deputy team leader by performing tasks assigned by the team leader; (ii) preparing the procurement 
risk assessment and the procurement strategic planning for the project, (iii) preparing technical 
specifications for workshop and laboratory equipment and tools for the selected VET centers, in 
coordination with TA’s sector experts (resource persons), SAVE, VET centers, industry associations, and 
sector stakeholders;  (iv) preparing, in coordination with other specialists, cost estimates for the 
proposed program (with detailed cost tables for all components and activities) and a financing plan; (v) 
developing terms of reference for the key staff of the program management unit, as well as EOIs and RFQ 
for the program management consultants and supporting MOE and SAVE in selecting these consultants; (vi) 
developing bidding documents for the procurement packages of the first year of the project and 
supporting MOE and SAVE in procuring these packages until the program management consultants are 
mobilized;  (vii) preparing the procurement plan for the project; (viii) providing inputs to all 
documents required for loan processing, including the project administration manual. The consultant will 
also ensure quality of Azerbaijani versions of the relevant outputs.

The specialist should have master’s degree in economics, finance, or other relevant field, and about 5 
years of experience in economic and financial analysis of public investment projects, preferably in 
education. Experience as project economist in the projects financed by ADB or World Bank in Azerbaijan 
will be an asset. The expert should have good oral, written communication, and presentation skills in 
English and Azerbaijani, and proven ability in report writing for professional purposes.