Skills for Prosperity in South East Asia Programme (SfP-SEA) – Malaysia

Terms of Reference (TOR) for

National Consultant on

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) mainstreaming in skills/TVET

(External Collaborator)

Duty Station:                           Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Languages Required:              English and Malay

Duration of contract:               73 working days (15 weeks) over the period of six months (tentatively the assignment will commence on 29 January 2021 and ends on 29 June 2021. However, the date will be finalized after completion of the hiring process)

1.Background

The Skills for Prosperity in South East Asia Programme (SfP-SEA) aims to contribute to increasing national capacity to achieve sustained and inclusive growth through the enhancement of skills development and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

To achieve this objective, the programme works with government agencies, employers’ organisations, trade unions, TVET and skills institutions and other partners in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to facilitate review and reform of the countries’ skills development and TVET system strategies and policies. In the region, the SfP-SEA provides opportunities for mutual learning among the three countries and the other ASEAN nations, and beyond—not only showcasing the results of the pilots and lessons learned from the programme but also facilitating the sharing of best practices in the region and other parts of the world.

In Malaysia, the Skills for Prosperity Project Malaysia (SfP Malaysia or the Project) focuses on increasing skills development and TVET systems’ readiness to meet the skills needs of the future of work and those of vulnerable groups, through enhancing four areas of the TVET system and delivery:

• Equity:  Inclusiveness in skills development and TVET systems
• Quality: Future-ready & coordinated skills development and TVET systems
• Relevance: Demand-driven skills and TVET/skills recognition
• Cost-Effectiveness: Improved skills/TVET financing models

The aforementioned target beneficiaries are as follows: The primary beneficiaries: youths (ages 16-25) and women; and

• Other beneficiaries (vulnerable groups):
  • Members of the B40
  • Persons with Disabilities
  • Individuals Not In Employment Education or Training (NEET)
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
  • Workers in the informal economy
  • Self-employed individuals
  • Individuals employed in the gig economy

Gender and Social Inclusion under the SfP Malaysia Project

Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) forms a critical part of the Project and is aligned with the ILO’s Gender Equality Mandates to promote equality between all women and men in the world of work. According to the definition of the UK Prosperity Fund, gender equality refers to “the full and equal exercise of rights by men and women” and the absence of gender-based discrimination and social inclusion means the “removal of institutional barriers and the improvement of incentives to increase the access of development opportunities” for vulnerable or marginalized groups. Within the context of GESI, SfP Malaysia will address the four project areas in the following manner:

• Equity: Broadening access and opportunities to skills and TVET through the provision of accessible training materials, facilities, financing and training environment for women and vulnerable groups and integrating SMEs into an industry-led TVET ecosystem. 
• Quality: Improved GESI sensitive pedagogy and leadership through the development of comprehensive and effective policies, practices, standards and partnerships that promote quality assurance and inclusivity.

• Relevance: Ensuring smooth transitions from school to work, entry/re-entry into the labour market and career progressions of women and vulnerable groups through improved relevance of TVET and HE to the skills set needed by industry in areas key to national economic development. 
• Cost-effectiveness: Re-orientation of TVET financing and support for women and vulnerable groups resulting in improved affordability of TVET and HE provision and a conducive environment for resourcing in key support areas for SMEs towards inclusive economic development.

The SfP Malaysia Project will mainstream GESI to project activities and outputs, in particular for those under Equity and Quality areas and the Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluating and Learning (MREL) framework. For this, the ILO requires specialized services of a national consultant on gender mainstreaming in TVET/and skills training.

2.Objectives

The objectives of this assignment are to:

• Ensure GESI mainstreaming in the design of project activities by providing technical expertise on gender and social inclusion and by incorporating inputs from target beneficiaries and key stakeholders.   
• Develop an effective strategy on GESI mainstreaming to promote the active participation of national partners and target beneficiaries in the design and implementation of TVET/skills programmes.
• Develop the capacity of key stakeholders and targeted beneficiaries in order to promote their participation in the project activity design and in TVET/skills system.

1. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of Chief Technical Advisor and with guidance from Senior Project Officers, regional specialists of the ILO, the main responsibility of the consultant is to provide expert GESI knowledge for the SfP Malaysia Project at the national and subnational levels in activity design, development of GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills and stakeholder consultations.

The main responsibilities of the consultant are to:

1. Conduct desktop research on:
   1. GESI situational analyses and the GESI action plan developed by the ILO along with other relevant documents to refine GESI mainstreaming interventions in the project activity design
   2. ILO approaches to gender and social inclusion (including the ILO’s gender equality mandate) and GESI-related international good practices relevant to the project activities.  
   3. GESI policies and TVET/skills programmes in Malaysia  (e.g., Disability inclusion plan and Skim Latihan Dual Nasional) relevant to the project activities including how the project activities can add value to the identified policies and programmes.
   4. GESI mainstreaming tool kits that are relevant to Malaysia’s skills and TVET system and can be applied in project activities  
   5. Minimum standards for disaggregated data collection towards GESI mainstreaming in TVET/skills in Malaysia

1. Develop concept notes for project activities related to:
   1. GESI audit in selected TVET institutions to: (i) identify gaps in capacity and enforcement; (ii) analyse gender responsiveness of existing measures; and (iii) recommend further enhancement measures including the development of a strategy promoting inclusion at the TVET/skills institution level (at least 50 representatives from Government, civil society organization, industry and worker representatives and at least 4 national TVET/skills institutions and 2 subnational TVET/skills institutions involved in gender equality assessment).
   2. Pilot career progression maps, which assist women and youth in the vulnerable groups in entering non-traditional occupations and developing their careers, as part of the sector skills strategies and/or industry skills framework.
   3. Worker advocacy to advocate workers’ rights at work and continuous skills and career development in TVET and skills under the construction and manufacturing sector.

1. Develop written sections on the GESI components of project activity concept notes for:
   1. Skills/TVET programmes in Sabah and Kedah, which target women and vulnerable groups for occupations with growth potential within the two states.
   2. Curriculum/National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS) development and upgrading in line with international standards.
   3. Development of sector-wise skills development plans and the delivery of training for a priority list of skills by incorporating GESI needs
   4. Review on the sector’s business environment and labour and economic challenges and opportunities, which include GESI perspectives.
   5. Organization of technical workshops on alternative or enhanced models of TVET financing with international inputs, which benefits women and vulnerable groups.

1. Conduct the following actions in developing the above concept notes and written sections:
   1. Examine opportunities and challenges related to the project activities and identify how the activities can add value to existing policies, procedures, programmes and practices in skills and TVET programmes and policies governed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Human Resources.
   2. Develop detailed activities by obtaining inputs from target beneficiaries and ILO stakeholders.
   3. Identify potential GESI champions among project partners (government, industry, TVET/skills institutions and CSOs), who are able to push forward the GESI mainstreaming agenda.
   4. Identify potential risks to the project activities and its compliance with the Skills for Prosperity Gender and Inclusion framework.
   5. Identify strategies for the sustainability, scalability and replicability of the project activities from a GESI perspective.

1. Develop a localized GESI mainstreaming tool kit in TVET/skills using approaches such as the Universal TVET System Design by the ILO that covers how GESI mainstreaming can be developed within the TVET/skills system from policy formulation, to implementation and monitoring and evaluation. The goal of this activity is to develop a technical tool that can be adopt by the ministries involved in the field of TVET/skills training. This includes drafting strategies to disseminate and ensure the effective use of the tool among the ILO constituents and other stakeholders including:
   1. Identifying international best practices that can be adapted as part of the GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills
   2. Developing a participatory approach to project activity design under the SfP Malaysia to ensure the inclusion of target beneficiaries including representatives working with target beneficiaries such as civil society organizations
   3. Organize meetings with ILO constituents and stakeholders on validating the GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills and developing strategies for dissemination in close cooperation with the SfP Malaysia team.
   4. Provide the Project with technical inputs in designing and implementing a communication plan, which aims at getting more vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, involved in the Project.
   5. Provide the Project with technical inputs to convince TVET institutions of implementing affirmative actions in delivering TVET programmes and services, particularly at the community level.

1. Develop minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and analysis from GESI perspectives, including gender, age, socio-economic background, location, types or degrees of disabilities, education attainment, employment status, access to resources such as financial aid, as an input to an integrated TVET management information system across ministries. The consultant is also required to:

1. Identify international best practices in data disaggregation for gender and social inclusion as well as its uses in policy planning and implementation
2. Develop a dissemination strategy for the minimum standards for disaggregated data collection among the ILO constituents and stakeholders
3. Assist the M&E national consultant, who will be hired separately, in monitoring and assessing the project’s performance in meeting the GESI indicators  
4. Provide advice in integrating GESI indicators in the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E or MREL) framework of the Project, in coordination with the M&E national consultant,  who will be hired separately

1. Organise and/or facilitate the following stakeholder dialogues and capacity-building workshops to:
   1. Validate the overall project framework and workplans with government representatives and industry representatives.
   2. Gain inputs for the project concept notes and validate the project design for GESI Audits, Pilot Career Progression Maps, curriculum/National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS) development, worker advocacy, GESI needs in sector-wise skills development plans and GESI perspectives on the review of the sector’s business environment.
   3. Promote the usage of career progression maps among target beneficiaries.
   4. Capacitate target beneficiaries/representatives to actively participate in the design of project activities related to the skills programme in Sabah and Kedah
   5. Help target beneficiaries understand sectoral approaches to skills development and enhance their abilities to contribute to the sector-wise skills development plans.
   6. Identify target beneficiary needs as well as alternative or enhanced models of TVET financing that promotes the GESI agenda.
   7. Help relevant government partners adapt and adopt the GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.
   8. Help the ILO constituents and other stakeholders adapt and adopt the minimum standards for disaggregated data collection.
   9. Assist community and worker representatives and other stakeholders in identifying strategies to advocate workers’ rights at work and continuous skills and career development in TVET and skills under the construction and manufacturing sector.

1. Provide strategic and technical inputs on the Project’s other GESI-related activities with in-depth understanding of local situation and needs upon request.

1. Develop high-quality progress reports and final report on activities conducted, including meeting notes on stakeholder consultations, meetings, and workshops in a pre-agreed format by the SfP Malaysia Project team.

4.Key Outputs

The national consultant is required to produce the main outputs, which include:

Output 1 (Total 1 day until 29 January 2021)

1. Work Plan

Output 2 (Total 34 days until 19 March 2021)

1. Localized GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.

1. Minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and analysis for GESI mainstreaming in the TVET management information system

1. Written sections on the GESI components of project activity concept notes for:
   1. Skills/TVET programmes in Sabah and Kedah
   2. Curriculum/NOSS development and upgrading
   3. Review on the sector’s business environment

1. Written project activity concept notes for:
   1. GESI Audit, including a framework for the GESI mainstreaming strategy (and/or action plans) for selected TVET institutions
   2. Pilot career progression maps

1. Presentation materials, meeting notes of stakeholder consultations and/or rapporteur notes for:

1. Localized GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.
2. Minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and analysis for GESI mainstreaming in the TVET management information system
3. Skills/TVET programmes in Sabah and Kedah
4. Curriculum/NOSS development and upgrading
5. Review on the sector’s business environment
6. GESI Audit
7. Pilot career progression maps
8. Worker Advocacy
9. Government consultation workshops to validate the project framework and technical workshops.

Output 3 (Total 34 days until 25 May 2021)

1. Written project activity concept note for Worker Advocacy

1. Written sections on the GESI components of project activity concept notes related to the:
   1. Sector-wise skills development plans to deliver training for a priority list of skills (by reflecting gender responsiveness and inclusion, and needs of SMEs and supply chains)
   2. Technical workshop on alternative or enhanced models of TVET financing

1. Training materials (including presentations) and records of capacity building workshops, such as the list of participants and rapporteur notes, for:
   1. Career progression maps to promote its use among target beneficiaries
   2. Participatory designing of the project activities in Sabah and Kedah.
   3. Sectoral approaches to skills development for enhancing their abilities to contribute to sector-wise skills development plans.
   4. Alternative or enhanced models of TVET financing to promote GESI agenda.
   5. The GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.
   6. GESI-related minimum standards for disaggregated data collection towards the development of the TVET management information system.
   7. Workshops to develop strategy for community and worker representatives to advocate workers’ rights at work and skills development in construction and manufacturing.

Output 4 (Total 4 days until 25 June 2021)

1. Final report, which includes:
   1. Details of activities and outputs.
   2. Strategic recommendation for the GESI Action Plan and project workplan.
   3. Meeting notes from stakeholder consultations.
   4. Key government policies and references as annexes.

5.Timeline

The total duration of the assignment is 73 working days (15 weeks) over a period of six months with the expected contract period from 29 January 2021 to 29 June 2021. The dates and details of the deliverables are subject to change according to the modification of the project workplan.

No

Tasks

No. of days

Location

Output

Deadline

Initial meeting with the ILO to agree on the overall plan and ways of working.

1

Online

Work Plan with list of outputs

Output 1 (work plan) by 30 January 2021

Desk review of relevant materials, including the GESI action plan.

1

Home/

Office

Output 2 by 19 March 2021

Identification of GESI minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and appropriate GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.

3

Home/

Office

• Outline of GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills
• Outline of minimum standards for disaggregated data collection

Consultations with government stakeholders and target beneficiaries to gain inputs for project activity concept notes

4

Putrajaya/KL/Online

Meeting Notes

Develop written sections on GESI component of Project Activity Concept Notes on the Skills/TVET programmes in Sabah and Kedah.

2

Home/

Office

Written Sections on GESI Component on the Skills programme in Sabah and Kedah

Develop written sections on GESI component of Project Activity on Curriculum/ NOSS development

2

Home/

Office

Written Sections on GESI Component on curriculum/NOSS development

Develop written sections on GESI component of Project Activity on review of the sector’s business environment

2

Home/

Office

Written Sections on GESI component on review of the sector’s business environment

Develop the concept note for GESI audit

4

Home/

Office

Project activity concept note for GESI audit

Develop the concept note for pilot career progression maps

4

Home/

Office

Project Activity Concept Note for pilot career progression maps

Presentation of project activity concept Notes to the ILO

1

Online

Presentation materials

Necessary revisions made to project activity concept notes

1

Home/

Office

Develop: (i) minimum standards for disaggregated data collection from GESI perspectives for the TVET management information system; and (ii) GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.

5

Home/

Office

• Draft GESI mainstreaming tool kit in TVET/skills
• Draft minimum standards for disaggregated data collection

Presentation of the progress report and

minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and localized GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills to the ILO

1

Online

• Progress Report
• Presentation materials

Preparation of presentation materials for consultation/validation workshop with government representatives (including

minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills)

1

Home/

Office

Presentation Materials

Facilitate government consultation workshops to validate the project framework, including GESI minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills

2

Putrajaya/Online

Rapporteur notes

Necessary revisions made to the GESI minimum standards for disaggregated data collection and localized GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills.

1

Home/

Office

• Final GESI mainstreaming tool kit in TVET/skills
• Final minimum standards for disaggregated data collection  GESI

Consultations with government stakeholders and target beneficiaries to gain inputs for project activity concept notes and for preparation of workshops/capacity building activities

5

KL/

Putrajaya/Kedah/

Sabah/

Online

Meeting notes

Output 3 by 25 May 2021

Develop the concept note on Worker Advocacy

4

Home/

Office

Concept note on Worker Advocacy

Develop written sections on the GESI component of project activity concept note on the sector-wise skills development plans

2

Home/

Office

Written sections on Sector-wise skills development plans

Develop written sections on GESI component of project activity concept note for alternative TVET financing

2

Home/

Office

Written sections on alternative TVET financing

Present the progress report and concept notes to the ILO

1

Online

Progress Report

Necessary revisions made to the concept notes

1

Home/

Office

Plan capacity building activities and prepare training materials with the ILO

5

Home/

Office

Training materials

Technical workshop on GESI-related minimum standards for disaggregated data collection with project implementation partners

1

Online

• Participant list disaggregated by gender and age
• Satisfaction survey results and analysis
• Rapporteur notes

Technical workshop on GESI mainstreaming tool kits in TVET/skills with relevant government agencies

1

Online

Workshops to encourage the target beneficiaries/representatives to actively participate in designing project activities in Sabah and Kedah

2

Kedah/

Sabah

Facilitate technical workshop on worker advocacy to identify advocacy strategy on workers’ rights at work and continuous skills and career development in TVET and skills

2

Online/

Putrajaya/

KL

• Rapporteur notes
• Draft Worker Advocacy Strategy

Support key stakeholders in refining the advocacy strategy on workers’ rights at work and continuous skills and career development in TVET and skills

1

Home/

Office

Final advocacy strategy on workers’ rights

Workshops to help target beneficiaries understand sectoral approaches and enhance their abilities to contribute to the sector action plans

2

KL/

Putrajaya/Online

• Participant list disaggregated by gender and age
• Satisfaction survey results and analysis
• Rapporteur notes

Workshops for community and worker representatives on the Final advocacy strategy on workers’ rights at work and continuous skills and career development in TVET and skills

2

KL/

Putrajaya/Online

Workshop on career progression maps to promote its use among target beneficiaries

1

KL/

Putrajaya/Online

Facilitate technical workshops on alternative financing for TVET particularly from a GESI perspective

Online/

Putrajaya

Rapporteur notes

32.

Produce the final report which should include

1. Details of activities and outputs
2. Strategic recommendation for the GESI Action Plan and workplan.
3. Meeting notes from stakeholder consultations
4. Key government policies and references as annexes 

3

Home/

Office

Final report

Output 4 by 25 June 2021

33.

Present and submit the final report to the ILO

1

Online

Presentation materials

Total Workdays

73

6.Required qualifications, skills and experience  

The consultant must possess the following competencies:

• An advanced degree in economics, social science, or related field; a degree in the area of development in gender and social inclusion is preferred
• At least five (5) years of working experience in research in socio-economic, TVET/skills issues, and gender and social inclusion analysis; experience in development work on gender and social inclusion with international organizations will be an advantage
• Experience in the field of skills development or TVET is desirable; experience of working with UK funded projects will be an advantage.
• Proven knowledge of gender equality and social inclusion methodologies, tool kits and programme planning in GESI
• Knowledgeable in quantitative and statistical research
• Demonstrated understanding of the skills and TVET system and related issues pertaining to gender and social inclusion at the national and local levels.
• Demonstrated ability to write concise, high quality project reports in English on the relevant topics.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with the SfP-Malaysia constituents and stakeholders; previous experience in dealing with target beneficiaries listed and government representatives preferred.
• Ability to liaise responsibly with senior officials and staff of the ILO and key partner organizations.
• Personnel with excellent command (oral and written) over English and Malay.
• Good IT skills and at minimum intermediate user of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

1. Application

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/ information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Proposal describing how he/she will approach and conduct the work (5 pages maximum).
• Sample work (project design documents, strategy plans)
• Estimated budget (financial proposal), i.e., professional fees (daily rate and expected number of working days) and additional expenses (e.g., transportation costs), for completing the work.

The interested consultants are requested to submit the above documents electronically to [email protected] and [email protected] by 25 January 2021 by 4:00 pm MYT. 

1. Contract duration

The contract will tentatively commence from 29 January 2021 to 29 June 2021. The date will be finalized after completion of the hiring process

1. Indicative Payment Schedule

Payment terms will be as follows: 

• 1st payment: 10% upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 1.
• 2nd payment: 30% upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 2.
• 3rd payment: 40% upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 3.
• 4th payment: 20% upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 4.

Attachment

• Terms and conditions applicable to contract for services