Terms of Reference: Consultancy Services for TVET curricula review 

Organization background:
BRAC is the world’s largest, and leading development organization dedicated to poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. Initiated in Bangladesh in 1972, BRAC now operates in 11 countries across Asia, Africa. To counter poverty and promote social empowerment, BRAC strategically integrates development programs in microfinance, agriculture, health, education, human rights and legal aid, community empowerment, and more. Stichting BRAC International is registered with RGB for NGO operations within Rwanda and started operations in Rwanda in 2022. 

1. Rationale of the assignment

According to the 5th Rwanda Population and Housing Census (RPHC) conducted in August 2022, 3.6 million Rwandans are adolescents and young people aged between 16 to 30 (27.1% of the population). Ushering this cohort of adolescents and young people into healthy and productive adulthood is critical for the country’s ability to achieve its development goals as per Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and Agenda 2030 as well as harnessing the demographic dividend (DD). Despite Rwanda’s progress in improving the health and well-being of its population, there is still a need for acceleration given some of the persistent challenges such as the rising rate of pregnancies amongst adolescents (~ 9% -HMIS 2021/22) with high prevalence in poor households posing significant health concerns. To address these challenges, there is a pressing need for accelerated and sustainable comprehensive approaches that tackle the root causes of youth health related issues. These approaches should focus on improving the knowledge and understanding of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRH&R), enhancing skills and decision-making power regarding bodily autonomy, promoting the use of SRHR services, and improving the livelihoods of adolescents.

The SIF-Funded Youth Empowerment Accelerator for Health (YEAH!) integrates Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights within economic empowerment initiatives to prevent early and unintended pregnancies, by increasing access to sexual and reproductive health with emphasis on contraceptive services and reducing exposure to gender-based violence. By focusing on the holistic development of young people, the intervention aims to unlock their full potential and enhance their quality of life.

The YEAH model encompasses various strategies, including leveraging innovation and technology, engaging the private sector and investors, facilitating microfinancing opportunities, and fostering partnerships for scale-up. By bringing together these elements, the intervention seeks to create a comprehensive and effective framework for addressing adolescent pregnancies in Rwanda. 

The overall objective of this consultancy is to lay the groundwork to influence and advocate at a policy level for the inclusion SRHR in the curriculum of different vocational courses. The goal is to understand at the governance level how key boards and institutions view SRHR and to what extent if included in the curriculum it will contribute to GOR’s goal to improve health and also address the cycle of poverty. The consultant will be recruited to carry out a comprehensive desk review of currently existing TVET curricula and provide technical advice and guidance which will enable BRAC to advocate for the benefits on the inclusion of SRHR material into vocational training curricula. The consultant will also develop a strategy for advocacy. 

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The recruited consultants will work closely with the Project Manager. Specifically, his/her tasks include but are not limited to:

• Get familiar with the project, i.e., objectives, outcomes, outputs, monitoring indicators, planned activities and sub-activities including project work plan and monitoring and evaluation plan.
• Review currently existing literature on the inclusion of SRHR material and training in vocational training courses.
• Write a report on the existing literature which justifies the inclusion of SRHR material into vocational training.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of TVET curricula and identify opportunities for inclusion of SRHR content.
• Design a plan for advocating for the inclusion of SRHR content into vocational training courses.

Disclaimer: Concrete deliverables will be discussed during award of contract and also during contract negotiations. 

3. Expected Outcome

Due to the curricula review, BRAC will be able to advocate on the national level for policy change, and the inclusion of SRHR material into vocational training curricula. 

4. Calendar of the assignment

6. Knowledge and skills required from individual consultant or firm /company

• Having Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education, Curriculum development, Social Sciences, or relevant field
• Experience working in curriculum review. 
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of the Rwandan context in the topics of SRHR.
• Able to work and provide the required assignment respecting the deadlines.
• Provide RDB certificate if it is a company or TIN number for individuals.
• Completion certificate for a similar assignment.
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Excellent proofreading skills.

7. Documents required

Interested candidates should apply by sending in PDF format the following documents:

• Technical proposal/work plan (to include staffing plan)
• Proposed financial budget for activities. 
• Academic qualification documents and CVs for the company team or individual consultant
• Proof of past work or completion certificates for the similar work by a recognized organization or company
• Letter of interest
• RDB certificate for companies or TIN number for individual consultants

Safeguarding Policy

BRAC is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share the same commitment. We believe every stakeholder and every member of the communities we work with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation - regardless of age, race, religion, and gender, status as an individual with a disability or ethnic origin. BRAC holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation, discrimination, exploitation, abuse and harassment. Violations to stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of contract.

Interested candidates should apply by sending all the required documents to anaise.nahayo@brac.net and cicely.khoubian@brac.net The deadline for submission is December 1st 2023 at 17:00.