1.1. Institutional Background  

Association de la Jeunesse pour la Promotion des Droits de l’Homme et le Développement (AJPRODHO–JIJUKIRWA) is a local Non-Governmental Organization founded in 1997 following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi by students from the national University of Rwanda to contribute to national reconstruction. Against this background, our mission is to empower youth to claim and respect Human Rights and advocate for socio‐economic betterment, while our vision is a peaceful society where there is youth participation for social justice and decent living conditions for all.

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AJPRODHO promotes youth economic empowerment by creating opportunities for youth employability, enterprise development, life skills development, as well through policy advocacy to strengthen mechanisms, policies and programs for employment, job creation, enterprise development, and access to finance for youth. AJPRODHO is also actively engaged in addressing public policy barriers to youth and women startup businesses including advocacy for a responsive tax policy, access to finance, youth employability and workplace learning government policies and programs. Our micro and small enterprise development support program for vulnerable youth includes an integrated model that involves organizing youth and women participants into voluntary saving and loan groups (VSLGs), eventually supporting them to evolve into cooperatives and supporting linkage of both the VSLGs and the cooperatives with financial institutions. 

1.2. Context Analysis 

AJPRODHO JIJUKIRWA has underscored that one of the key challenges of youth employment and job creation in Rwanda is inadequate access to workplace Learning [WPL]. This is so because institutionalization of WPL programs is still relatively a new concept in the Rwandan education and training system; the number of workplace learning opportunities provided by companies does not meet the growing demand; capacities of companies to appropriately train, guide and supervise interns and apprentices are underdeveloped; also, there are issues regarding the availability and appropriateness of the equipment at the companies, which are for some under-equipped to train apprentices efficiently these companies; there is  lack/ limited budget to incentivize their interns; many of the existing workplace learning schemes are not certified; and finally, necessary systems, structures and regulations to foster and manage workplace learning are absent or not effective, and minimum quality standards are missing. As a result, the policy has been limited in generating a coordinated impact that is necessary to achieve the objectives for the workplace learning system.  

The shortage of an appropriately skilled workforce in high growth sectors and widespread unemployment of young Rwandan labor market entrants has directed public attention towards appropriate mechanisms to enhance the quality of skills development, to improve the employability of graduates, and to find ways to swiftly react to changing skills’ needs in the Rwandan economy. Learning in the workplace through apprenticeships, internships and industrial attachments is generally considered a still underdeveloped resource to achieve these goals.   

To bridge this gap, the Government of Rwanda has put in place a Workplace Learning Policy to create systems, institutional structures as well as standards and regulations that ensure the full use and recognition of the country’s potential of training and learning at the workplace in order to increase the relevance and marketability of skills. The mission of the policy is to nurture and facilitate the development of workplace learning systems in Rwanda that are owned and driven by employers/industry, adequately respond to the skills needs of the growing Rwandan economy and provide an avenue towards formal qualifications recognized on the Rwandan National Qualifications Framework. This project will be focusing on NST1 policy as the guiding or core policy to CS Engage dufatanye program.  

2. Overview of the Enhancing Workplace Learning Public Policy Impact (Fit4Work) Project

AJPRODHO through the CS Engage Dufatanye project supported by Never Again Rwanda funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation seeks to conduct an assessment of the Rwanda’s Workplace Learning Public Policy performance. The findings from the assessment will subsequently inform the implementation of the supported project: Enhancing Workplace Learning Public Policy Impact (Fit4Work) Project which will appraise the basis behind inadequate access to Workplace Learning for youth including the 2015 WPL policy, as well as existing and previous WPL strategies and programs implemented by the government. The project shall engage committees of people living with disabilities to identify possible challenges PWD may be encountering in accessing the WPL opportunities. 

The Project will also facilitate youth dialogues in higher institutions of learning and targeted secondary schools on socially constructed gender roles and expectations, to address gender stereotypes vis-à-vis job creation and employment in the country, tackling gender discriminations while at work place, addressing power inequalities by facilitating dialogue on gender and power dynamics/ power relations, unpaid care work, among other topics. 

Project summary

It is therefore against this background, that AJPRODHO JIJUKIRWA through this project is seeking an experienced consulting firm to conduct an assessment of the Rwanda’s Workplace Learning Public Policy performance. The findings of this assessment will result into recommendations that target desired policy reforms and improved structures that may contribute to a more conducive environment for the workplace learning.

3. Purpose of the study

The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out an assessment of the Rwanda’s Workplace Learning Public Policy performance. To deliver on the full picture, the assessment will focus on 3 levels: 

• The policy level: to understand the gaps and challenges in policy provisions and guidelines 
• The stakeholder’s level: to understand the stakeholders’ needs and expectations and their roles in the implementation process.
• The implementation level: focusing on the actual effects policy implementation on the population including the students, higher learning institutions, TVET schools in urban and rural settings. 

4. Specific objectives of the assessment

       The specific objectives include:  

• Ascertain the extent to which Work Place Learning (WPL) areas are attained
• Identify gaps linked with the lack of incentives among the implementing stakeholders 
• Assess the challenges related to existing coordination mechanism of stakeholders involved in implementing the guidelines as well as existing monitoring and evaluation system
• Examine the status of learning in the workplace through apprenticeships, internships and industrial attachments by young Rwandans
• Identify causes and effects of Inadequate Access to WPL/ Industrial Attachment by youth. 
• Formulate recommendations that target desired policy reforms and improved structures that may contribute to a more conducive environment for the workplace learning in Rwanda. 

5. Geographical Scope 

The study will be conducted in 4 Districts to mention Gatsibo, Ngoma, Nyarugenge and Gasabo. Data collection will be done from youth beneficiaries including youth from higher institutions of learning; youth information hubs established at YEGO friendly centers, representatives of youth decentralized youth councils from Sector and District levels. 

Participants for Key Informants Interviews (KIIs) will include boundary partners; District level Councilors, Civil Society Organizations, PSF, FBOs, MINEDUC, MIFOTRA, Higher Learning Institutions and Rwanda TVET Board and other Key stakeholders of jobs for youth.  

6. Deliverables 

The key expected deliverables among others from this assessment are the following;

• Comprehensive detailed methodology for conducting an assessment of the Rwanda’s Workplace Learning Public Policy performance: data collection and analysis techniques and methods, triangulation approaches, sampling framework (sample size and selection techniques),
• Well-designed tools for quantitative and qualitative data collection, 
• High-quality inception report describing methods and techniques to use for this assessment, work calendar, 
• Interview with key informants such as, CSOs, PSF, FBOs, MINEDUC, MIFOTRA, Higher Learning Institutions and Rwanda TVET Board, RDB, MINIYOUTH, Coordinators of Youth Friendly Centres at District levels, 
• Develop all necessary data collection, plan tools and present them for review before use
• Data collection and dissemination plan,
• Undertake primary and secondary data collection through qualitative/quantitative using acceptable methodologies
• Develop relevant databases and provide supervision of data collection using appropriate methods and procedures to ensure accuracy and quality of data
• Process and analyze the data and compile draft report of findings and recommendations for presentation to stakeholders for comments, 
• Lead validation workshop to disseminate the key findings from the assessment with key stakeholders, 
• A final report after incorporating comments from AJPRODHO and its partners and submit related dataset. 
• Prepare a summary of the final report/ Fact sheet (not more than two pages). Please note that this brief report will be used for external audience. 

7. Skills and Knowledge Base Requirements

• The consulting firm should have a team of consultants conversant with public policy analysis, policy influencing and or advocacy including one with qualifications in labour law. Consultants should hold a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, law, Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Rural Development, or related fields; PhD Degree in one of these fields is preferred;

• At least 3 certificates of successful completion of previous consultancies in similar researches, 

• Proven Work experience with Government institutions, international and local NGOs, and Community Based Organizations, 

• Strong experiences in using data analysis software and statistical advanced data analysis and visualization techniques and methods;

• Proven experience in public policy analysis 

• • Strong analytical, report writing and presentation skills

•  Excellent command of English, both spoken and written. Knowledge of Kinyarwanda is an added value;

• • Proven ability to prepare high quality technical reports on time. 

• The bid document must include the following administrative documents at a minimum; incomplete quotation may be rejected [RDB Certificate, VAT Certificate, RRA Tax Clearance, and RSSB Certificate.]

8. Duration of the consultancy

The assignment including validation shall be completed in a period of 45 days calendar, effective from the date of commencement.

9. Procedure for submission of expression of interest

Interested consultants with enough experience in Public Policy Analysis are invited to submit their detailed technical and financial proposals and CVs along with certificates of good completion to AJPRODHO JIJUKIRWA via email: ajprodhojijukirwa@yahoo.com or submit hard copies at AJPRODHO- JIJUKIRWA Head Office located at Kimironko, Kibagabaga cell, Kabahanda Village, KG 42 st not later than Monday 7th August 2023 at 5:00 PM. In case of any questions, please, contact us through email (ajprodhojijukirwa@yahoo.com) 

Done at Kigali, on July 24th, 2023 

Mussa MUTSINZI

AJPRODHO-JIJUKIRWA

President of the Administrative Council