Anunțuri de Angajare

 SCOPE OF WORK

 Apprenticeship Program Development Consultant

High Value Agriculture Activity in Moldova (HVAA)

The Moldova High Value Agriculture Activity (HVAA) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Chemonics International Inc. and partners. The goal of HVAA is to further stimulate the transformation of the Moldovan high-value agricultural (HVA) sector into an engine of economic growth for the country, leading to improved competitiveness and higher living standards for rural Moldovans in the long term. The objectives of the project are to:

1. Expand trade and strengthen linkages to domestic, regional and international markets for targeted value chains;
2. Improve productivity, post-harvest handling and private sector capacity to comply with European and international standards in targeted value chains;
3. Increase capacities of member-based groups (producer groups, Water User Associations (WUAs) and industry associations) to serve their members in targeted value chains; and
4. Improve the enabling environment leading to increased investments and an improved workforce in key value chains.

Objective:

Develop a Guide for Bubuieci and Nisporeni VET schools to improve and manage the Apprenticeship Programs in private companies for “Beekeeper” and “Berry producer-processor” occupations

Background:

 Following completion of the nationwide Workforce Skills Needs Assessment that identified private sector skill needs and proposed interventions for skills gaps, HVAA started to implement comprehensive Road Maps for several agriculture education institutions, namely Nisporeni Vocational Education and Training (VET) School’s beekeeping program and Bubuieci VET School’s berry production and processing program, to meet core workforce competencies. The assessment concluded that a major detriment to the quality of education in agricultural education institutions are a lack of in-field experience or inadequate apprenticeship programs. The main factors that are hindering the successful implementation of the apprenticeship programs include:

• Up to 65 percent of apprenticeships take place in the educational institutions and 10-15 percent take place on their own farm. Most students do not gain real private-sector experience, as only about 25 percent of apprenticeships take place in companies;
• Schools have difficulty supervising student internships;
• Student tasks and monitoring task completion are completed as formalities, but not with the goal of student skill development;
• July –August is the best period for internships but is not accepted by the Ministry of Education;
• Duration of internships is short;
• Companies treat students as cheap labor force;
• Companies are not willing to formalize agreements;
• Companies lack teaching ability or structure to ensure that students are meeting their educational goals.

Agricultural apprenticeships should offer substantive practical experience for the next generation of farmers and agricultural technicians, particularly to gain core competencies and skills that are needed by the private sector. This is particularly important as fewer people are interested to develop their agricultural careers.

With this in mind, HVAA is seeking to hire a local consultant who will develop a guide to improve and manage Apprenticeship Programs in private companies for beekeeping and berry production, working closely with faculty from Nisporeni and Bubuieci VET schools and private sector stakeholders. The local consultant will  be supported by an international advisor from a country that has successfully implemented apprenticeship programs in the agricultural sector, who will provide information on best practices and review guide content.

The goal of this guide is to better prepare private companies, organizations – partners of the schools, to provide formalized mentorship for apprenticeships at their organizations, and will address such topics as:  

• Legal framework of Republic of Moldova pertaining to in-company apprenticeships and the skills that must be gained in compliance with the curricula of “Berry producer-processor” and “Beekeeping” occupations;
• Designing an apprenticeship program and preparing the company to host apprentices in compliance with company rules on labor health and safety, harassment prevention, etc.;
• Contracting and remuneration in the apprenticeship programs;
• Applying learning and skill transfer principles, communication, supervision and mentorship with the goal to transfer skills;
• Closing the Apprenticeship programs and performance review.

Following the guide completion, round tables discussions will be organized at Nisporeni and Bubuieci VET schools that will engage faculty, private companies, as well as representatives of relevant state institutions to improve the guide content.

 Key tasks:

1. Analyze and systemize the regulatory framework for the organization of the Apprenticeship Programs in Moldova’s VET education system and curricula for berry producer-processor and beekeeper occupations;
2. Develop the outline/content of the Guides for HVAA for review;
3. Develop the draft Guide and present it for review to Nisporeni and Bubuieci VET schools, private companies and HVAA;
4. Finalize the Guide and present the electronic version to HVAA;
5. Lead one round table “Improving and Managing Apprenticeship Programs in private companies” at Nisporeni VET school with participation of faculty staff, private companies, etc.

Deliverables:

1. Guide on Improving and Managing an Apprenticeship Programs in private companies for “Beekeeper” occupation (electronic version in Romanian language) draft version;
2. Guide on Improving and Managing an Apprenticeship Programs in private companies for “Berry producer-processor” occupation (electronic version in Romanian language) finalized, formatted for printing;
3. Brief Roundtable report, including a summary of the meetings, changes/suggestions made, and a list of participants

Level of Effort and Timing:

Up to 37 working days are planned for this assignment.

Deliverable 1 target due date: January 15, 2021

Deliverable 2 target due date:  January 29, 2021

Deliverable 3 target due date: February 10, 2021

Required Qualifications:

- Pedagogical, social science education with experience in curricula development for different sectors, especially in agriculture education is strongly preferred;

- Competence in developing of curricula, especially apprenticeship programs, skills transfer;

- Experience in facilitating focus group discussions, delivering trainings for diverse target groups, including ToT;

- Experience with similar assignments/projects supported by USAID or other donor programs;

- Effective communication and training experience;

- Advanced computer user skills, Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point;

- Advanced level of Romanian, Russian and English is required.

Cover letter along with a CV should be sent in English to HVAARecruitment@chemonics.com. The deadline for submission is December 1, 2020. Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Chemonics International, Inc. (www.chemonics.com) is a U.S.-based international consulting firm providing expertise in developing and emerging-market countries since 1975.