ILO External Collaboration Contract
Terms of Reference
I. Background and purpose
Iraq has a youthful demographic profile, wherein nearly 50 percent of the population is under 19 years old and 20 percent falls between 15 and 24 years and the scarcity of opportunities for channelling this population into productive learning, employment, and enterprise avenues is a cause of concern. According to the 2021 ILO Iraq Labour Force Survey, the overall unemployment rate was recorded at 16.5 per cent, with youth unemployment alarmingly high at 35.8 per cent. Around 36.7 per cent of the youth population is not in education, nor in employment or training (NEET). Young females are notably more affected, with a NEET rate of 52.3 per cent, compared to their male counterparts at 22.1 per cent. The governorates of Duhok, Ninawa, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq are grappling with a critical issue of escalating youth unemployment that necessitates immediate attention. Characterized by an important share of young individuals aged between 18 and 35 years, high youth unemployment rates, significant numbers of refugees and IDPs, and a pressing need for sustainable economic opportunities these regions are struggling to provide sufficient employment opportunities for them. The prevailing disconnect between the skills possessed by young women and men and the demands of the labour market is a pressing concern. This misalignment between supply and demand spells a failure to adequately assess and anticipate labour market trends and to prioritise skills training programmes accordingly.
To achieve this, the ILO seeks the services of an international expert to work with a skills diagnostics specialist to co-create apprenticeship programmes in response to identified skills gaps in green sectors that have the potential to generate green jobs for youth in the targeted geographical areas.
II. Scope of work
The purpose of this assignment is to train through apprenticeships, assess and certify at least 200 youths including women, refugees, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and host communities in three green occupations that are relevant to the labour market and to their aspirations.
Develop technical and core skills-To contribute towards the achievement of the project objective, the international expert will equip young people with the relevant technical and core skills demanded by the labour market, with a focus on skills for green jobs. The Consultant will design, facilitate placement, oversee and monitor the training and assessment of 200 unemployed young women and men (young refugees, IDPs and members of host communities, PWD) in the target Governorates, in inclusive apprenticeship/ work-based learning (WBL) programmes for at least 90days. To this end, the international expert will facilitate partnerships and agreements with selected key employers to provide apprenticeship training and include in the design sustainable incentive models to support business offering apprenticeship programmes.
Capacity building of relevant stakeholders: The expert will build capacities of the partner stakeholders on conducting effective and sustainable market-relevant apprenticeship/ WBL skills training for target youths. The expert will provide technical assistance for target stakeholders on green jobs, green growth, and just transition for key government stakeholders, workers’, and employers’ organizations who are interested to mobilize apprenticeships programmes for targeted young women and men.
Capacity building of Private sector businesses- To realize effective apprenticeship programmes, the ILO will strengthen partnership it has with the ILO social partners and private sector businesses by building their capacities to provide apprenticeship programmes and create decent jobs and facilitate young job seekers to transition into permanent employment.
III. Detailed tasks
a) The consultant will lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive apprenticeship programme, engaging a wide range of stakeholders including private businesses, employers’ and workers’ organizations, youth associations, relevant government ministries, disability organizations, and training institutions with guidance from ILO Recommendation 208 on Quality Apprenticeships.
b) Conduct a skills anticipation exercise using the DACUM approach in collaboration with skills diagnostics specialists and identify and prioritize three green occupations for the apprenticeship initiative. Develop or upgrade existing competency standards for these occupations and incorporate relevant technical skills, core work skills, and rights at work.
c) Create comprehensive training packages-training plans, logbooks, and online and offline materials and design assessment methods to evaluate apprentice performance. Facilitate a one-day tripartite validation workshop to review the apprenticeship model, roles of trainers, selection criteria, assessment methods, and implementation mechanisms.
d) Incorporate strategies for financial sustainability, e.g. cost-sharing models, identification of funding sources, and advocacy for supportive policies and government incentives to ensure long-term viability.
e) Capacity building of MSMEs and workers’ and employers’ organizations, enabling them to implement and sustain quality apprenticeships including readiness assessments, tailored training programmes, systems, and partnership development.
f) Conduct one-week course for instructors and assessors on technical and pedagogical skills, and a two-day course for in-company trainers and weekly e-coaching sessions to stakeholders.
g) Facilitate training agreements, oversee recruitment and training delivery, and implement robust monitoring systems. Develop user-friendly complaints mechanism to protect apprentices and track key progress indicators and employer satisfaction surveys conducted post-completion.
IV. Expected deliverables
Deliverable Details of Expected deliverables Duration Time frame
1. Apprenticeship programme i) Develop apprenticeship programme and new or upgraded competency standards for 3 green occupations, with core and technical skills, and rights at work adequately mainstreamed. 21 Working Day Deadline: To be submitted on or before 30 October 2025
2. Training package developed ii) Training plans, logbooks, and online and offline material and assessment methods to evaluate apprentice performance. 21 Working Day Deadline: To be submitted on or before 31 December 2025
3. Interim Report iii) One-day tripartite workshop organised and facilitated to validate the above. 1 Working Day Deadline: To be submitted on or before 28 February 2026
iv) One-week course for instructors and assessors on technical and pedagogical skills etc 5 Working Day
v) Two-day training of in-company trainers on their new role as part of the apprenticeship pilot. 2 Working Day
vi) Selection and partnering with businesses offering apprenticeship training and ensure enrolment of 200 youths for at least 2 months for each cohort 2 Working Day
vii) Youths that have been enrolled and certified and proportion that gain employment afterwards.
viii) Weekly e-coaching sessions to all stakeholders and propose remedial actions. 11 Working Day
ix) Monitoring and oversight of training providers and companies, the recruitment of apprentices, the monitoring of training on and off the job.
x) A user-friendly complaint mechanism for apprentices co-designed with trade unions
4. Final Report Final report will be produced to the satisfaction of the ILO upon completion of all the assigned tasks/deliverables 1-4. 7 Working Day Deadline: To be submitted on or before 31 March 2026.
V. Reporting arrangements
According to the time frame detailed under deliverables, the selected consultant will work under the technical guidance of the ILO Project Manager, Head of the Unit on Training Excellence, Snr Employment Specialist/ Decent Work Team for Arab states, based at Beirut in coordination with the Country Coordinator. Regular progress updates will be required, and the consultant will participate in periodic meetings to discuss the status of the assignment, and any challenges encountered
The International Consultant fees will be determined according to the fee structure made available by ILO.
VI. Detailed qualifications, experience and skills required
The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:
• Educational Background: A minimum of a master’s degree in education or human resources, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: At least 10 years of experience in designing and implementing skills training programs, with a focus on marginalized groups such as refugees, IDPs, women, and youth.
• Technical Expertise: DACUM certified, with demonstrated expertise in developing training curricula, conducting needs assessments, and delivering training using various methods. Experience in green jobs and sustainable development is highly desirable.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Proficiency in English and Arabic is required; knowledge of Kurdish is an advantage.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Proven experience in monitoring and evaluating training programs, including the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Criteria Weight Description
Consultant’s qualification and competences 10% Relevant education background and competences which include minimum of a master’s degree in economics, human resources, education and training or relevant degree.
Professional experience relevant to the TOR 15% At least 10 years of professional experience including in conducting skills gap analyses or diagnostics, designing and implementing skills training programs, with a focus on marginalized groups such as refugees, IDPs, women, and youth. Experience in green jobs and sustainable development is highly desirable
Technical Expertise 10% Understanding of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems and apprenticeship programmes. Knowledge of national qualifications frameworks (NQFs), curriculum development, and competency standards.
Compliance with the TOR 45% The proposal should demonstrate a solid compliance with the TOR showing the methodology to be used to conduct the assignment and estimated schedule to achieve all deliverables described in this TOR.
Providing evidence of developing high-quality strategic documents 10% Provide samples of previous work showing excellence in writing high-level strategic documents.
Communication Skills and evidence of developed high quality of produced documents 10% Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of Kurdish and Arabic is an advantage. Provide samples of previous work showing excellence in writing high-level strategic documents.
VII. Indicators for evaluation of outputs
The work is expected to be done over a period of no less than 6 months at an average of 20 hours per week.
The main indicators for the quality of the outputs will the following:
i) Competency standards, training materials and all tools related to the three apprenticeships validated by constituents.
ii) Share of youth enrolled who graduate.
iii) Share of young women, youth with disabilities, IDP’s who are recruited, trained, assessed and certified are no less than their share in the general population in the areas where the apprenticeship took place.
VIII. Payment terms
Payment schedule
First Instalment: 30% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 21 working days will be paid upon submission of the complete deliverable 1 to the satisfaction of the ILO by 30 October 2025
Second Instalment: 30% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 21 working days will be paid upon submission of the complete deliverable 2 to the satisfaction of the ILO by 31 December 2025.
Third Instalment: 30% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 21 working days will be paid upon submission of the interim report with complete deliverables 3 made up of i to viii to the satisfaction of the ILO by 28 February 2026
Final Instalment: 10% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 7 working days will be paid upon submission of the final report to the satisfaction of the ILO by 31 March 2026.
Travel arrangements (if applicable)
• Flights, Transportation fees between the country of residence and the assignment city (Erbil) will be compensated by ILO on the base of the shortest flight and most economic option
• Iraq visa application fees will be compensated by the ILO
• While being in the country of assignment, a Daily Substantial Allowances will be provided by ILO, subjected to the UN rules and regulations
• Transportation within the city of assignment (Erbil) is under the full responsibility of the consultant
• Transportation between Erbil and other cities (if requested by ILO) will be arranged by ILO, as per rules and regulations of the UN.
Additional information on the ToR (for internal use)
Title of advertisement:
(*to appear on UNGM)
Call for International External Collaborator – Design, facilitate, oversee and monitor the training and assessment of 200 youths in three green occupations, through inclusive apprenticeships.
Summary of work to be performed:
(*for inclusion in the “Description” field on UNGM)
Maximum 1300 characters (please delete this text before entering content)
In response to identified skills gaps among MSMEs to offer apprenticeship programmes and employers’ organisations, the assignment will include conducting capacity building programmes and providing technical assistance for potential employers’ organizations to ensure that apprenticeship programmes are effective. The purpose of this assignment is to train through apprenticeships/ work-based learning, assess and certify at least 200 youths including women, refugees, persons with disabilities, youths from internally displaced persons and from host communities in three green occupations that are relevant to the labour market and to their aspirations.
Complexity of assignment (as per IGDS 695):
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A Projects or technical tasks of a narrow scope and low complexity
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B Projects or technical tasks of moderate complexity with either broad scope/limited depth or restricted scope/considerable depth
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C Projects or technical tasks of broad scope and considerable depth
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D Projects or technical tasks of broad scope, high complexity and impact
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E Projects or technical tasks of exceptionally complex programmatic scope, unusual complexity and/or sensitive nature
Required experience and qualifications (as per IGDS 695):
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1 Limited technical skills and less than 3 years of relevant experience
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2 Limited technical skills and more than 3 years of relevant experience
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3 Specialized degree or training in the relevant field and more than 5 years of relevant experience
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4 Specialized or technical knowledge and skills and more than 10 years of extensive relevant professional experience
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5 Highly specialized skills and expertise with more than 15 years of extensive relevant experience
Expected contract duration:
• Expected start date of assignment: 14 September 2025
• Expected end date of assignment / full delivery: 31 March 2026
Confirmation:
The external collaboration contract is the appropriate type of contract for the work to be undertaken. Yes ☐
The Terms of Reference are timebound and clearly output-based. Yes ☐
Funding information:
• Funding source (pick from list below):
DC
• Funding details:
Please specify the funding information:
• Project symbol: IRQ/24/02/DEU
• Project Number: 109846
• BL 02.01.02, 02.02.01, 02.02.03
Number of working days (estimated by ILO as benchmark for candidate assessment
70 days
The work is expected run over a span of no less than 6 months for an average of 20 hours per week. Effectively the international consultant would work for up to an equivalent of 70 working days.
INSTRUCTIONS: please print this document in PDF format and add your e-signature in the field below.
Approved by: Name: Zwanyadza Soroti
Title: Project Manager
Org unit e-signature
UNGM Link: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/274302
How to apply
If you want to apply, please follow below UNGM link:
UNGM Link: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/274302