Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Adviser

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and disaster. With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people each year. The organization is committed to upholding the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, ensuring that they receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. NRC's mission is to help people in crisis, and it emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce.

Job Overview:
The TVET Adviser will play a crucial role in the anticipated Somalia Empowering Women through Education and Skills 'Rajo Kaaba' Project, which is funded by the World Bank through the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education. This project aims to enhance literacy, numeracy, socio-emotional skills, and vocational skills among young women and men aged 15-35 across various regions in Somalia. The adviser will provide strategic direction and ensure quality assurance in project implementation, leading mentoring, training, and capacity-building efforts for staff on TVET. The position requires a strong commitment to compliance with project agreements, World Bank regulations, and TVET standards, while also representing the project in various coordination forums and stakeholder meetings. This role is contingent on the NRC being awarded funding and is anticipated to begin in 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The TVET Adviser will be responsible for ensuring the relevance and quality of TVET projects across all operational areas. Key duties include acting as the technical lead for the TVET component of the 'Rajo Kaaba' Project, developing harmonized tools, guiding the technical working group, and collaborating closely with the project lead to ensure timely and quality project delivery. The adviser will consolidate and develop internal and external reports, ensuring technical quality and adherence to project deliverables and NRC Program Policy. Field monitoring visits will be conducted to assess progress, identify technical quality and implementation issues, and support necessary adjustments. The adviser will lead efforts to strengthen safe programming standards and support cross-cutting initiatives to ensure Do-No-Harm principles are upheld. Additionally, the adviser will identify training needs for education staff, design and conduct training sessions, and provide oversight and technical support for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data collection and analysis. Regular engagement with TVET stakeholders, particularly government ministries and education authorities, is essential to ensure all relevant stakeholders are included in project planning and implementation. The adviser will also oversee all TVET consultancies and partnerships at the national level.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in Engineering, Education, Economics, or a related field. A minimum of 10 years of experience in technical and vocational education strengthening, workforce development, women's skills development, and youth development is required, preferably in Somalia or similar contexts. Candidates should have experience in developing and implementing effective capacity-strengthening models and approaches for organizations and individuals. A strong knowledge of TVET frameworks, programs, and certification practices is essential, along with an understanding of the economic and educational contexts affecting women and youth in Somalia. Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution abilities, are necessary, as well as strong communication skills in both English and Somali. Experience in gender programming and promoting meaningful youth participation is also required, along with a high level of technical expertise in Youth and TVET program development. Expertise in livelihoods programs is considered an advantage.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in a relevant field such as Engineering, Education, or Economics is required for this position. This educational background should provide a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of technical and vocational education and training, as well as the socio-economic factors affecting youth and women in Somalia.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in technical and vocational education strengthening, workforce development, women's skills development, and youth development. Candidates should have a proven track record of developing and implementing effective capacity-strengthening models and approaches, particularly in challenging contexts similar to Somalia. Experience in engaging with various stakeholders, including government departments, donors, and community-based institutions, is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Somali is mandatory for this position. Strong communication skills in these languages are necessary to effectively engage with stakeholders and ensure the successful implementation of the project. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Mogadishu, Somalia, and the contract duration is 20 months. The salary will be based on grade 9 of NRC’s salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. The position may be offered as either a National or International contract. NRC is committed to diversity and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability. The organization emphasizes a supportive work culture that empowers employees to share ideas and take responsibility.