Call for Application: Unlocking Potential Entrepreneurship SADC Workshop

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Harare

Job Family: Education

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 10/10/2024

 

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

 

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

1. Background

The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (UNESCO ROSA) is organizing a workshop on entrepreneurship education in the SADC region to address youth unemployment and foster innovation.

 

This workshop aligns with the UNESCO Operational Strategy for Priority Africa 2022-2029 and the UNESCO Campus Africa Flagship Initiative aimed at empowering youth through higher education. Entrepreneurship education, especially in tertiary institutions such as universities and TVET institutes, is recognized as crucial to building a sustainable and innovative workforce across the region. However, the current state of entrepreneurship education in SADC is fragmented, with several challenges, including lack of resources, inconsistent policies, and insufficient institutional frameworks.

 

The workshop aims to map the status of entrepreneurship education in the region, tackle existing challenges, and identify key areas for development. Participants will include higher education representatives from the nine countries covered by UNESCO ROSA, with an emphasis on integrating entrepreneurship education holistically into curricula and broader institutional 
frameworks.

 

2. Purpose of the Call for Proposals
UNESCO ROSA is seeking proposals from interested experts, organizations, or institutions to contribute to the content development and facilitation of the upcoming Workshop on Entrepreneurship Education at the Tertiary Level in the SADC Region, to be held from March 31 to April 2, 2025, in Maputo, Mozambique. Proposals should focus on designing a holistic approach to embedding entrepreneurship education in tertiary institutions and addressing the identified challenges through innovative methods. 

 

3. Objectives
The objectives of the workshop are:
•    To assess the current state of entrepreneurship education in the SADC region’s tertiary institutions.
•    To identify challenges and develop strategies for embedding entrepreneurship education into teaching and institutional frameworks.
•    To create action plans for capacity building and collaboration among educational institutions, private sector stakeholders, and governments.
•    To promote regional cooperation for entrepreneurship education development.

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4. Scope of Work
Proposals must address the following key areas:

1.    Content Development: Develop a comprehensive training module for the workshop focusing on:
o    Mapping current entrepreneurship education initiatives in SADC tertiary institutions.
o    Holistic approaches to embedding entrepreneurship education across multiple disciplines.
o    Best practices for integrating real-world experiences, incubation programs, and private sector partnerships.
o    Addressing gaps in policy and institutional infrastructure that limit entrepreneurship education.

 

2.    Facilitation: Provide expert facilitation during the workshop to guide discussions, lead breakout sessions, and synthesize outcomes related to:
o    Policy alignment between educational institutions and government bodies.
o    Innovative teaching methods for entrepreneurship.
o    Capacity building for educators, with a focus on sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystems.

 

3.    Report and Action Plan: Post-workshop, develop a detailed report that includes:
o    Summary of the status and challenges of entrepreneurship education in the region.
o    Recommendations for institutional and policy-level improvements.
o    Actionable plans for advancing entrepreneurship education at the tertiary level in SADC countries
 

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5. Criteria for Selection
The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:
•    Expertise and Experience: Proven experience in entrepreneurship education, especially within the African or SADC context. Experience working with universities, TVET institutions, or other higher education providers is highly desirable.
•    Innovative Approach: Ability to provide innovative, practical solutions to integrate entrepreneurship education holistically into academic and institutional frameworks.
•    Relevance to the SADC Context: Understanding of the educational, socio-economic, and policy landscape in the SADC region, particularly with regard to youth employment and entrepreneurship.
•    Past Performance: Evidence of successful implementation of similar initiatives, particularly those focused on entrepreneurship or capacity building in educational institutions.
•    Collaborative Approach: Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, including educators, policymakers, private sector players, and international organizations.


6. Proposal Submission Guidelines
Interested applicants must submit a proposal that includes:
•    Overview of the Approach: A detailed explanation of how the proposer will design and deliver the workshop, including the methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes.
•    Team Composition: Information on the team members who will be involved in content development and facilitation, including their relevant experience and qualifications.
•    Budget: A comprehensive budget that outlines all costs associated with content development, facilitation, and reporting.
•    References: At least two references from similar projects or workshops conducted in the past.
 

Long Description

7. Timeline
•    Proposal Submission Deadline: 10 October 2024
•    Review and Selection of Proposals: by 28 October 2024
•    Contractual Arrangement: 1 November to May 2025
•    Workshop Dates: March 31 - April 2, 2025

 

8. Submission Process
Interested teams of consultants/consultancy firms may submit their proposals articulating their methodology and approach for undertaking the assignment with a cover letter together with CVs of the experts to the UNESCO using the following email address:  vacancies.harare@unesco.org by 10 October 2024(by midnight Harare time).

 

The above submission should be accompanied with a summarized matrix showing the qualifications, work experience and desirable skills of each team in relation to the aspects of the selection criteria above:  

 

Any inquiries regarding the ToR can be addressed to q.kong@unesco.org. Late submissions will not be accepted.

 

9. Evaluation and Selection
Proposals will be evaluated by an evaluation committee based on the criteria outlined above. Successful applicants will be notified by email, and further details regarding contract negotiations and the workshop agenda will be provided. 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)
Professionalism (C)

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For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• The Team leader/Lead consultant should have an advanced degree in the related field of study.
• The Team leader/consultant should have at least 5 years of proven experience in entrepreneurship education, especially within the African or SADC context. Experience working with universities, TVET institutions, or other higher education providers is highly desirable.
• All consultancy team members should have a good understanding of the educational, socio-economic, and policy landscape in the SADC region, particularly regarding youth employment and entrepreneurship.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

The desirable qualifications for the Lead Consultant is a minimum of a Masters degree in entrepreneurship education or a related field of study with demonstrated experience in entrepreneurship education, especially within the African or SADC context. Experience working with universities, TVET institutions, or other higher education providers is highly desirable.  All members of the consultancy team should have a good understanding of the educational, socio-economic, and policy landscape in the SADC region, particularly with regard to youth employment and entrepreneurship. The desirable qualifications for the supporting experts to the Lead Consultant is a minimum of a master’s degree in the related field.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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