Recruitment of a firm responsible for the external evaluation of the forty-five (45) training frameworks developed within the PADESCE project

Project: Secondary Education and Skills Development Project

1. The Government of the Republic of Cameroon has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to finance the Project to Support the Development of Secondary Education and Skills for Growth and Employment (PADESCE) and intends to use part of the amount of this financing to make payments under the contract for Consultants for the external evaluation of the forty-five (45) training frameworks developed within the PADESCE project.

1. The development objective of PADESCE is to improve equitable access to quality secondary education and technical and vocational training adapted to the market, with a focus on girls. The specific objectives are: (1) Promote equitable and increased access to quality general secondary education; Develop training programs relevant to the job market in selected economic sectors (agribusiness, energy, digital economy, Building and Public Works) and (3) Promote increased and equitable access to market-relevant skills development programs in selected economic sectors. The project activities are organized around three operational components and a contingency component, stated as follows: (component 1): support to the general secondary education sub-system, (component 2) support to the skills development system; (component 3) technical assistance and project management; and (component 4) emergency response component in case of crisis.

1. The consultant's services (firm/cabinet) involve a study consisting of an in-depth and independent external evaluation of the 45 training frameworks developed according to the Competency-Based Approach to ensure methodological coherence and effectiveness compared to national and international standards. Specifically, the Consultant (Firm/Cabinet) will be required to:

• Evaluate compliance with the development methodology of the forty-five (45) frameworks in accordance with the methodological guides in force at MINEFOP, based on that of the OIF;

• Analyze the structure and content of the forty-five (45) training frameworks;

• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the forty-five (45) training frameworks;

• Formulate recommendations to improve the frameworks;

• Participate in the workshop for considering recommendations.

1. The General Coordinator of PADESCE invites Firms (hereinafter referred to as Consultants) to express their interest in carrying out this study. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they possess the required qualifications and relevant experience for the execution of said services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of skills among staff, etc.). The pre-selection criteria for a shortlist are as follows:

Profile of the Firm:

• Be legally recognized (Administrative file)
• Justify of general experience of at least five (05) years in skills development or public policy evaluation.
• Have carried out at least five (05) relevant assignments related to the development of training frameworks financed by donors (World Bank, AFD, GIZ, etc.) or national administrations;
• Possess one (1) experience in longitudinal impact studies in the TVET field. (Have this experience in Cameroon, in one of the sectoral ministries (MINEFOP, MINESEC, MINADER, MINEPIA, MINJEC), as well as regional realities (knowledge of the labor market);
• Have the logistical and human capacities to ensure national coverage, including in areas with reduced accessibility.
• The team proposed by the firm must have proven experience of at least five years in the development of training frameworks using the Competency-Based Approach;
• The expected key team must include at least:

• 01 mission leader with at least a Bac+5 degree in the field of training system development or equivalent qualification;
• Four methodologists, experts in training engineering and competency-based approaches;
• Four professionals in the digital sector;
• Four trainers in the digital sector;
• Four professionals in the agribusiness sector;
• Four trainers in the agribusiness sector;
• Four professionals in the construction sector;
• Four trainers in the construction sector;
• Four professionals in the energy sector.
• Four trainers in the energy sector.

1. Attention is drawn to consultants of the provisions of paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of Section III relating to conflicts of interest and paragraph 3.32 of Section III and Annex IV on fraud and corruption of the "Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers (IPF)", September 2023 and February 2025 editions ("Procurement Regulations relating to the World Bank's conflict of interest rules") are applicable.

1. Consultants may a...