JOB DESCRIPTION: 
Introduction
Terms of Reference: Invitation to tender for Armenian research and consultant organization with experience in rural agricultural and food processing sector
Objective of the tender: Provide an overview of the current and in the future needed skilled workers in rural areas. Use of data from labour market statistics, education statistics and industry reports and trends in specific in the agricultural and food processing sector. Assess and describe the demand for skilled worker with graduation in dual vocational education and training (VET) with apprenticeship, short-term courses, continuous education or similar trainings. Compare the figures with the whole country and thus generate more reliable conclusions for the national level. The mandate shall be executed in tight collaboration with the implementing partners.
Abbreviations:
ADA Austrian Development Agency
AKIS Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System
ANAU Armenian National Agrarian University
A-VET Vocational education and training in the agricultural sector
BMZ German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Dual VET It is a VET system implying simultaneous learning process in colleges and companies and close engagement of private sector companies in development of curricula. The apprentice should be at least 50% working and learning in the private sector.
GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
HAFL School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Berne University of Applied Sciences
HEKS Swiss Church Aid
MAVETA Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia
SDA Strategic Development Agency
SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
VET Vocational education and training
Description
Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project improves the knowledge and skills of professionals and students in agriculture and related fields. Furthermore, it supports the development of the legal and institutional framework for dual professional education. Thus, it contributes to sustainable, climate friendly, inclusive growth, increased incomes and enhanced (self)-employment in rural Armenia.
MAVETA works to anchor dual education approach at the political and institutional level: policies shall become more coherent, educational institutions more effective, and a cooperation between the public and the private sector shall be well established. On the ground, the project works with Goris State Agricultural College, Sisian branch of ANAU (Syunik), Stepanavan State Agricultural College (Lori), Berd Multifunctional State College (Tavush), Etchmiadzin Craftsman State School (Armavir) and Yerevan branch of ANAU.
The selected professions within the MAVETA project include Veterinary Specialist, Milk and Dairy Technologist, Farmer, Agricultural Machinery, Milk Farm Manager, Orchard Workers / Nut and Fruit Farmers.
The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.
The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).
Objectives of the study: criteria and questions
To focus on professions in demand in the rural area we are looking for an Armenian research and consultant organization, in asset is work experience in rural agricultural and food processing sector, which is able to assess and describe the demand and supply for specific professions in the agriculture and food processing sector regarding skilled workers, with graduation in dual VET with apprenticeship, short-term courses, continuous education or similar trainings in all Armenian regions (all marzes including Yerevan). The consultancy shall provide an outside perspective on the agricultural and food processing sector, their offer of apprenticeship and workplaces in specific professions.
The consultancy will be carried out in the following steps:
Collected data and analyse data on key subsectors of the agriculture and food processing sector: Conduct interviews, surveys and statistical analyses of different sub sectors in particular number of companies, production and export potential, number of employees, growth potential, state support programs etc.
Identify the most in-demand professions and skills for the sector (needed by the employer): Conduct interviews, surveys and statistical analyses of the agriculture and food processing sector. Summarize the actual number of working places, the demand for apprentices and skilled workers in in the agriculture and food processing sector.
Analyse the skills and qualifications required for these professions: Define in different group discussions with companies their needs for skilled workers. Define in detail what kind of skills are missing. Compare the results of these exchanges with the elaborated curricula for the six professions and with the results of the AKIS study (the project has already conducted). Propose new professions or adaptation of curricula for a better fit to the need of the sector
Evaluate the current supply of professionals in these fields: Assess the gaps between demand and supply and provide recommendations for addressing these gaps. Identifying necessary steps towards an adapted offer for colleges to fil the gap for formal and informal education in the two sectors and prove them with validation workshops with interviewed key stakeholders. Identify as well smart solutions as incentives for private sector to employ apprentices and provide best practices from other countries.
In specific the study has to give answers to the following questions:
- Validate the demand and supply of the 6 MAVETA professions in the MAVETA regions around the selected MAVETA colleges
- Identify the relevance of the 6 MAVETA professions in other regions based on needs
- Identify other skills needed in Agriculture and Food processing where there is a gap between the demand and supply
- Provide detailed analysis of this demand-supply gap, what are the challenges
- Identify the ability and willingness of the private sector to engage in skills development (Readiness analysis across different private partners based on their typology: micro-enterprises, SME, big companies)
Make a gap analysis of the skills in Agriculture and Food processing based on the demand and supply, and make recommendations for scalability, optimization, specialization and mobility aspects
Methodology and process
The methodology for this analysis involves a combination of different approaches including document and secondary data review, rapid appraisals, questionnaires, individual interviews with key stakeholders, focus group interviews and workshops. The study will include the following components:
Data Collection
- Surveys and Interviews: Conduct surveys and interviews with employers in the agricultural and food processing sectors to understand their workforce needs.
- Educational Institutions Analysis: Gather information from educational institutions regarding existing training programs related to agriculture and food production.
- Labor Market Analysis: Analyse existing labour market data to identify trends in employment within these sectors.
Stakeholder Consultation
- Focus Groups: Organize focus group discussions with farmers, agribusiness owners, local community leaders, and potential workers to gain qualitative insights into workforce challenges.
- Government Engagement: Consult with government representatives to understand policies affecting workforce development in agriculture.
Analysis
- Demand Analysis: Analyse collected data to identify key professions in demand along with their associated skill requirements.
- Barrier Assessment: Assess barriers faced by potential workers in rural areas that hinder their entry into these professions.
- Reporting
Final Report Submission: Submit a comprehensive final report that includes findings, recommendations, policy implications, etc.
Deliverables
In result of this assignment HEKS should receive the following deliverables:
- an inception report detailing the proposed methodology, work plan, timelines, and outline of the final report.
- a comprehensive final report of maximum 30 pages with detailed findings, analysis, and recommendations plus annexes
- A presentation of findings to project implementers, stakeholders, including policymakers and educational institutions have to be executed.
Schedule and Budget
Provide a detailed timeline for the study, including key milestones and deadlines for each deliverable.
Draft schedule:
What: Selection of the vendor
When: une 13, 2025
Who: HEKS, SDA, HAFL
What: Contracting of selected organization
When: June 17, 2025
Who: HEKS SC
What: Submission and Approval of the Inception Report (before the start of the data collection)
When: June 24, 2025
Who: Selected vendor
What: Submission of the draft feasibility study
When: August 11, 2025
Who: Selected vendor
What: Submission of comments by HEKS, SDA, HAFL
When: August 18, 2025
Who: HEKS, SDA, HAFL
What: Finalization and submission of the final feasibility study
When: August 29, 2025
Who: Selected vendor
The payment of the consultant(s) fees will be made in two steps:
- 20% upon approval of the inception report
-30% upon submission of the draft feasibility study
- 50% upon acceptance of the final study, presentation (.pptx) and evaluation workshop
Management roles and responsibilities
HEKS and its partner organizations will actively participate in the study process, ensuring the submission of all required documents, organizing meetings and interviews, and mobilizing project beneficiaries for focus groups. The project is committed to providing the vendor with all data collected during its implementation, along with the relevant instruments. The transport of the consultants to the regions is the responsibility of the consultants. The cost will be reimbursed according to an expenditure invoice.
- Study commissioner (HEKS)
- Manage the whole study process and budget
- Providing all relevant data, documents and templates to the consultant(s)
- Establishing contact to partner organisations and other relevant stakeholders
- Present and discuss results, recommendations and steering decisions with stakeholders
Consultant(s)
- Overall responsibility for the study design, including the methodology, tools, and sampling
- Conduct data collection & analysis
- Elaboration of Inception Report
- Elaboration of Draft Report
- Elaboration of Final Report
- Implementation of final workshop
-Study commissioner line manager (HEKS)
- Establishing contact to private partners and local government institutions if necessary
- Write management response (incl. steering decisions)
Follow-up of the study
The results of the feasibility study will be shared and discussed among the project implementation partners, the HEKS management and the MAVETA steering committee, including all donors. The feasibility study will also guide the second phase of MAVETA.
List of documents
Following documentation will be provided by HEKS to the selected organization:
- Project proposal, log-frame and budget
- AKIS study
- Baseline survey
- Semi-Annual Reports (5)
- Minutes of Steering Committee and Partner Cooperation Meetings
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 
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Study team and qualifications
The consultant(s) is/are expected to bring along the following methodological and thematic expertise and experience.
Essential qualities are:
- Thematic up-to date knowledge and experience in projects/programs/initiatives in economic development, labour market development, vocational educational and training (VET), dual-VET
- Professional experience and skills in robust assessment methodologies
- Confirmed experience in the management of a feasibility team comparable in size, composition and scope
- Confirmed experience in assessment a similar development intervention
- Strong analytical and editorial skills, ability to synthesise and write intelligibly for different audiences
- Excellent interviewing skills, including ability to conduct interviews with a diverse group of people.
Team leading competencies (applied to team leader)
- Experience in multilateral and bilateral development cooperation and proven knowledge of the international multilateral system
- Ability to work and communicate in English plus excellent writing skills in requested language
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: 
Application: Contact and Deadline
Interested consultants (companies, organisations) are welcome to submit a brief proposal to the HEKS representation by email at *******.****@****.** (Senior VET advisor) with copy to ****.*********@*********.*** (HEKS South-Caucasus Regional Director) latest by 5 pm local time on June 6, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The technical proposal should be no more than 5-8 pages in length and should describe the service provider's:
Presentation of the consultant (max. 1 to 2 pages); prior experience with similar mandates or work should be provided in an appendix,
Understanding of the mandate, methodology and approaches (max. 2 to 3 pages; + indicative time chart 1 p.),
Structure and qualifications of the proposed team (max. 2 to 3 pages), including the organization of the team and confirmation of availability of the proposed team in accordance with the time chart; CVs should be provided in an appendix.
Appendixes:
Experience of the consultant with similar mandates/ work
CVs of the proposed staff
The technical proposals should be accompanied with a financial proposal
The financial proposal should be no more than one page and should clearly outline the daily rates in AMD and/or CHF.
This outline should provide a comprehensive framework for your feasibility study. If you need more detailed information or specific data, feel free to ask.
Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this announcement through Career Center and mention the URL of its website - www.careercenter.am. Thanks.