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Tenders are invited for Technical Assistance: Piloting of In-school Youth Apprenticeship Program in FSM Closing Date: 9 Jan 2026 Type: Consultancy TERMS OF REFERENCES CONSULTING SERVICES Technical Assistance: Piloting of In-school Youth Apprenticeship Program in FSM Project Name FSM Skills and Employability Enhancement Project Grant Number D-9870 Implementing Agency FSM National Department of Education Contract Name Technical Assistance: Piloting of In-school Youth Apprenticeship Program in FSM Contract Reference Number FM-NDOE-523484-CS-INDV Intended Start Date February 2026 Background The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is committed to enhancing its vocational education offerings in high schools, particularly in response to the growing demand for skilled professionals in various industries. To support this effort, the National Department of Education (NDOE) is implementing the Skills and Employability Enhancement (SEE) Project, which focuses on developing occupational profiles, curricula, and apprenticeship programs aligned with industry needs. The project also seeks to build the capacity of educators, strengthen school-industry partnerships, and equip students with market-relevant skills to enhance their employability. Specifically, the SEE Project consists of the following three main components: Component 1: Improving equitable access to vocational education and training. The objective of this component is to ensure TVET access to all eligible youth, especially the poor and vulnerable youth, women, persons with disabilities, and geographically disadvantaged groups such as students or trainees from outer islands. The component aims to achieve this by expanding the availability of quality skills training while providing information, incentives, and support to increase participation of underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in TVET. Component 2: Improving the relevance and quality of TVET. The objective of this component is to enhance the relevance and quality of training offered by TVET institutions by upgrading the training curricula and its standards; improving the quality of trainers; and making provisions for independent testing and certification of skills. Component 3: Improving labor market information and employment services. This component aims to establish capacity within the Government to provide labor market information and employment support services with a view to improve labor market outcomes among potential workersincluding TVET graduatesin FSM. To this end, the activity will support schools and relevant Government units, and the SDOEs, in their efforts to match jobseekers with appropriate vacancies through comprehensive job search assistance. In 2025, the NDOE developed a draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to guide the implementation of in-school youth apprenticeship programs nationwide, including procedures for partner engagement, student eligibility, supervision, and assessment. In September 2025, representatives from all four FSM states convened to review the draft SOP and share their existing work-based learning initiatives, which could adopt the SOP. During 2024 2025, Chuuk State stakeholders collectively prioritized the establishment of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Youth Apprenticeship Program, to be implemented in partnership with Chuuk Hospital School, Chuuk Department of Education, Chuuk State Hospital, and possibly the Department of Commerce & Industry. Chuuk stakeholders agreed to develop a shared implementation plan, including the development and adoption of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), SOP, in-school youth apprenticeship soft skills training, and pilot implementation. In Yap, Yap High School has been facilitating on-the-job (OJT) programs in four sectors hospitality/tourism, construction, agriculture, and transportation since 2024. Yap stakeholders have expressed interest in adopting the in-school youth apprenticeship proposed SOP to provide students with more structured, competency-based work experience. Kosrae and Pohnpei have also expressed similar interest in adopting the proposed SOP in order to enhance pathways from schools to employment. To support these initiatives, NDOE seeks to recruit a consultant to guide, capacitate, and coordinate stakeholders throughout the design, launch, piloting, monitoring and completion of at least one cohort of in-school youth apprenticeship programs in each state. Objectives The purpose of the engagement isto provide techncial, operational and capacity-building assistance to State stakeholders to establish, launch, and implement targeted in-school youth apprenticeshipprograms, starting with Chuuk and Pohnpei, and possibly to Kosrae and Yap upon confirmation: Supporting inter-agency coordination Assisting in developing SOPs and MOU agreements Capacitating supervisiors, mentors and instructors Delivering training on in-school youth apprenticeship programming andsoft/core skills to instructors, mentors and students Supporting in pilot implementation and monitoring Implementation/Reporting Arrangments The Consultant will work closely with the Project Implementation Unit, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the timely and effective execution of project activities. The Consultant will report direclty to the Project Manager. Scope of Work Phase Scope Objectives Phase 1 Chuuk Finalize a maximum of two apprenticeship program MOUs and accompanying SOPs Support stakeholder technical alignment (e.g., DOE, Hospitals, Commerce & Industry) Convene Program Pre-Launch Partner Meetings Deliver pre-apprenticship soft/coreskills & employment reaadiness training to instructors, mentors, and students Support preparation and delivery of Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) examiniation Support implementation and completion of Cohort 1 pilot Support hiring process with an employer(s) for successful program gruades Pohnpei Meet with potential partners and conduct training for selected programs and apprenticeship program framework, SOP and MOU Finalize a maximum of two apprenticeship program MOUs and accompanying SOPs (per state) Support stakeholder technical alignment (e.g., DOE, R&D, employers) Convene Program Pre-Launch Partner Meetings Deliver pre-apprenticship soft/coreskills & employment reaadiness training to instructors, mentors, and students Implementation and completion of pilot program (cohort 1) Phase 2 Note: If confirmed by the schools, these activities will be added to the scope of this assignment through a formal amendment. Kosrae Meet with potential partners and conduct training for selected programs and apprenticeship program framework, SOP and MOU (travel to Kosrae 5 days in January, 2026) Finalize a maximum of two apprenticeship program MOUs and accompanying SOPs Support stakeholder technical alignment (e.g., DOE, REA, employers) Convene Program Pre-Launch Partner Meetings Deliver pre-apprenticship soft/coreskills & employment reaadiness training to instructors, mentors, and students Support preparation and delivery of CAN examiniation (if appliable) Provide CNA course MTOT (with SME master trainer) if the school confirms to decide CNA rollout Implementation and completion of pilot program (cohort 1) Yap Meet with potential partners and conduct training for selected programs and apprenticeship program framework, SOP and MOU Finalize a maximum of two apprenticeship program MOUs and accompanying SOPs (per state) Support stakeholder technical alignment (e.g., DOE, R&D, employers) Convene Program Pre-Launch Partner Meetings Deliver pre-apprenticship soft/coreskills & employment reaadiness training to instructors, mentors, and students Implementation and completion of pilot program (cohort 1) Deliverables and Tentative Timeline Scope Deliverables Travel Tentative Timeline Chuuk Chuuk in-school apprenticeship Program MOU & SOP Chuuk Program lauch report Chuuk soft/core skill training delivery report Chuuk pilot completion report (Cohort 1) Monthly progress reporting and end-of assignment/ pilot completion report (Cohort 1) report Required February 2026 June 2027 Pohnpei State-level in-school apprenticeship Program MOUs & SOPs Program lauch report Soft/core skill training delivery report Monthly progress reporting and end-of assignment/ pilot completion report (Cohort 1) report Required March 2026 June 2027 Kosrae Note: If confirmed by the schools, these activities will be added to the scope of this assignment through a formal amendment. Kosrae in-school apprenticeship Program MOU & SOP Kosrae Program lauch report Kosrae soft/core skill training delivery report Monthly progress reporting and end-of assignment/ pilot completion report (Cohort 1) report If the school confirms to decide CNA rollout: Support preparation and delivery of CNA examiniation Provide CNA course MTOT (with SME master trainer) Required This activity will be added to the scope of this assginment through a formal amendment. Yap Note: If confirmed by the schools, these activities will be added to the scope of this assignment through a formal amendment. State-level in-school apprenticeship Program MOUs & SOPs Program lauch report Soft/core skill training delivery report Monthly progress reporting and end-of assignment/ pilot completion report (Cohort 1) report Required This activity will be added to the scope of this assginment through a formal amendment. Evaluation Requirements This section details the basis upon which selection of the successful candidate will be based. Mandatory requirements Bachelors Degree in education, business management, human resources, vocational training, or a related field Proven experience in apprenticeship frameworks and SOP development Familiarity with high school-level apprentices Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4192829/technical-assistance-piloting-school-youth-apprenticeship-program-fsm
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