CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING – Uganda

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR PROVISION OF VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING

Introduction: Light for the World is a global development Organisation empowering people with disabilities and enabling eye health services in developing countries. We focus on people with disabilities facing multiple barriers, including children, women rural communities and those hit by disaster.

Light for the World Uganda implementation focuses on two thematic areas: Economic Empowerment, and Child Eye Health. Our innovative disability inclusion work focuses on young people with disabilities, their right to inclusion and ensuring improved socio-economic standards of living. We implement programs in the Northern, Central, and Western districts of Uganda including Gulu, Lira, Moroto, Arua, Yumbe, Nwoya, Omoro, Palisa, Wakiso, and Mukono and Kikuube.

Background: Light for the World with funding from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is implementing a 3-year program called Leave No One Behind which seeks to contribute to humanitarian and long-term measures (in line with a humanitarian-development nexus approach) to combat Covid-19 and its impact on affected vulnerable people and target communities in South Sudan and Uganda.

In Uganda, Leave No One Behind Program is being implemented in 8 districts of Gulu, Lira, Moroto, Arua, Yumbe, Wakiso, Mukono, and Kikuube targeting young people with Disabilities.

The program through one of its result areas seeks to build their capacity and skills through vocational and Artisanal skills trainings as one of the strategies to enable participants have the required skills, capabilities and connections needed to achieve steady employment. The program will provide technical and life skills training, which will enable the young people with disabilities to successfully navigate the private sector and help them generate a sense of dependence, employability and have steady employment.

Light for the World is seeking for qualified Training Institutions, artisans, apprenticeship or on job trainers to provide specialized technical expertise and enhance hands on practical training and skills for persons with disability in Lira, Gulu, Moroto, Arua, Kikuube (Kyangwali), Yumbe (Bidibidi), districts of operation.

Time Frame:

• To successfully complete the vocational, apprenticeship training program, the participants will be expected to undergo a 3 – 6 months training program

Deliverables:

The contractors should be able to:-

1. Impart vocational/ artisanal skills that enhance the capacity of the target beneficiaries under Leave No One Behind (LNOB) Program:
2. Offer vocational and other skills training programs to trainees with disabilities in various skills – areas of focus should be in line with Hair dressing, Saloon, Cosmetology, Brick laying, Bakery, Carpentry and Joinery, motor vehicle mechanics, Decoration, Agri business, local artisanal and Crafts activities related initiatives and any other cottage activity among others.
3. Work with the respective District Disability Unions, District Local Government leaders and other stakeholders to review, and enrol the right applicants for training.
4. Successfully provide trainings to 5 -10 trainees in the respective Districts of Lira, Gulu, Moroto, Arua, Kikuube (Kyangwali), Yumbe (Bidibidi)
5. Provide accessible and appropriate facilities for trainees with disabilities undertaking different courses
6. The leadership or management of the training institutions/ centres and artisans should have demonstrated commitment or be able to provide key trained and skilled personnel that are well adapt to the vocational needs of persons with disabilities.
7. Provide monthly progress training reports to Light for the World highlighting progress of training areas covered, attendance by participants. Reports shall include, at a minimum, highlights, and measurable results for the period of performance, completion of progress against planned deliverables, problems encountered, planned activities, and open issues.
8. Course Evaluation: The training entity, institution, artisans shall evaluate all the students at the end of the training to assess their performance and thereafter, recommendations shall be given DIT Certificates of completion

Where possible, the institution/ trainer can provide a placement opportunity for the trainees following completion of training period to enable on job practicum.

1. The Contractor will provide services to Light for the World from the period of signing agreement and enrollment of participants for the period of the training with an option for extension where necessary. The contract will be based on the numbers of Light for the World registered participant (s) for Training.
2. Payment structure: Upon participant enrollment and start of the, Light for the World will pay 50% of the total fees and 50% up on completion of the training.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience in vocational skilling with a demonstrated track record of operation technical staff to conduct the trainings.
• The vocational courses should be able to demonstrate success in meeting the current private sector’s skills gap needs and the current labour market in the area of their operation.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment on disability inclusion.
• Trainers should be legally registered and operating under the certified regulatory body, or authority and have at least two to three years of work/ training experience. Artisanal trainers should be able to meet the standards of DIT, be affiliated to certified centres or access to DIT assessors to carry out the student progress assessment at the end of the training period.