Proposals invited for Evaluation of Phase 3.1 of Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET Project

Background:

The Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) project is implemented by UNESCO-UNEVOC with support of the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). The target groups of the BILT project are stakeholders in TVET: policy makers at Ministries and national bodies, labour market partners, TVET providers, and researchers. The project started in 2019 and will continue until 2025.

The overarching theme for BILT is new qualifications and competencies (NQCs) to ensure that TVET remains relevant for individuals, economies and societies. The four complementary TVET themes of the BILT project are:

• digitalization and TVET;
• greening TVET;
• entrepreneurship in TVET; and
• migration and TVET.

The focus of the project themes is to examine their multiple impacts on TVET systems. The activities within phase 3 of the BILT project are carried out along the following lines:

1. Bridging: Strengthening the bridges (connections) between TVET stakeholders in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
2. Innovation: Fostering innovation and knowledge generation. This includes the publication of Innovation and Learning Practices (ILPs) in TVET from the three project regions. ILPs are innovative, transferable to other contexts, and relevant to the project themes and objectives and to UNESCO priorities.
   Furthermore, this includes the work of the BILT Expert Groups.
3. Learning: Reinforcing learning and capacity building. Regular activities in this area are the ‘Learning Labs’ – webinars that serve to explore in-depth specific ILPs as an opportunity for peer learning. Furthermore, capacity building workshops for self-assessment with regards to the identification, integration and implementation of NQCs are organized.

Key Stakeholders:

• Project implementers: UNESCO-UNEVOC and BIBB;
• Project sponsor: BMBF
• BILT Advisory Committee: comprises high-level representatives from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe and provides strategic directions and opportunities to advocate the topics of BILT among policy makers and other key stakeholders;
• Expert Groups: help implement the BILT project by carrying out research, contributing case studies, and authoring publications; and
• Project participants/beneficiaries: UNESCO-UNEVOC and BIBB TVET networks in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa.

Evaluation objectives, purpose, and criteria

The objective of this evaluation is to provide summative and formative feedback to UNESCO-UNEVOC on the achievements of the BILT Phase 3.1 and how lessons learned can be taken forward to future phases. The evaluation should be structured according to OECD-DAC criteria, as listed below.

• Relevance – is the project doing the right things?
• Coherence – how well does the project fit?
• Effectiveness – is the project achieving its objectives?
• Efficiency – how well are resources being used?
• Impact – what difference is the project making?
• Sustainability – will the benefits last?

The application of these criteria requires adjustment to the BILT’s project aims; context and stakeholders. Each phase of the project has a defined work plan and a results-based matrix with performance indicators at output, outcome, and impact levels. These documents will be shared with the contractor at the outset of the evaluation.

Evaluation – tasks

UNESCO-UNEVOC seeks a contractor to undertake the evaluation of phase 3.1 the BILT project. Under the supervision of the Project Manager at UNESCO-UNEVOC, the Contractor shall perform the following tasks:

• Review project documents, products and activities based upon:
  
  • Internal documents and work plans
  • Progress reports
  • Interviews with BILT project staff
  • Examination of the web pages and publications
• Design an evaluation approach and undertake an evaluation based on:
  
  • Evaluation questions to be examined from different stakeholder perspectives (including the
    UNEVOC Network members who contribute to, and benefit from, BILT)
  • A use of mixed methods to gather, analyse and present data
  • A participatory approach considering the views of all stakeholders
  • A balance of views (e.g. of gender, geographical and system level representation)
• Prepare an evaluation report with the following components:
  • Executive summary (indicating key conclusions, lessons learnt and recommendations)
  • Overview of the project (describing the logic model underpinning the project, stakeholders involved and targeted by the project)
  • Purpose and scope of the evaluation (summative and formative) and rationale for methods used to collect and analyse data (and their limits)
  • Findings of the evaluation (according to the evaluation criteria)
  • Conclusions, lessons learnt and recommendations (linked to the evidence and findings)
• Lead a webinar where the main results are presented (conclusions, lessons learnt, and recommendations)
• Finalise the report in accordance with UNESCO-UNEVOC procedures and expectations.

The contractor needs to make choices in designing the evaluation method in terms of data collection and analysis. The BILT project is comprised of many activities (workshops; publications and web-based outreach and information related to the TVET themes) across three geographical areas. The structure of the evaluation approach must reflect these dimensions.

Timeline and deliverables

The evaluation must be undertaken between April and July 2024 and finalized by the end of August 2024 (with an agreed final report and a completed webinar presenting the results)

Last Date for Submission: 19 April 2024