Expression of Interest (EOI)
Capacity Development for Public Employment Service Centre (PESC) Staff and Soft Skills Training for Jobseekers.
Reference Number: 83486954
Publication date: 16.04.2025
General information
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federally owned international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. The GIZ Office in Kigali covers GIZ’s portfolio in Rwanda and Burundi. GIZ Rwanda/Burundi implements projects on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union and other commissioning authorities in the following priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development; Good Governance; Climate, Energy and Sustainable Urban Development; Digitalization and Digital Economy; and regional projects in the Great Lakes Region.
Skills Development for Economic Transformation (SD4T)
Rwanda’s economic growth has been remarkable, annual growth rates averaged at eight per cent over the past two decades. Yet, according to the 2024 annual report of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) unemployment (14.9%) and underemployment (54.2%) remain high. The majority of the population works in the agriculture sector, where incomes are low. Moreover, the number of young people entering the labour market is increasing. A large proportion of local companies are unregistered micro-enterprises which are not very competitive and cannot harness the long-term potential for growth. Most of them are only creating a handful of jobs at present. Domestic value creation, specifically in the light industrial sector is low and meets international standards only to a limited extent. At the same time, the professional skills of many job seekers do not match the requirements of the labour market.
With strategies like the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the Made in Rwanda Policy, the Government of Rwanda is promoting skills development, the creation of off-farm jobs and domestic value creation. To contribute to the Rwandan Government’s strategy, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GIZ to implement the programme “Skills development for economic transformation (SD4T)” from 2023 to 2026, as part of the priority area “Sustainable Economic Development” of the Rwandan-German Development Cooperation. The programme is co-funded by the European Union (EU). The programme’s main political partners are the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC). As a specific focus, SD4T supports the Government of Rwanda in stepping up its efforts for local inclusion and graduation of refugees out of humanitarian aid, which is reflected in the Joint Strategy on Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities in Rwanda (2021-2024) by MINEMA and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The programme aims to create jobs and strengthen the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in the light manufacturing industry (e.g. furniture production, metal processing etc.) according to the principles of inclusivity, productivity and environmental sustainability. This will be achieved by following an integrated approach to employment promotion, consisting of 1) the promotion of technical and vocational education and training to enhance the quality of labour supply, 2) private sector development to raise labour demand, and 3) economic policy advice to improve the matching of labour supply and demand. A specific focus is placed on the economic empowerment of women, refugees, and host communities.
The overarching objective of the Economic Transformation pillar within the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) 2024 – 2029 is to: “Advance the Vision 2050 pillars of Competitiveness and Integration, Agriculture for Wealth Creation as well as Urbanization and Agglomeration.” Indicators of the pillar include achieving at least 10% annual average GDP growth in the industry sector and creating 1.25 million productive and decent jobs
Context
The Public Employment Service Centres (PESCs) play a key role in supporting jobseekers, offering services such as job matching, career guidance, and employment promotion. However, gaps remain in the capacity of PESC staff to offer high quality, individualized employment services, and jobseekers often lack the soft skills essential to thrive in today’s workplace.
To address these gaps, the GIZ-SD4T programme will implement this joint intervention in close collaboration with MIFOTRA’s Chief Skills Office (CSO) to strengthen the capacity of PESC staff and improve the employability of jobseekers through targeted soft skills training.
The ability of Public Employment Service Centres to support jobseekers effectively depends on the knowledge, tools, and approaches available to staff. While technical knowledge may exist, there is a need to enhance capacity in delivering comprehensive career guidance services, matching job profiles to labour market needs, and collaborating closely with educational institutions (including TVET schools and IPRCs) and the private sector. This intervention will therefore, address both the supply side (jobseekers) and the service delivery side (PESC staff), providing practical and context-relevant training to strengthen Rwanda’s public employment service system and increase the employability of youth.
Objective of this assignment:
To achieve the objectives below, the GIZ-SD4T programme is hiring a consultant with expertise in employment promotion, career guidance, and capacity development to:
Enhance the capacity of PESC staff and career guidance staff from educational institutions (including TVET schools and IPRCs) to deliver more effective career guidance and employment services
This is aimed towards strengthening the ability of staff to offer relevant, individualized, and market-oriented support to jobseekers. The intervention will also include a rapid needs assessment to identify current gaps and inform a tailored training approach that builds practical skills, enhances understanding of labour market dynamics, and improves overall service quality.
Improve service delivery in PESCs by equipping the staff and management to effectively collaborate with private sector stakeholders
Recognizing the importance of private sector engagement in employment promotion, the intervention will enable PESC staff to enhance their ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with employers and training providers. This will lead towards more responsive and demand driven services, improve job matching efforts, and help align career guidance with real labour market needs.
Improve jobseekers’ employability by equipping them with essential soft skills required by employers in the labour market
The intervention will also include soft skills training for jobseekers, focusing on developing competencies that are consistently highlighted by employers as critical for success in the workplace. These include effective communication, teamwork, time management, and CV development skills that can significantly improve jobseekers' readiness and confidence when entering or re-entering the labour market.
Duration of the assignment:
GIZ shall hire the contractor for the anticipated contract term, from 29.05.2025 to 15.09.2025.
Tasks to be completed by the consultant:
The consultant shall provide the following services which comprise of two key components:
Capacity Building for PESC Staff and Career Guidance staff
Objective: Strengthen the ability of PESC staff and career guidance staff from different educational institutions (including TVET schools and IPRCs) to deliver individualized and market-relevant employment services.
Target Group:
Up to 20 participants in Kigali and 12 participants from Huye and Musanze (PESC staff, CSO staff and career guidance staff from different educational institutions (including TVET schools and IPRCs)
- Locations: Kigali, Huye, and Musanze.
Duration & Format:
- 2-day in-person training per district.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct a rapid needs assessment (through questionnaires and or virtual meetings) to identify current service delivery gaps, capacity needs, and priority topics.
- Design and deliver interactive training sessions tailored to the identified needs.
- Possible focus areas may include:
- Practical career guidance methodologies and tools
- Job profiling and matching techniques
- Engagement with employers and institutions
- Delivering individualized support to jobseekers
Soft Skills Training for Jobseekers
Objective: Improve the employability of jobseekers by equipping them with foundational soft skills matching employers’ needs.
Target Group:
- 210 jobseekers (70 per district), mobilized by the public employment service centres
- Locations: Public employment service centres’ premises in Kigali, Huye, and Musanze.
Duration & Format:
- In each of the three locations (Kigali, Huye, and Musanze), the consultant will facilitate soft skills training for 70 jobseekers divided into two separate cohorts of 35 jobseekers each
- Each group will participate in a 3-day, in-person training session, designed to be interactive, participatory, and tailored to the local context and needs of the participants.
Key Responsibilities:
- Prepare an engaging, participatory training programme that responds to the needs of young jobseekers entering the labour market.
Deliver training sessions focusing on core soft skills such as:
- CV and cover letter writing
- Communication skills
- Workplace behaviour and professionalism
- Confidence building and self-presentation
- Provide simple job search tools and guidance to help participants prepare for employment opportunities.
In addition to the above-mentioned tasks, the milestones laid out in the table below are to be achieved during the contract term:
|
Milestones/process steps/partial services |
Timeline |
|
Debriefing meeting with GIZ-SD4T and CSO Staff responsible for this assignment |
3rd June 2025 |
|
Inception report: with clear methodological framework and reflecting the understanding of the assignment, training plan, and summary of needs assessment findings |
7 days after signing the contract |
|
Delivery of capacity-building workshops for PESC staff and career guidance staff (Kigali, Huye, Musanze) |
9th June - 3rd July 2025 |
|
Delivery of soft skills training for jobseekers in the three districts |
9th June 2025- 3rd July 2025 |
|
A final report of this assignment submitted to GIZ-SD4T and the Chief Skills Office (CSO) |
27th July 2025 |
Note: All training materials, manuals, and modules developed as part of this assignment should be handed over to GIZ-SD4T upon completion of the assignment, for potential future use and adaptation.
Tender requirements
Qualifications of the consultant:
The consultant is required to propose personnel for the positions specified here and described with respect to the areas of responsibility and qualifications on the basis of relevant CVs.
The specified qualifications below represent the requirements to reach the maximum number of points in the technical assessment.
1.1 Expert (Senior consultant):
1.1.1 General qualifications
Education: A university degree in Labour Economics, Education, Human Resources, Social Sciences, or a related field. Relevant certificates to be submitted in the bid.
Professional experience: 10 years of proven professional experience (with references) in interventions related to employment promotion, labour market integration, vocational education and training (VET), or public employment services. The expert must demonstrate a track record (proven by certificates of good completion) having three (3) comparable assignments of successfully designing, implementing, and evaluating capacity building programs. This includes substantial experience in conducting needs assessments, delivering similar trainings, and collaborating with various stakeholders such as educational institutions (including TVET schools and IPRCs) and the private sector.
1.1.2 Experience in the region/knowledge of the country
10 years of proven experience (with references) in Rwanda and or the region.
1.1.3 Language skills:
Business fluency in English and Kinyarwanda.
Quantitative requirements
|
Fee days |
Number of experts |
Number of days per expert |
Comments |
|
Preparation/debriefing |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Implementation |
1 |
30 |
|
|
Travel expenses |
Number of experts |
Number of days/nights per experts |
Comments |
|
Per-diem allowance in Huye and Musanze |
1 |
20 |
According to GIZ Rates: 25,000 Rwf per full day spent outside Kigali |
|
Overnight allowance in Huye and Musanze |
1 |
18 |
According to GIZ Rates: 34,000 Rwf per night |
|
Travel costs |
1 |
8 |
For car rental when traveling outside Kigali Up to 70,000 Rwf per route. Please note: An EBM invoice will be required for this budget line to be settled. |
|
Other costs |
Number of experts |
Amount per experts |
Comments |
|
Communication and Internet costs |
1 |
20,000 RWF |
The consultant will be provided a lumpsum amount to cover communication and internet fees, enabling effective coordination of the activities i.e. when conducting a needs assessment, regular phone calls and virtual meetings. |
|
Flexible remuneration |
|
|
A budget of RWF 1,044,200 is foreseen for flexible remuneration. Please take this budget into account in your price schedule. Use of the flexible remuneration item requires prior written approval from GIZ. |
Calculate your financial bid exactly in line with the quantitative requirements of the specification of inputs above. There is no contractual right to use up the full days/travel or workshops or budgets. The number of days/travel/workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum amounts. The regulations on pricing are contained in the price schedule.
Conceptual
The consultant should indicate how the services outlined in Chapter II (Tasks to be completed by the consultant) are to be provided. Reference should be made to the following criteria:
1 Strategy: The consultant is required to consider the tasks to be performed with reference to the objectives of the services put out. Following this, the consultant presents and justifies the explicit strategy with which it intends to provide the services for which it is responsible.
2 Cooperation: The consultant is required to present the actors relevant for the services for which it is responsible and describe the cooperation with them.
3 Processes: The consultant is required to describe the key processes for the services for which he/she is responsible and create an operational plan or schedule that describes how the services according to (Tasks to be completed by the consultant) are to be provided. In particular, the consultant is required to describe the necessary work steps
4 Project management of the contractor: The consultant must explain his/her approach to coordinating with the GIZ project and the Chief Skills Office, ensuring alignment with (services to be provided by the consultant). This includes communication, progress monitoring, and integrating expertise while managing timelines and deliverables effectively.
Requirements on the format of the tender
The technical proposal or concept detailing the consultant’s intended approach towards achieving the deliverables of this assignment. The technical proposal/ concept should not exceed five pages. If one of the maximum page lengths is exceeded, the content appearing after the cut-off point will not be included in the assessment. External content (e.g. links to websites) will also not be considered). In addition to this, a CV of the proposed consultant not exceeding four pages should be attached to the technical proposal/ concept.
A detailed financial proposal exactly in line with the quantitative requirements of the specification of inputs mentioned in above.
- Submission of the offer
Technical offer:
Technical offer must include the following documents:
- Technical Proposal (attached template for technical proposal MUST be used)
- Up to date CVs of proposed experts
- Self-declaration of eligibility for the award
- Company administrative documents: registration certificate (RDB), VAT registration certificate and Tax clearance certificate
- Three Company References for the completion of similar assignments fin the last 3 years, as described in the eligibility assessment grid
Financial offer:
Financial offer indicates the all-inclusive total contract price, supported by a breakdown of all costs as described in the specification of inputs. The costs must be in RWF and VAT excluded (Price sheet must be used). The Financial offer will be regarded as exclusive of VAT in the case where there is no information about VAT.
Your EoI has to be submitted in 2 separated emails to RW_Quotation@giz.de until latest 30.04.2025:
- The technical offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: 83486954 -Technical offer.
- The financial offer has to be submitted in PDF format and as attachment to the email with the subject: 83486954 - Financial offer.
If the emails exceed the default email size of 30MB, offers can be exceptionally submitted through https://filetransfer.giz.de/, as indicated. The subject of recipient notification must be edited with the subject indicated above and the notification message must include the password to access the files.
Offers submitted through any other sharing platform, as google documents or similar will not be considered.
Without the subject mentioned, your offer may not be considered
Offers submitted in hard copy will not be considered.
GIZ reserves all rights.
Annexes:
Annex 1 - Eligibility assessment grid
Annex 2 - Self-declaration of eligibility for the award
Annex 3 - Technical assessment grid
Annex 4 - Technical Proposal template
Annex 5 - Price sheet