TVET Advisor

Job Description

About GIZ

As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, we are dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. We work with businesses, civil society actors and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. In Sierra Leone, the GIZ has been working since 1963 in the following areas: Employment promotion and agriculture, strengthening the health care system, resource governance and sustainable energy access. 

GIZ is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals regardless of gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. We embrace diversity and believe that inclusivity in the workplace is essential to our success and are committed to creating a work environment where all employees are valued and respected. Qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply. 

– Women’s perspectives are vital to our success. 

– Enjoy flexible hours and part-time working opportunities to help balance professional and personal commitments. 

– Benefit from family-friendly policies

The GIZ project “Youth Employment Promotion through Socio-Ecological and Economic Transformation of selected Rural Value Chains” (EET) aims at strengthening MSMEs in selected value chains in Sierra Leone with respect to business and job creation aspects, particularly for women and youth. To this end, the project works in five main fields of action: 

1. Support for MSMEs in selected agricultural value chains: Through a holistic value chain approach, tailored training and coaching as well as different financial support modalities, MSMEs in several agricultural value chains will be strengthened, production facilities optimized, and new products and supply chains developed. Supported value chains are the cassava, vegetables, poultry and cocoa/coffee value chains. The focus is on the creation of jobs for women and young people. 
2. Strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem: Under this output, ministries and the central bank will be advised on improving the general framework conditions for MSMEs and economic growth as well as an improved access to finance for MSMEs. 
3. Women economic empowerment: Women organisations and female entrepreneurs will be strengthened through training and mentoring along the 3R approach focusing on improved access to rights, representation and resources.
4. Improved Market access: Access to markets for agricultural producers, with a particular focus on women and young people, has been improved. 
5. Inclusive TVET Systems: The vocational training system is more gender-responsive and better aligned with the needs of the labour market.

We are advertising the position of “Advisor – TVET” in the EET Project in Freetown.

The Advisor for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will support the Freetown Office under the Socio-Ecological and Economic Transformation (EET) project in Sierra Leone. The TVET Advisor will work closely with relevant government counterparts, particularly the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and its subordinate structures, as well as with private sector partners, to strengthen the national TVET system. The position will focus on supporting the introduction of a dual training system and enhancing the relevance, quality, and labour-market orientation of vocational education and training, with particular attention to the inclusion of women and youth.

The role will be pivotal in strengthening institutional capacities, improving cooperation between vocational training institutions and the private sector, and supporting skills development aligned with labour market needs at the national level.

This position requires an expert who can lead technical interventions, coordinate and cooperate with partners at various levels, and contribute to the overall success of the EET project. Building and maintaining trusting relationships with government counterparts, training providers, private sector actors, and other partners, along with fostering strong internal cooperation, are particularly important elements of this role.

You are responsible for performing diverse, specialized, and complex tasks focused on technical vocational education and training in the context of the EET project. This role requires a high level of technical expertise in TVET systems, advisory skills, and strategic engagement with stakeholders. This includes conceptual development, coordination and implementation of TVET-related measures, as well as the monitoring, evaluation, and communication of project outcomes. All activities must be carried out in compliance with GIZ rules and regulations. The role requires a high degree of independence, initiative, and discretion within defined guidelines.

A. Responsibilities 

• You will support the implementation of TVET-related activities, with a particular focus on the introduction and operationalisation of a dual training system in Sierra Leone.
• You will advise the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and its subordinate structures on content-related and conceptual issues in the area of vocational education and training.
• You will promote cooperation between vocational training institutions and the private sector to ensure labour market-oriented training, including internships and in-company learning phases.
• You will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring TVET interventions, ensuring quality implementation and alignment with project objectives.
• You will oversee and manage contract awards to subcontractors in the area of vocational school strengthening and curriculum development.
• You will contribute to internal and external communication activities by drafting success stories and engaging with partners and stakeholders to ensure visibility and transparency of TVET-related interventions.
• In addition, you will contribute to regular reporting on policy and private sector development activities, outcomes and lessons learned to commissioning parties and any relevant partners.

B. Tasks 

Specific tasks of the Advisor – Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Freetown include, but are not limited to:

Technical Support and Advisory Services:

• Ensure all TVET-related activities support the inclusive and sustainable economic transformation objectives of the EET project, with particular focus on employability, skills development, and youth and women inclusion as well as for potential migrants and returnees.
• Support national-level stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify key actors, institutional capacities, and gaps within the TVET system, including public institutions, vocational schools, private sector actors, and training providers.
• Identify and advise on strategic policy and institutional interventions to support the introduction and scaling of a dual vocational training system in Sierra Leone.
• Support the development, updating, and harmonisation of TVET policies, strategies, and frameworks in cooperation with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and its subordinate structures.
• Promote and facilitate cooperation between vocational training institutions and the private sector to ensure labour market-oriented training profiles, internships, and on-the-job learning phases.
• Collaborate with partners to design and implement change projects aimed at strengthening vocational training institutions, curricula, and delivery mechanisms.
• Support the development and implementation of competency-based curricula, training standards, and assessment tools aligned with labour market needs.
• Support the strengthening of vocational training institutions through infrastructure development, including the coordination of dormitory construction and procurement of workshop and training equipment.
• Assist selected vocational schools in developing sustainable business models and expanding their learning and training offers.
• Assist with budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and operational planning related to TVET activities.
• Support the preparation of annual operational plans in line with the overall project objectives.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of TVET interventions, including documentation of results, best practices, and lessons learned.

Communication:

• Ensuring timely and smooth communication with project partners and within the project.
• Support the internal and external representation of the programme in coordination with the M&E Advisor of the programme and line management.
• Provide input to and develop ideas for communication materials and forward to the M&E Advisor of the programme. 
• Ensure visual documentation of activities.

Administration and Reporting:

• Support the reporting according to BMZ and EU standards.
• Active participation in the monitoring of the programme and exchanging experiences and lessons learnt with other colleagues. 
• Ensuring compliance with GIZ processes and rules (PuR). 

Supervision Received and Exercised 

Receives general direction from the EET Head of Programme.

1. Required qualifications, competences, and experience 

Qualifications 

• Completed master’s degree in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Education Sciences, Human Resource Development, Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences or comparable degree programs 
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills as well as high advisory competence in policy and private sector development.
• Experience supporting private sector development, policy advisory, or business ecosystem. 
• Experience in project management, including planning, implementing and monitoring projects in the context of international development cooperation.
• Familiarity with key tools, instruments, and frameworks used in private sector development. 
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
• English, also in reading and writing level C2, is a must. 

Professional experience 

• Several years of relevant experience in international development cooperation in the field of private sector development, finance, agriculture or similar areas. 

Other knowledge, additional competences 

• Commitment, team spirit, reliability, diplomatic skills, gender competence and intercultural understanding.
• Ability to think and act strategically and analytically, with quick perception and an eye for the essentials.
• Excellent people skills and ability to negotiate between different stakeholder groups.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team. 
• Strong problem-solving skills, proactive, responsible and result oriented.
• Committed to deadlines and goal oriented.

Mode of Application:

Suitable candidates are invited to apply not later than 15.02.2026 with this ref: Advisor – Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the EET Project in Freetown.

Applications include: 

• Cover letter 
• CV (including work experience and references)
• Photocopies of certificates 

and have to be submitted to the email address recruitmentsl@giz.de. Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for an interview. GIZ-Sierra Leone is an equal-opportunity employer, and therefore women are strongly encouraged to apply.