The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) through the Ministry of Economy and Finance has received a Credit from International Development Associate (IDA) to fund the Livelihood Enhancement and Association of the Poor (LEAP) Project. The project is a 5- year funded by the World Bank with IDA Credit number 5960-KH with the project code P153591. The project has a total budget of SDR 15,100,00, approximately USD 20,170,000 and became effective on May 26, 2017 and has a closing date of November 30, 2022. The project development objective (PDO) is to improve access of poor and vulnerable households in selected communities to financial services, opportunities for generating income, and small-scale infrastructure, and to provide immediate and effective response in case of an eligible crisis or emergency. This would be achieved through the: (a) establishment of self-help groups (SHGs), savings and credit groups, producer groups, agricultural cooperatives and other peoples groups/organizations; (b) provision of capacity building and training to beneficiaries to improve their income generation opportunities; (c) establishment of private sector linkages to improve and expand market opportunities; and (d) identification and provision of community-based social and economic infrastructure to help improve livelihood and economic productivity of the poor.

The objective of this assignment is to accelerate the implementation of the Sub-Components 1.2 and Sub-Component 2.1, as described above, with a focus on the professional quality and timeliness of activities, so as to generate the program’s strategic results. The incumbent is expected to show initiative and provide technical guidance to PCO, Sub-Management Teams (SMTs) in Siem Reap Province and Phnom Penh Capital Hall staff in skills development program components to enable them to achieve the program’s objectives. These actions are expected to build the PCO human capacity, through his/her example and mentoring, in fostering interagency cooperation in the implementation of the LEAP’s Project Development Objective (PDO).

The project is divided into four components. These are: 

Component 1: Improving Livelihoods for Rural Poor and Vulnerable Households

Sub-Component 1.1: Building and Strengthening Institutions of the Rural Poor

Sub-Component 1.2: Enhancing Skills and Employment Opportunities for the Rural Poor

Sub-component 1.3: Improving Basic Services and Community Infrastructure for the Rural Poor

Component2: Improving Livelihoods for Urban Poor and Vulnerable Households

Sub-Component 2.1: Enhancing Skills and Employment Opportunities for the Urban Poor

Sub-Component 2.2: Improving Basic Services and Community Infrastructure for the Urban Poor

Component 3: Project Management, Coordination, and Monitoring &Evaluation

Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response

For Sub-Components 1.2 and Sub-Component 2.1 would provide investments in the development of beneficiary skills (particularly unemployed youth and women from poor households) and the ability to obtain new or improved employment. Activities would include: (a) local labor market surveys and training provider assessments; (b) beneficiary selection; (c) employability training and career counseling; (d) voucher provision and skills training; (e) job placement and employment support, including to engage in partnership with the employers who provide specialized training.

The key beneficiaries of the project would be approximately 20,000 ID Poor and vulnerable households in the target 47 communes in Siem Reap Province and 13 Sangkats in Phnom Penh Capital, respectively.  The provision of skills development support aims to reach a total of approximately 2,100 individuals (Phnom Penh: 750 individual and Siem Reap: 1,350 individuals).

The Project Coordination Office (PCO) supports and facilitates executing agencies in their component implementation, and is responsible for project management and coordination, procurement and finance, reporting and communicating with the World Bank and key stakeholders.

It is expected that the incumbent would observe at all times in the highest standard of professional ethics and integrity, and promote results-oriented approach in the area of his/her responsibility and accountability.

The Skills Development Advisor (SDA) will work remotely and be based in the Project Coordination Office (PCO), Ministry of Interior (MOI). While working in-country, she/he will work under the supervision and guidance of the LEAP Project Manager and work in close collaboration with the National Skills Development Specialist (NSDS) for most of the tasks. She/he will be supported by Human Resource Development Facilitators (HRDFs), Human Resource Development Specialist (HRDS) and other team members working on the skills components of the project. The SDA will have the following functions:

1. Collect, review and analyze all the necessary documents and current operation procedures (guideline, process, templates, forms, and M&E system etc.) to fully substantiate all stages of implementation on skills development activities and to prepare and recommend additions and specific revisions to improve the quality of documentation and the clarity of procedures.
2. Work in close collaboration with the National Skills Development Specialist (NSDS) to lead the local labour market assessments in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, including (i) Survey employers about jobs that are in high demand and jobs with skills gap; (ii) Compile a list of local training providers; and (iii) Compile a list of sources for job placement and employers recruit workers (formal job boards, NEA referrals, local recruiters). With the supported by the NSDS and other skills development team members, the SDA will be responsible to (1) Develop methodology of the assessment—(Mid-November); (2) Draft survey instruments (December 1^st week); (3) Pilot and tailor the instruments (December 3rd week pilot and finalize by end December); (4) Train enumerators (Jan 1^st week); (5) Conduct data collection (Jan 2^nd week); (6) Data entry (soon after data collection​ completion); and (7) Analysis of data and assessment report (End February).
3. To take lead in preparing the TOR for tracer study consultant (Early 2020); develop the methodology of the Tracer study (2^nd half of 2020); Draft and finalize instruments (2^nd half of 2020); and develop outline of the tracer study report.
4. Provide technical assistance in order to facilitate efficient and expedited implementation of the skills development components of the project. This will include:
5. Review current process and practices for conducting various activities and propose modifications or feasible alternatives to achieve the results more effectively and efficiently. The proposed modifications or alternatives will be discussed with the relevant staff and the World Bank team.
6. Prepare detailed and practical steps (local labor market surveys and training provider assessments; beneficiary selection; employability training and career counseling; voucher provision and skills training; and job placement and employment support) to be included in the update to the PIM and COM.
7. Prepare detailed and practical guidelines on implementation of other activities that may not be included int he PIM and COM. Provide necessary advice, support, mentoring, and capacity building to relevant staff in the PCO and SMTs to implement the activities.
8. Provide timely assessment of progress, identify and resolve bottlenecks in the implementation of activities.
9. Review and contribute to skills development sections of semi-annual project reports and other M&E documents and the MIS system to ensure that the information shared about skills development activities is clear and accurate and clearly capturing the results of the project.
10. Advise the Project Manager on various ways to strengthen the effectiveness of the skills development activities of the project.
11. Perform other duties relating to skills development operation as requested by the Project Manager.