Background and purpose

According to the 2021 ILO Iraq Labour Force Survey, the overall unemployment rate was recorded at 16.5 per cent, with youth unemployment alarmingly high at 35.8 per cent. Around 36.7 per cent of the youth population is not in education, nor in employment or training (NEET). Young females are notably more affected, with a NEET rate of 52.3 per cent, compared to their male counterparts at 22.1 per cent. The governorates of Duhok, Ninawa, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq are struggling to provide sufficient employment opportunities for youths exacerbated by the disconnect between the skills possessed by youth job seekers and the demands of the labour market. This misalignment between supply and demand stems from a lack of effective skills development programmes and a failure to adequately assess and anticipate labour market trends.

Meanwhile, Iraq is grappling with the effects of climate change putting especially rural jobs at risk. In response to changes in national and international climate policies, Iraq is committed to a decarbonization pathway with a conditional emissions reduction target of 15% by 2030 compared to business-as-usual scenario which require transitioning to renewable energy sources and economic diversification from oil. While ILO data indicate that well managed renewable energy transitions can create more jobs than will be lost as it will maximize opportunities. The ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all include skills and enterprise development as two important policy areas and is aligned to Iraq’s national climate plans “to identify the types of capacities to be built to ensure effective mitigation actions to provide green jobs”. As the green economy continues to grow, there is an increasing need to understand the skills gaps that exist within the workforce. This analysis aims to assess current skills, identify deficiencies, and highlight opportunities leading to development of apprenticeship programme and promote demand driven vocational skills training in alignment with emerging green economy needs.

1. Scope of work

Assignment Objectives: ILO in Iraq, seeks to hire an International Consultant to conduct skills diagnostics and skills gap analysis in the green economy to address the root causes of the misalignment between labour supply and labour demand and in anticipation of the transition to the green economy.

Selection of target green sectors: The consultant will select suitable green sectors which may include renewable energy (solar, wind, bioenergy); sectors that are not necessarily green but would benefit from energy efficiency; sustainable agriculture and irrigation, water and waste management; construction (green building, retrofitting), environmental protection and conservation, eco-tourism etc. Additionally, the consultant will need to look at the current green sector employment or those who have the potential to work in these sectors within the target region.

Conduct skills diagnostics and skills gap analysis: The consultant will conduct a deep dive to analyse the labour market needs in the selected high growth sectors within the green economy and assess labour demand-current skills; future skills; types of skills such as technical, soft and foundational skills and required level. The consultant will assess the labour supply and quality and evaluate the capacity of institutions to deliver skills for green jobs. The assessment will identify and understand the current and possible skills gaps and anticipated skill needs within the workforce as the green economy continues to grow and identify deficiencies and opportunities to inform the development of market-led apprenticeship programmes and vocational skills training.

Conduct Validation workshop: To validate the findings of the assessment and analysis, the consultant will convene a technical and policy foresight workshop with relevant stakeholders from businesses, social partners, education and training providers, NGOs, and relevant government ministries and agencies. This workshop plays a central role to also fill information gaps.

1. Detailed tasks

The consultant is expected to conduct the diagnostics with guidance from the “Skills for Productivity, Environment and Economic Diversification (SPEED) Guidance Note” (Annex 1).

1. Sector Selection: Consultant will use SPEED Start-up phase for green sector selection and prioritization ensuring alignment with national climate and environment commitments and strategies in consultation with key stakeholders and conduct in-depth technical assessment.

2. Identify sectors with current or emerging market demand, assess private sector investment trends, government priorities, etc and potential for skills to enhance sector performance.

3. Based on SPEED guidance note, conduct skills diagnostics and analysis of the labour market needs in the selected high growth green sectors for current and future workforce needs, skills gaps, and employment opportunities. Conduct structured qualitative and quantitative methods to assess labour demand- current employment; future skills demand based on policy shifts, technology trends, and investment trends; and type of occupation and the level of required skills.

4. Assess the labour supply and quality looking at current skills through analysis of workforce demographic data and review existing technical and vocational education and training programs for alignment with skills for green jobs. Evaluate the capacities of training institutions and trainers’ expertise and readiness to deliver skills for green jobs.

5. Conduct technical and policy oversight workshop with senior representatives from firms, sector experts, social partners, education and training providers, environment NGOs, and relevant government ministries and agencies, including environment agencies.

6. Produce a skills diagnostic assessment report accompanied by concrete recommendations at the policy, institutional, and enterprise levels whose aim is to bridge skill gaps and needs, address systemic issues and support the sector’s contribution to a just transition.

7. Based on findings from the skills diagnostics and skills gap analysis, the consultant will work with skills implementation expert and key industry informants to co-create, design and develop apprenticeship programmes for 3 prioritised green occupations.

8. Expected deliverables

Deliverable

Details of Expected deliverables

Duration

Time frame

1. Inception report

Submit inception report describing how the consultant will conduct the assignment including methodology, detailed work plan and timeline for the assignment, stakeholder engagement, data collection, tools used and reporting of findings.

5 Working Day

Deadline: To be submitted by 30th September 2025.

2. Draft skills diagnostic assessment Report

Skills diagnostic assessment findings, accompanied by a set of concrete recommendations

20 Working Day

Deadline: to be submitted by 31st October 2025

3. SPEED foresight workshop

Organization and delivery of 2-day SPEED Technical and policy foresight workshop and consolidation of findings

3 working days

Deadline: to be submitted by 30th November 2025

4. Validation workshop

Validation workshop for the findings

3 working days

1. Apprenticeship design

Contribute to the design of apprenticeship programme.

7 working days

6. Final Reports

A comprehensive report of the Skills Diagnostic Assessment with recommendations

12 Working Day

Deadline: to be submitted by 14th December 2025

1. Reporting arrangements

According to the time frame detailed under deliverables, the selected consultant will work under the technical guidance of the ILO Project Manager, Snr Employment Specialist/ Decent Work Team for Arab states, based at Beirut in coordination with the Country Coordinator. The International Consultant fees will be determined according to the fee structure made available by ILO.

1. Detailed qualifications, experience and skills required

The consultant should possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Educational Background: A minimum of a master’s degree in economics, human resources, education and training.

• Professional Experience: At least 10 years of professional experience including in conducting skills gap analyses or diagnostics, designing and implementing skills training programs, with a focus on marginalized groups such as refugees, IDPs, women, and youth. Experience in green jobs and sustainable development is highly desirable

• Technical Expertise: Understanding of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems and apprenticeship programmes. Knowledge of national qualifications frameworks (NQFs), curriculum development, and competency standards.

• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of Kurdish and Arabic is an advantage.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Proven experience in monitoring and evaluating training programs, including the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Selection criteria

Criteria

Weight

Description

Consultant’s qualification and competences

10%

Relevant education background and competences which include minimum of a master’s degree in economics, human resources, education and training or relevant degree.

Professional experience relevant to the TOR

15%

At least 10 years of professional experience including in conducting skills gap analyses or diagnostics, designing and implementing skills training programs, with a focus on marginalized groups such as refugees, IDPs, women, and youth. Experience in green jobs and sustainable development is highly desirable

Technical Expertise

10%

Understanding of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems and apprenticeship programmes. Knowledge of national qualifications frameworks (NQFs), curriculum development, and competency standards.

Compliance with the TOR

45%

The proposal should demonstrate a solid compliance with the TOR showing the methodology to be used to conduct the assignment and estimated schedule to achieve all deliverables described in this TOR.

Providing evidence of developing high-quality strategic documents

10%

Provide samples of previous work showing excellence in writing high-level strategic documents.

Communication Skills and evidence of developed high quality of produced documents

10%

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of Kurdish and Arabic is an advantage. Provide samples of previous work showing excellence in writing high-level strategic documents.

1. Indicators for evaluation of outputs

Submit a Comprehensive skills diagnostics and skills gap analysis report of not more than 25page minus appendices. The report should cover the context, detailed tools and methodology including key stakeholders consulted; findings and insights which include current skills inventory, required kills profile, Skills gap analysis and impact analysis, occupations and ideal skills sets for each. Additionally, the report should provide comprehensive recommendations at policy, institutional, and enterprise levels. These recommendations should include training and learning pathways and intervention, prioritization of training needs in the short to long term and future skills forecasting. The conclusion part of the report should provide a summary of key findings and implementation next steps.

1. Payment terms

Payment schedule

First Instalment: 10%of the total agreement amount equivalent to 5 working days will be paid upon submission of the complete deliverables 1 to the satisfaction of the ILO on or before 30th September. Note that this is necessary given the amount of extensive field work.

Second Instalment: 40% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 20 working days will be paid upon submission of the complete deliverables 2 and to the satisfaction of the ILO on or before 31st October.

Third Instalment: 26% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 13 working days will be paid upon submission of the complete deliverables 3 to 5 and to the satisfaction of the ILO on or before 30th November.

Final Instalment: 24% of the total agreement amount equivalent to 12working days on or before 14th December 2025.[FA1]

Travel arrangements (if applicable)

This call for consultancy is opened only for International External Collaborators. The International external collaborator will be expected to travel to Erbil-Iraq and will travel within Erbil, and to Sulaymaniyah and Duhok for field work.

• ILO will compensate travel costs from the country of residence to the project location and for shortest and most economic route as well as Iraq VISA application cost if applicable.

• The ILO will compensate Daily Substantial Allowances while staying in the duty station and as per UN rules and regulations

• In case traveling from Erbil to Sulaymaniyah or Dohuk is needed, ILO will facilitate the movement.

• Movements within Erbil governorate is under the full responsibility of the External Collaborator

u Additional information on the ToR (for internal use)

Title of advertisement:

(*to appear on UNGM)

Call for International[FA2] External Collaborator – Conduct a skills diagnostic and skills gap analysis in the green economy in Northern Iraq.

Summary of work to be performed:

(*for inclusion in the “Description” field on UNGM)

Maximum 1300 characters (please delete this text before entering content)

The ILO seeks the services of an international expert to conduct a skills diagnostic and skills gap analysis which will inform the skills in which 500 youths will be trained in through Vocational and Skills Training centres (VST). Furthermore, the consultant will identify opportunities for setting up apprenticeship programmes and then work with the Skills Implementation expert to co-create apprenticeship programmes in three identified occupations in sectors that have the potential to generate green jobs for youth in the targeted geographical areas.

Complexity of assignment (as per IGDS 695):

A Projects or technical tasks of a narrow scope and low complexity

B Projects or technical tasks of moderate complexity with either broad scope/limited depth or restricted scope/considerable depth

C Projects or technical tasks of broad scope and considerable depth

D Projects or technical tasks of broad scope, high complexity and impact

E Projects or technical tasks of exceptionally complex programmatic scope, unusual complexity and/or sensitive nature

Required experience and qualifications (as per IGDS 695):

1 Limited technical skills and less than 3 years of relevant experience

2 Limited technical skills and more than 3 years of relevant experience

3 Specialized degree or training in the relevant field and more than 5 years of relevant experience

4 Specialized or technical knowledge and skills and more than 10 years of extensive relevant professional experience

5 Highly specialized skills and expertise with more than 15 years of extensive relevant experience

Expected contract duration:

• Expected start date of assignment: 14 September 2025

• Expected end da[FA3] te of assignment / full delivery: 14 December 2025

Confirmation:

The external collaboration contract is the appropriate type of contract for the work to be undertaken.

Yes ​☐

The Terms of Reference are timebound and clearly output-based.

Yes ​☐

Funding information:

• Funding source (pick from list below):

  DC

[FA1]The payment schedule must be adjusted so that the due date falls after January 14th. This is necessary because our fiscal year ends on December 5th, which is the last date on which payments can be processed within the current fiscal year.

[FA2]Remove the international word

[FA3]The end date should be 30 January 2026, if we going to settlement of his payment on 14th of January.2026

UNGM: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/277230

How to apply

To apply for this Consultation please follow below Link:

Application Link: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/277230