Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Expert

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)FamilyCONTR Local Senior Level Support2024-11-01October 29, 2024Organizational context:

Currently, some 105,000 asylum-seekers and refugees are hosted in Greece. In 2023, over 48,700 people arrived either by sea or land. UNHCR provides expert advice to the State and evidence-based information that helps inform programmes and policies for asylum-seekers and refugees. Access to international protection, identifying durable solutions and support to vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees, such as unaccompanied children and survivors of gender-based violence, are UNHCR’s key priorities. UNHCR also works with national and local authorities, the private sector, civil society and refugee communities to advance protection solutions and inclusion, develop support networks and create employability and training opportunities for refugees. The Office retains a readiness to respond to emergencies and new arrivals, with a focus on immediate support to the most vulnerable. UNHCR Greece plays a strong advocacy role since continued support is needed, particularly from EU countries and EU institutions in providing immediate protection to those most at-risk through sufficient resources, ensuring capacity in the country and responsibility-sharing. UNHCR will continue to assist Greek authorities in responding to both short and long-term challenges.

General Background of Project or Assignment:

The project ‘Reception and integration reforms for migrants, especially unaccompanied youth’ is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece, in consultation with the Greek State. This project aims at improving and adapting the institutional and legal framework for unaccompanied youth in Greece and enhancing capacities of the Greek authorities to implement it. Alignment with the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, education, vocational training and employment opportunities, mental health, and psychosocial well-being would be among the areas of focus.
The Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Expert will provide expertise to support successful integration and self-reliance, including through access to labour market, for unaccompanied children and aged-out unaccompanied refugee and migrant children (‘unaccompanied youth’ aged 15-23 years old), with a strong emphasis on incorporating the perspectives, needs and strengths of the beneficiary population (the youth). This support will empower the youth to navigate the complex path to adulthood within the host community. Additionally, the expert will focus on the upscaling of tools (for example, professional profiles, vocational trainings structures, methods for acquisition of expert skills, etc) and on adjustments of the national apprenticeship model.
The Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Expert will identify gaps or discrepancies in the national vocational training frameworks, to secure effective access to foreign children and youth compared to other categories of children (eg national, Roma children), on national certification of training or paid apprenticeship. In addition, the expert will collaborate closely with the relevant national institutions such as the National Service for Employment (DYPA (ΔΥΠΑ)) in order to identify professional profiles (along the established procedures of the National Organisation for the Certification of Qualification and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP) to meet specific demands of the labour market tallying with profiles of foreign children. The expert will develop tools or material to help the youth navigate through Greek administration so as to benefit at a maximum level from skills development and employment opportunities.
The Expert reports to UNHCR Senior Protection Associate & Education focal point and works in close collaboration with UNHCR’s Child Protection team and the Solutions’ Unit under the overall supervision of the Assistant Representative (Protection). A functional communication line will exist with competent Protection staff of UNHCR.
The Expert will be engaged as an individual contractor for 12 months with a possible extension of 6 months. The Expert will be engaged full time. She/he shall be required to be present at the Country Office of the UNHCR Representation in Athens, while she/he will be also required to be present when required/requested at the premises of the office of the Secretary General for Vulnerable Persons and Institutional Protection (GSVPIP) of the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA) for coordination and cooperation with the Ministry counterparts as deemed necessary to serve the purposes of the project.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

Under the guidance of UNHCR’s Senior Protection Associate/Child Protection focal point and in close coordination with UNHCR’s Child Protection team & the Solutions’ Unit, the expert will be required to:
1. Work closely with the GSVPIP and other actors as required, to obtain an understanding around the needs and views of the unaccompanied youth as regards integration and self-reliance prospects, and enhancement of their skills.
2. Liaise with the GSVPIP to enhance synergies with related competent authorities such as DYPA and the EOPPEP. Work closely with above actors as required, to obtain full understanding of the existing, national certified, vocational trainings and apprenticeship programs in Greece.
3. Compile a comprehensive mapping, needs assessment and planning report on the existing educational, vocational training and employment initiatives available to unaccompanied youth and on enhanced inclusion of unaccompanied youth in the existing programmes.
4. Propose, in collaboration with the Legal Expert of the Project Team, amendments in the legal framework, as needed, to facilitate smooth inclusion of unaccompanied youth in the national vocational trainings and apprenticeship programs.
5. Suggest guidelines for developing vocational trainings and assessment tools, tailored to the profile and needs of unaccompanied.
6. Provide a model for structured apprenticeship program focused on unaccompanied youth, to acquire practical expertise as bridge between education/training and employment.
7. Develop an action plan to enhance the accessibility, appropriateness and quality of apprenticeship programs available to unaccompanied youth.
8. Develop tools or information material as needed, to help the youth navigate through Greek administration so as to benefit at a maximum level from skills development and employment opportunities.
9. Participate in meetings, conferences or trainings relevant, as required by the GSVPIP, following approval by UNHCR.
The Expert will be required to deliver the following products throughout the duration of the Action, within specific deadlines:
• Mapping tool and desk review with gap analysis on the existing educational, vocational and employment opportunities for national youth in which unaccompanied youth should be included (20-30 pages, English and Greek)
• (4) Professional outlines (επαγγελματικά περιγράμματα (ΕΟΠΠΕΠ)), spanning between 6-8 pages each (in Greek)
• Development of short on-line survey (10-20 questions) for unaccompanied youth transitioning to adulthood, regarding their needs for education to labour market inclusion. Sample of 100 youth.
• Structured apprenticeship model and relevant action plan aligning with the national apprenticeship standards and including a clear outline, scope, and description of the apprenticeship model proposed, as well as specific objectives and the methodology for its implementation (up to 30 pages, English and Greek).

Qualifications and experience required:
Required:
- University degree in Education, Social Sciences or related discipline.
Field of expertise, competencies:
- Good knowledge of international policies and strategies related to vocational education training, skills development and employment creation for youth.
- Good interpersonal skills; respect to cultural diversity; good knowledge of different cultural attitudes, practices, and systems of social support.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Good ability to handle software supporting presentations, data analysis or other needed tools for the tasks required.
Desirable:
- Postgraduate studies in Life-long education, Vocational Training/ Education, Business Administration will be considered an asset.

Minimum years of work experience:
- At least five (5) years of prior working experience on relevant issues pertaining to education, vocational training and employment of refugee youth and those forcibly displaced in general.
Desirable:
Good knowledge of the UN and NGO humanitarian community is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:
Required
- Fluency in Greek and English language.
- Excellent writing skills in Greek and English.

Compliance with applicable legislation:

The expert will be responsible for her/his compliance with the Greek legislation, including taxation and social security. Accordingly, the expert has to be registered with the relevant tax and social security authorities. UNHCR may require the expert to provide evidence that she/he has registered for and is paying applicable taxation and social security to the relevant national authorities.

Additional Information:

Shortlisted candidates will have to undergo an oral interview and may be requested to sit for a written test.

 

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

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Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No