Curriculum Design for CoEs — Ministry of Higher Education

Request for Expressions of Interest for Consulting Service

Country: The Republic of the Gambia

Project Title: Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project

Grant Number: IDA-V4880

Project ID NO: P179233

Assignment Title: Consultancy to Design a Demand-Driven, Functional, and Practical Curriculum for TVET Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in The Gambia

Procurement Method: Quality Cost Base Selection (QCBS)

Reference No. GM-CPCU - MOFEA-493202-CS-QCBS

• Background:

The Gambia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (MoHERST), under the Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project, is establishing two TVET Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Agribusiness and Fisheries. The Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) developed under the auspices of MoHERST emphasises demand-driven, competency-based training aligned with labour market needs. To ensure relevance, a consultant firm will be recruited to design a curricula in local industry demands, prior labour market surveys (e.g., 2024 TVET Tracer Studies Report), and international best practices.

• Objective of The Assignment:

The consultancy will:

•

• Develop competency-based curricula for the Agribusiness and Fisheries CoEs, ensuring alignment with:

• The Gambia National Qualifications Framework (GNQF).

• The TVET CoE Strategic Improvement Plan

• Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) and industry-validated occupational standards.

• Recommendation from the two CoEs Sector Engagement Committees

• Findings from past labour market surveys and tracer studies (e.g., the 2018 NAQAA Skills Needs Report, GLMS 2022–2023, and the 2024 TVET Graduate Tracer Studies Report)[1].

• Integrate practical, green, and inclusive training methodologies (e.g., climate-smart agriculture, gender-responsive pedagogy).

• Propose delivery models for rural settings (e.g., mobile units, blended learning).

• Provide capacity-building during the curriculum development phase to support the Ministry's future curriculum review and adaptation.

• Scope of Work:

Phase 1: Labor Market & Skills Gap Analysis

• Review existing data (e.g., SIP Appendices II–V, 2018 NAQAA Skills

• Employers (agribusinesses, fisheries cooperatives).

• Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs).

• Training institutions (University of Education (formerly Gambia College), Gambia Songhai Initiative).

• Map emerging skills (e.g., aquaculture technologies, Agro and food processing).

Phase 2: Curriculum Design

• Draft modular programmes for: six (6) programs for each CoE and four (4) specialised short-term courses.

• Certificate & Diploma Levels (per GNQF Levels 4–5).

• Short Courses (e.g., solar-powered irrigation, fish packaging).

• Ensure 25% theory, 75% practice, with:

• Industry attachments (min. 30% of course time).

• Production-based learning (e.g., CoE farms/fisheries as training labs).

• Integrate cross-cutting themes:

• Climate resilience (e.g., CSA techniques).

• Gender/disability inclusion (e.g., adaptive tools).

• Digital literacy (e.g., Agri-tech apps).

Phase 3: Validation & Implementation Plan

• Present drafts to MoHERST, NAQAA, SSBs, the two CoEs Sector Engagement Committees, and employers for feedback.

• Pilot 1–2 modules per CoE and refine based on trainee/industry feedback.

• Deliver final curricula with:

• Teacher/trainer guides.

• Assessment tools (competency-based rubrics).

• Budgeted equipment list (referencing SIP Tables 10 & 13).

Duration:

The duration of the consultancy will be four (4) months. The starting date is upon contract signature.

Full TOR Availability Notice

The full Terms of Reference (TOR) will be made available upon request. Please send your request via email to the address provided below.

Submission of Expressions of Interest:

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) through the Gambia Resilience Inclusive Skills and Equity Project (RISE), now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services.

The Shortlisting Criteria are:

• Consulting Firm Requirements:

Firm qualifications: the firm should have the following minimum requirements

• At least ten (10) years of experience in public or private sector management.

• Proven experience designing demand-driven TVET curricula (Africa preferred).

• Familiarity with GNQF, CBT, and green skills.

• Technical and managerial capability of the firm .

• Show evidence of conducting at least two (2) similar assignments or projects.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated February 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with Quality and Cost Based Selection Method (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. Further information and Terms of Reference can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 to 16:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 12h30 on Friday.

Expressions of interest should be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail) on or before 1st July 2025 at 12h30 GMT

Central Project Coordination Unit

Royal Insurance Building

2nd Floor, Kotu Bertil Harding Highway

The Gambia

Email: [email protected] , [email protected] and [email protected]