ILO appointing consultants for research on OSH qualifications frameworks


The ILO is looking for consultants to conduct a research on OSH qualifications frameworks.

The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a research to identify the policies, systems, programmes and initiatives related to OSH qualifications that contribute to ensuring the availability of suitably qualified OSH professionals.

To achieve the objective, the research could seek to examine:
• Existing modalities for regulating OSH professions (e.g. in legislation, in regulation and/or self-regulation by professional associations);
• Participation of OSH professionals in the development and governance of national qualification systems and/or of the most representatives organizations of employers and workers in national OSH qualification systems;
• Businesses and sectors requirements for OSH professionals;
• Existing requirements, standards, types of profiles and training curricula. This could include identifying and comparing any requirements on:
o The roles, functions and tasks of the OSH professionals; ;
o The competencies that OSH professionals must have to carry out their functions;
o Education and training requirements for the OSH professionals, including minimum content and length;
o Continuous professional development requirements;
o Requirements for accreditation of entities providing OSH training;
o Certification requirements and requirements for registration in public registry, and the differences and links between these requirements;
o Ethical related requirements, including requirement for an ethical code of practice for OSH professionals and its content;
o Responsibility/liability of OSH Professionals.
• Gender considerations in access to professions and retention of professionals;
• Existing mechanisms to promote and enforce compliance with requirements under the OSH qualifications frameworks;
• Existing measures and actions to promote entry into OSH professions, and education and training programmes for OSH professionals;
• The process followed by countries for identifying their needs and developing their OSH qualifications framework, including information on the stakeholders consulted and involved in the process;
• The resources needed for the implementation of OSH qualifications frameworks, including in terms of training capacities and resources;
• Whether if the qualifications of OSH professionals meet the standards set by the government authorities;
• Whether the content of the curriculum produces graduates with skills and capabilities that are required to perform their role, and whether if the qualifications meet the needs of the country and organizations in terms of know-how and skills (e.g. under qualification, over qualification);
• Any challenges and constraints faced in the development of OSH professionals’ qualifications frameworks and implementation in practice;
• To what extent the experience from developed countries is transferable to developing countries, and to what extent these developed systems are suitable for developing countries.

The contract will start on 15 November 2021 and end on 16 May 2022. For TOR see below -

KEY TASKS
1. Develop a short document detailing the methodology to conduct the research, including a detailed workplan. This should include research questions and a strategy on how to approach the research questions and conduct the research. The methodology will be presented and discussed with the ILO project team and LABADMIN/OSH technical specialists;
2. Based on the methodology, carry out a literature review of existing OSH qualifications frameworks and draft a report of the findings, including a comparative analysis;
3. Based on the findings of the desk review, and in consultation with the ILO project team and LABADMIN/OSH GTT technical specialists, identify countries to conduct case studies and identify key informants (internal and external to the ILO) at global, regional and country level who could provide information to gain a more in depth understanding of OSH qualifications frameworks, their development and implementation.
Key tasks include:
a. Identify criteria for country selection and select countries to conduct case studies;
b. Identify and produce a list of key informants at global, regional and country level. This could include, among others, national governments such as national authorities for
health, labour and education, social partners and associations of OSH professionals;
c. Identify the most relevant approach and data collection means to collect information (e.g. through interviews, focus group discussions and/or survey);
d. Develop and implement the research tools to collect information;
e. Draft case studies based on information collected from key informants.
4. Based on findings from the desk review and case studies, analyse and compare findings to identify trends and good practices. Present and discuss the findings of the research with the ILO project team and LABADMIN/OSH GTT technical specialists and agree on an outline for the report of findings;
5. Draft a report of findings from the research including an analysis of trends and good practices on OSH qualifications;
6. Facilitate a consultation workshop with key informants to present the research findings, get their feedback and validate the draft report of findings.
7. Compile all feedback received and draft the final report.
Throughout the duration of the contract, the consultant may be requested to present the progress / results of its work in organized meetings in the form of “update emails” or PowerPoint presentations. All
findings should be analyzed through a gender sensitive lens.

QUALIFICATIONS
The consultant/service provider should have the following profile:
• Advanced university degree in occupational safety and health, social sciences, law, development studies, or other relevant field;
• Research experience related to OSH qualifications frameworks;
• Good knowledge of OSH qualifications frameworks and related concepts;
• Experience in conducting qualitative research, case studies and semi-structured interviews;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of Spanish and French is an
advantage.

DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULE
The contract will start on 15 November 2021 and end on 16 May 2022.
The following products will be delivered by the consultant or service provider:
1. Research methodology, including a detailed workplan to carry out the research assignment
2. Report from the initial review including findings
3. Data collection methodology including list of key informants, as well as relevant approaches and tools to collect information
4. Draft case studies based on information collected
5. Draft research report including an analysis of trends and good practices on OSH qualifications
6. Report from the consultation workshop
7. Final research report including conclusions and recommendations

REPORTING
The consultant will report to Alizée Charbonneau, Programme and Operations Officer. She/he will receive technical guidance from the project team and OSH specialists from the International Labour
Office and field offices.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Interested candidates intending to submit an expression of interest must supply the following information:
• A brief cover letter describing of how the candidate’s/team’s/organization skills, qualifications and experience are relevant to the assignment;
• A CV/CVs/or organization history highlighting previous assignments that are relevant to the context and subject matter of this assignment;
• A technical proposal describing how this assignment will be carried out, including a suggestion of timeline.
• A financial offer confirming the candidate’s daily professional fees expressed in US dollars or detailed quote for an organization (indicating also fees received for similar assignments in the past two years).
• The names and contact details of two referees;
• Two reports/documents relevant to this assignment where the applicant was the lead author.

Please send your application with relevant attachments by 29 October 2021, COB Geneva time to:
Alizée Charbonneau (charbonneau@ilo.org)

Deadlines
Application: Oct 29, 2021