The Government of Liberia is investing in a comprehensive and long-term capacity development agenda to accelerate recovery and sustainable development in Liberia. Strengthened national capacity is an integral component of Liberia’s development planning and reform agenda as outlined in the Poverty Reduction
Strategy (PRS), the County Development Agendas (CDAs), the national vision, and numerous reform efforts. In this context, capacity is a priority, because ultimate success depends crucially on the availability of the requisite human and institutional capacities at all levels of Liberian society to formulate policies, design and implement development programmes and deliver quality services to meet the country’s development priorities.
Organizational Context
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs (MPEA) spearheads the national capacity development agenda with the leadership support of the President. In its new strategic vision, the Ministry has committed, among other key deliverables, the formulation of a 10-year National Capacity Development Strategy (NCDS) and Action Plan linked to the PRS implementation and as an integral part of the reconstruction and development agenda.
In this context, the Ministry has established a National Capacity Development Unit (NCDU) to serve as the institutional anchor for the formulation and implementation of the National Capacity Development Strategy. The MPEA is seeking the services of a Training Services Coordinator to support enhanced integration and scale-up of capacity development training services in collaboration with education and training institutes across Liberia. While Liberia’s capacity development agenda extends well beyond training, it is recognized that acute human capacity constraints warrant more sustainable investment in skills development, across the full spectrum of needs, including vocational and technical training, formal, academic education, profession-specific training / in-service programmes, and life skills programmes. Additionally, the NCDS defines capacity building investments in the institutions that provide capacity development services (primarily education and training institutions) as a strategic priority.
It is envisaged that the Training Services Coordinator will report to the Director of the NCDU. He/she will collaborate extensively with training institutes and partner Ministries that coordinate training services, including the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) as well as the Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA) and the Civil Service Agency (CSA).
Job Description:
Key Functions and Results
The Training Services Coordinator will work in a supportive, outreach role to partner institutions that provide training services. He/she will work to accelerate the progress currently being made in aligning training offerings to identified needs within the population as well as supporting the coordination of training service provision. Additionally, the Training Services Coordinator will serve in a project management role to facilitate institutional capacity development support to key education / training organizations in order to scale-up their internal capacity to deliver services.
The following key functions are expected:
1. Facilitation of alignment of standards setting, certification programmes, and training delivery approaches
• Support the work of government institutions and partner organizations in aligning professional standards being defined by the Civil Service Agency and the National TVET Commission to training certification programmes;
Prioritize certification programmes, in collaboration• with partners, and support institutions in accelerating the delivery of certification programmes; and
Co-develop innovate training• approaches and resources to enhance offerings beyond traditional classroom-setting lectures and realize more direct linkages with the work environment to which trainees will be directed, or to which they will return.
2. Integration of training needs assessments into institutional capacity development approaches
• Convene training service providers and Training Coordinators across the civil service to identify opportunities for expanding training services, elevating quality of training, and sustaining benefits of skills acquisition among beneficiaries;
Support the alignment of• training programmes to skills areas in high-demand, as identified through training needs assessments; and
Develop job-specific tools• and resources to be introduced into government Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions as well as CSOs/NGOs that will complement the training received by beneficiaries (e.g. standard work plans, generic budget templates, example business case, etc.)
3. Support to the coordination of training services
• Provide support to the planning and administration of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National TVET Commission and CSA/LIPA to strengthen their institutional capacity to coordinate education and training institutions;
Co-develop an integrated• training resource base (or portal) with partner institutions to fortify the coordinated platform for training and education in Liberia; and
• Support the extension of training and education services across counties, augmenting resources depending on relative need and demand for skills.
4. Advise on capacity development support to training institutes
• Identify internal resource needs for institutions that are charged with developing capacity in Liberia, e.g. delivering training and education services, and define capacity development strategies to address gaps and capitalize on existing assets;
Support the scale-up of exchange programmes between training and education institutions in the region / globally; and•
• Support Liberian training and education institutions to enhance their networks with education and training partner organizations / associations.
Job Requirement:
Skills and Competencies
The following skills and competencies are critical for successfully performing the functions outlined above: Commitment and professionalism; Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise; People Skills and Teamwork; Results-Orientation; Communication.
Recruitment Qualifications
A Masters degree in Education, Public Administration, Human Resources Development, Public Policy or related field desired;•
• A Bachelor’s degree in similar fields combined with extensive professional experience, above 7 years of experience, may be considered;
A minimum of 3 years of professional experience;•
Experience in mentoring / coaching and/or leadership development programmes a benefit;•
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with diverse stakeholders within government, with donors and civil society organizations;
Excellent command of written and spoken English required; and•
Strong command of basic software programmes is required.•
Application Procedure
Email applications should be sent to hrunit@mopea.gov.lr referencing clearly the post title of the vacancy announcement. Please attach photocopies of qualifications (i.e. technical certificates and academic degree) and a one-page cover letter indicating your interest and suitability for the position.
Please forward all written applications to:
Principal Director of Human Resources
Attention: HR Unit
Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs
Capitol Hill
Monrovia, Liberia
Please note that applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Application Deadline: April 13, 2012
