Participatory Labor Market Assessment for the Dairy Sector and Capacity Building at Brătușeni College, Edineț Region, Republic of Moldova

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Assignment Title: Participatory Labor Market Assessment for the Dairy Sector and Capacity Building at Brătușeni College, Edineț Region, Republic of Moldova

Project Title: Pro MILK: Promoting Milk Modernization and Industrialization through Learning and Knowledge

Commissioned by: People in Need Moldova (PIN Moldova)
Duration of Assignment: July-August 2025
Location: Brătușeni College, Edineț District, Northern Moldova

1. Background

The dairy sector remains a key pillar of the economy and livelihoods in Northern Moldova, particularly in the Edineț region. Despite its importance, there is a persistent gap between the skills supplied by vocational education institutions and the actual needs of the dairy labor market. Brătușeni College, as a major vocational training provider, must adapt its programs to address evolving labor market demands and equip learners with relevant competencies.

To facilitate this alignment, the project " Pro MILK: Promoting Milk Modernization and Industrialization through Learning and Knowledge" funded by Czech Development Agency plans to conduct a Participatory Labor Market Assessment. This activity will analyze the demand for labor and skills in the dairy sector and strengthen the capacity of college staff to apply labor market information to curriculum design and career guidance

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The primary objective is to conduct a comprehensive, participatory labor market assessment of the dairy sector in Northern Moldova to:

• Identify current and future labor market needs, skill gaps, and employment trends;
• Evaluate the alignment of educational offerings with local and national labor market demands, including coordination with dairy sector stakeholders;
• Engage key stakeholders including Brătușeni College staff, dairy farmers, and relevant institutions;
• Build the capacity of college staff to interpret and utilize labor market data effectively;
• Provide practical recommendations to improve the alignment of vocational education with market demand.

3. Scope of Work

The contractor will perform the following tasks in coordination with PIN Moldova, Brătușeni College, and stakeholders:

Task 1: Labor Market Data Collection and Analysis

• Gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative data relevant to employment and skill demands in the dairy sector, including existing studies and statistical data.

Task 2: Stakeholder Consultations

• Conduct participatory consultations (interviews, focus groups, workshops) with:
  • Brătușeni College staff and management;
  • Local dairy farmers and employers;
  • National Employment Agency (ANOFM);
  • Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry;
  • Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova;
  • Other relevant sector stakeholders.

Task 3: Reporting

• Produce a comprehensive Labor Market Assessment Report including:
  • Executive summary;
  • Methodology and participatory approach;
  • Findings on labor market demands and skill gaps;
  • SWOT analysis;
  • Recommendations for vocational education alignment;
  • Annexes: stakeholder consultation summaries, training materials.

4. Deliverables and Timeline

All deliverables shall be submitted in English, in both editable (Word) and PDF format.

5.  Qualifications Criteria

Criteria which bidders must meet in order to progress to the next round of evaluation. If a bidder does not meet any of the Qualification Criteria, they will be excluded from the tender process immediately.

The assignment may be undertaken by a qualified consulting firm, consortium, or NGO meeting the following criteria:

• The applicant organization must have been legally established for at least one year, verifiable by official documents;
• The proposed team should include at least 3 experts with clearly defined roles:
  • Project Manager: responsible for overall coordination, reporting, and communication with the client. Candidates should possess a minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role and hold relevant education, such as a bachelor's degree in project management, business administration, or a related field;
  • Labor Market Specialist: expertise in labor market analysis and sectoral assessment. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of experience in labor market studies or workforce development and hold a degree in economics, labor studies, public policy, or a related field.;
  • Expert in Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement: experienced in participatory methodologies, market analysis, and multisectoral consultations. Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years of experience in stakeholder engagement and assessment processes, and hold a degree in public administration, social sciences, development studies, or a related field.;
• Proven experience conducting at least one similar labor market assessments, preferably in vocational education, agricultural sectors, or rural development, preferably within Moldova or the region;
• Demonstrated ability to conduct participatory assessments and complex stakeholder consultations, with experience in at least one such project.;
• Demonstrated familiarity with the requirements and procedures of at least one donor-funded project, particularly those funded by international donors;
• Familiarity with Moldovan labor market institutions and dairy sector context;
• Fluency in Romanian and working proficiency in English; knowledge of Russian is an asset.

6. Level of Effort and Contract Type

The estimated level of effort is 20 to 25 working days over a six-week period (July-August 2025).

The contract will be a lump-sum agreement, inclusive of all professional fees, travel, taxes, and incidentals. Payments will be made upon submission and acceptance of deliverables.

7. Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit the following documents by 16^th of June 2025:

• Timeframe with results for each stage;
• Examples of one similar assignment delivered (links or attachments)
• CV(s) of key expert(s) involved
• Copy of registration certificate (if company or NGO)
• Financial proposal specifying the daily rate and other expenses, if any, broken down by cost, with the total amount indicated. It is suggested to include costs in MDL, inclusive of all fees excluding VAT.

8. Selection process

The selection process will proceed as follows:

• Applicants are requested to submit an expression of interest and all other documents requested in 7. Application procedure, latest by June 16th, 2025, to tender.moldova@peopleinneed.net. Subject: “Participatory Labor Market Assessment for Dairy Sector – Brătușeni College – name and surname/or company name”.
• The applicants will be assessed by an Evaluation Committee. Proposals will be assessed based on price only. Only bidders which passed Qualification criteria will be assessed.