REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 

Issue Date: March 18th, 2026 

Proposal Due Date: March 27th, 2026 

Anticipated Award Date: April 10th, 2026  

To Whom It May Concern: 

IREX seeks a qualified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Consultant to provide specialized long-term, intermittent technical assistance to the Building Tomorrow’s Talent strategic initiative team. The consultant will draw on deep expertise in industry-driven and -oriented TVET system development in developing countries and emerging markets.
The work will also draw on knowledge and experience related to international labor mobility and the integration of skills systems with migration pathways. Overall, this work will help position IREX as a partner of choice for identifying and delivering proven models of TVET and for tying those models to labor mobility pathways. 

IREX reserves the right to withdraw this request for consultants at any time prior to the award of the contract. 
 

Proposal Requirements 

Individuals interested in providing this service must submit a proposal that demonstrates their capacity to provide: 

• Technical support for the development, review, and finalization of key initiative documents and materials, including concept notes, assessment tools, outreach strategies, pitch documents, briefing notes, slide decks, background analyses, and other documentation prepared for donor engagement and business development purposes. 

• Strategic support for the preparation, refinement, and revision of workplans, partnership strategies, service offering materials, and other planning documents related to funding opportunities, partnership development, and program positioning. 

• Technical expertise and participation in technical and coordination meetings, including meetings with prospective donors and partners, and the ability to provide technical inputs and follow-up documentation as required. 

• Leadership and writing capacity to serve as a technical lead, contributor, and/or primary writer for funding proposals, including the preparation of technical narratives and supporting documentation. 

• Capacity to conduct scoping trips, site visits, and/or virtual consultations for new business development opportunities and to produce related deliverables such as trip reports, meeting summaries, and technical findings. 

• Analytical capacity to conduct screenings and landscape analyses to identify high-performing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers and other relevant institutions. 

• Ability to contribute to thought leadership products, including reports, briefs, concept papers, or other written materials, to support organizational positioning and donor engagement. 

Required Skills and Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in TVET/workforce development; Education, Economics, International Development, social sciences, or a related field 

• Fifteen (15) years of experience in TVET strengthening workforce development and/or private sector engagement 

• Specific TVET areas of expertise include: TVET strategy development; engaging with employers through industry associations and sector skills councils; conducting capacity assessments and delivering capacity building for TVET providers, ministries and government agencies, and industry relations/coordination bodies; and supporting providers and systems to be more responsive to industry demand 

• Experience in analyzing, conceptualizing, and implementing linkages between TVET and labor mobility (e.g. Global Skills Partnerships.)  

• In-depth knowledge of a variety of donor priorities, as they relate to education, TVET, and workforce development 

• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English. 

• Experience writing technical proposals for international donor funding 

• Proven track record of delivering high-quality consultancy services on time and within budget. 

• Experience working on programs focused on the Africa, MENA and Eastern Europe preferred 

• Familiarity with IREX work in TVET preferred 
   

Location
Remote

Proposal Content 

• Consultant résumé including references. 

• Candidate´s daily rate. 
   

Proposal Submission Requirements 

If you are interested in furnishing this service, please e-mail a proposal to mricou@irex.org Attn: Marcel Ricou.   

If you decide to submit a proposal, it must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date indicated above. Late submissions will only be considered if in the best interests of the project, and then at IREX’s sole discretion. All proposals submitted must be valid for a period of not less than sixty (60) calendar days from the closing date indicated above.  
 

Proposal Evaluation 

The criteria are listed in descending order, starting with the most important factors to be evaluated. 

• Consultant qualifications (50%) 

• Past references (20%) 

• Overall price competitiveness (30%) 

IREX may at its discretion ask for additional information or perform site visits. IREX may accept multiple bidders and partial bids for the services requested.  

Renewal 

IREX reserves the right, based on availability of funding and vendor performance, to enter into subsequent contractual agreements with the winning vendor for a period of up to three years without issuing a new RFP. 

Contact Information 

Name: Marcel Ricou 

Title: Senior Technical Advisor 

IREX 

1350 Street NW, Suite 1100  

Washington, D.C.  20005