The Busara Center for Behavioral Economics is an advisory and research organization focused on evaluation and implementation of behavioral interventions in understudied countries and populations. Busara's mission is to work with researchers and organizations to advance and apply behavioral science in pursuit of poverty alleviation. 

Purpose of the role

The TVET Thematic Expert brings extensive knowledge and expertise in Uganda’s TVET sector, as well as the ability to assess current approaches, outcomes, and gaps, and recommend actionable strategies to strengthen youth employment and enterprise development through TVET skilling and institutional capacity building. The expert will help Busara and Mastercard Foundation Uganda establish:

How trends in Uganda’s TVET sector are impacting youth employment opportunities where the strategy is active in Uganda.

The extent to which the strategy, partnerships, and investments are positioned to respond to and capitalize on these trends.

Opportunities, risks, and gaps in the strategy’s TVET positioning, and practical, prioritized recommendations to strengthen it.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Conduct literature review on the TVET ecosystem and review relevant Young Africa Works Strategy documents, reports, and results data of Uganda’s implementing partners.
• Provide technical input to assessments and reviews related to TVET system indicators.
• Map sector actors and current trends in Uganda’s TVET sector relevant to youth employment and upskilling, and benchmark against relevant associated strategies in East Africa.
• Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and consultations with relevant stakeholders and ecosystem actors.
• Assess the extent to which current programs address critical TVET sector challenges: access to TVET institutions, the cost of institutional learning, the impact of technology on the sector, among others.
• Assess the TVET sector relevance and positioning of Young Africa Works Strategy in Uganda’s current partner portfolio and flagship interventions, including alignment with national TVET policy priorities.
• Identify barriers and opportunities for youth participation in the TVET sub-sectors, to strengthen skilling outcomes, including potential new partnerships, delivery models, priority sub-sectors, or areas of focus.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of TVET skilling, mentorship, and linkages to dignified and fulfilling work, and finances for the youth participants.
• Produce a report with findings, recommendations, and a prioritization framework for dissemination to Busara and the Young Africa Works stakeholders.

Indicative Deliverables

• An inception report covering the methodology, work plan, and budget.
• Key Informant Interview (KII) discussion guides tailored to various stakeholders.
• Audio recordings and notes from Key Informant Interview (KII) discussions.
• A draft narrative report including an executive summary, findings, learnings and recommendations, and a prioritized action matrix.
• A PowerPoint slide deck for presentation to the Foundation.
• Hold a validation and dissemination session with the Foundation.
• A final PowerPoint slide deck incorporating input from the validation and dissemination session.
• Participate in sensemaking sessions with the Foundation, Implementing Partners, and other relevant ecosystem actors, as required.
• A final narrative report incorporating input from the validation, dissemination, and sensemaking sessions.

Required Qualifications

The expert should possess

• An advanced degree in TVET, Education, Vocational Training, or a related field.
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in TVET program design, delivery, or evaluation in Uganda, ideally within youth employment or skilling programs serving refugee or host community populations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting qualitative fieldwork (IDIs, FGDs, KIIs), including lifejourney/storytelling techniques, with TVET trainees, instructors, and institutions.
• Working knowledge of Uganda’s TVET/BTVET policy framework, competency-based training and assessment, and institutional accreditation processes.
• Familiarity with Uganda’s refugee response context (including major refugee-hosting districts) and labor market systems relevant to TVET graduates is strongly preferred.
• Strong facilitation skills in relevant Ugandan local languages, or demonstrated experience working effectively through local language facilitators and interpreters.
• Prior experience contributing to donor-funded evaluations or strategic reviews, ideally within mixed methods, Made in Africa evaluation-aligned designs, is an advantage.

• Conduct literature review on the TVET ecosystem and review relevant Young Africa Works Strategy documents, reports, and results data of Uganda’s implementing partners.
• Provide technical input to assessments and reviews related to TVET system indicators.
• Map sector actors and current trends in Uganda’s TVET sector relevant to youth employment and upskilling, and benchmark against relevant associated strategies in East Africa.
• Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and consultations with relevant stakeholders and ecosystem actors.
• Assess the extent to which current programs address critical TVET sector challenges: access to TVET institutions, the cost of institutional learning, the impact of technology on the sector, among others.
• Assess the TVET sector relevance and positioning of Young Africa Works Strategy in Uganda’s current partner portfolio and flagship interventions, including alignment with national TVET policy priorities.
• Identify barriers and opportunities for youth participation in the TVET sub-sectors, to strengthen skilling outcomes, including potential new partnerships, delivery models, priority sub-sectors, or areas of focus.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of TVET skilling, mentorship, and linkages to dignified and fulfilling work, and finances for the youth participants.
• Produce a report with findings, recommendations, and a prioritization framework for dissemination to Busara and the Young Africa Works stakeholders.

• Strong facilitation skills in relevant Ugandan local languages, or demonstrated experience working effectively through local language facilitators and interpreters.

• An advanced degree in TVET, Education, Vocational Training, or a related field.
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in TVET program design, delivery, or evaluation in Uganda, ideally within youth employment or skilling programs serving refugee or host community populations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting qualitative fieldwork (IDIs, FGDs, KIIs), including lifejourney/storytelling techniques, with TVET trainees, instructors, and institutions.
• Working knowledge of Uganda’s TVET/BTVET policy framework, competency-based training and assessment, and institutional accreditation processes.
• Familiarity with Uganda’s refugee response context (including major refugee-hosting districts) and labor market systems relevant to TVET graduates is strongly preferred.
• Prior experience contributing to donor-funded evaluations or strategic reviews, ideally within mixed methods, Made in Africa evaluation-aligned designs, is an advantage.