Background:

Plan International Jordan (PIJO) implements programmes across Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE), Education, Protection, and Humanitarian Response. PIJO has invested in and implemented distinguished initiatives for youth economic empowerment, such as Najahna and Ready for Tomorrow, and built critical partnerships, such as with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) and others from the public and private sectors. Several advancements and successes were recorded and are worth further investment and development.

Given the rapid contextual changes impacting the needs of young Jordanian and Syrian males and females, such as the high youth unemployment rate and low female participation, and the evolution of donor priorities and labour-market transitions in Jordan such as the World Bank’s Youth, Technology & Jobs Project, PIJO seeks to strengthen its technical foundation in innovation, digitalisation, and future-ready employment pathways.

Donor trends are increasingly prioritising:

• Digital skills and digital inclusion
• EdTech and gamified learning
• Gig economy, platform work, and flexible income generation
• Systems strengthening and workforce transformation
• Public–private sector partnerships

To align PIJO’s programming with these global and regional shifts, PIJO will contract a specialised expert/s to provide strategic direction, technical input, capacity-building, and support for stakeholder and donor engagement.

Purpose of the Assignment

To recruit a highly qualified, practice-oriented consultant who will provide strategic direction and technical support to PIJO to build on the previous successes and develop and scale programmes in digital skills development and gig economy employment. This includes upgrading existing programmes, designing new interventions, fostering public-private partnerships, and advocating for fair and inclusive policies. The expert will contribute to PIJO’s newly launched country strategy (2025-2030) with recommendations rooted in market evidence and international best practices.

The expert will support PIJO to:

• Upgrade current programmes with innovative, scalable components
• Align interventions with emerging donor priorities
• Contribute to concept notes, proposals, and pitches
• Strengthen engagement with relevant ministries, private sector stakeholders, training providers, and donors
• Provide cutting-edge models, case studies, and international good practices that can be applied in Jordan.

Key Tasks and Deliverables

1. Cross-cutting Tasks

Programme Review and Gap Analysis

• Review current SOYEE, IQE and Protection interventions and identify areas for innovation and upgrade.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of digital skills gaps for Jordanian and Syrian youth and women.
• Recommend practical and scalable models aligned with market shifts and donor trends.

Donor Trend Analysis and Policy Intelligence

• Track donor priorities related to digital inclusion, youth employment and gig economy regulation. Provide regular briefs to PIJO on emerging funding opportunities and policy reforms.
• Identify entry points for PIJO to contribute to national strategies, such as Jordan’s National Digital Transformation Strategy & Implementation Plan.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Support

• Map key public and private stakeholders relevant to each domain.
• Support PIJO’s engagement with ministries such as: MOE, MOPIC, MOL, MOY (including the modernization units and programmes), chambers of industry/trade, accelerators, and companies.
• Advise PIJO on forming strategic partnerships with digital platforms and impact sourcing private sector companies to create safe and fair income opportunities for youth and women.

Concept Note and Proposal Development Support

• Provide thematic inputs and technical content for concept notes, proposals and pitches related to digital skills, digital inclusion and gig economy initiatives.
• Co-design new flagship interventions (e.g., digital skilling academy, gig economy protection, and inclusive models).
• Incorporate market insights, global good practices and metrics aligned with donor expectations.

Capacity Strengthening and Knowledge Transfer

• Deliver internal training, and co-creation and learning sessions.
• Design and facilitate youth co-creation sessions (at least 2) with diverse groups (Syrian, Jordanian, young women, refugees) to validate proposed models for digital skilling and gig work.
• Provide practical tools, templates and market insights to enhance PIJO’s programme design and implementation.

1. Role-Specific Tasks

1. Digital Skills:

• Conduct analytical assessment of digital skills gaps & opportunities for young males and females (including Syrian refugees and host communities).
• Recommend industry-aligned curricula (ICT, AI literacy, cybersecurity, digital marketing, data skills, and gamification).
• Advise on digital inclusion models for marginalised groups.
• Identify private tech partners (Microsoft, Google, Meta, Cisco, local tech hubs).
• Support creation of digital pathways from skilling → internships → jobs.

2. Gig Economy & flexible Work:

• Analyse current trends in Jordan’s gig economy, including platform sectors (delivery, remote freelancing, micro-tasks, ride-hailing, home services).
• Conduct a risk and safeguarding analysis for youth and women engaging in digital/gig work (online harassment, overwork, non-payment, data/privacy issues, mobility constraints for women, etc.).
• Define minimum standards / due-diligence criteria for platforms and private-sector partners (e.g. fair pay, transparent terms, safeguards for young women and refugees)
• Develop practical pathways to recommended, safe, and fair models for youth to access flexible and sustainable income solutions.

1. Expected Deliverables
2. Inception Report – detailing methodology, stakeholder mapping, and a 6-month work plan.
3. Assessment Report – presenting findings from the digital skills and gig economy gap analysis, along with stakeholder profiles and market trends.
4. Technical Briefs – at least three briefs (e.g., digital skills landscape, platform work policies, public-private partnership models) with recommendations for PIJO programmes.
5. Concept Notes – minimum of three concept notes for innovative interventions aligned with donor priorities (e.g., Digital Skilling Academy, Gig Economy Work Hub, Inclusive Tech Centers. Gamification).
6. Upgraded Programme Models – revised programme designs integrating digital skills and gig economy components with clear logical frameworks and performance indicators.
7. Stakeholder Engagement Plan – including strategies for collaboration with ministries, private sector entities, and donors, and a calendar of engagement activities.
8. Capacity Building Sessions – at least four training or co-creation sessions for PIJO staff plus a minimum of two youth co-creation sessions with diverse groups (Syrian, Jordanian, young women, refugees) to validate and refine digital skilling and gig-economy models.
9. Final Report – summarizing achievements, lessons learned, market opportunities and strategic recommendations for PIJO’s 2025-2030 country strategy.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience: Advanced degree in a related field with 7–10 years of professional experience in digital skills training, workforce development or gig‑economy programme design.

Programme Design: Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing digital skills or gig‑economy programmes for INGOs, UN agencies, donors or private‑sector partners. Experience with donor proposal development and results‑based management.

Stakeholder Engagement: Strong network and experience working with Jordanian ministries, international donors, private‑sector companies and innovation hubs. Ability to convene and broker partnerships.

Labour‑Market Knowledge: In‑depth understanding of Jordan’s labour market challenges, youth unemployment dynamics, gender gaps and refugee livelihoods. Familiarity with international best practices for digital skilling and gig‑economy regulation.

Communication & Training: Excellent communication skills in Arabic and English, with experience delivering capacity‑building workshops and producing accessible technical materials.

Duration and Level of Effort

• 8-month framework agreement, starting from January 2026.
• Up to 120 consultancy days may be utilised over the contract period, based on the agreed work plan and needs.

Selection Criteria

Offers will be weighted based on the following selection criteria:

• 65% Technical evaluation (C.V. and background 25%, Technical offer 20%, sample of work 15%, and references 5%).

• 30% financial offer (fixed lowest to highest).

• 5% gender responsive bids/offers explained as below:

  Women-owned business: A legal entity in any field that is more than 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more women.

  Women-led business: A legal entity in any field that has a minimum of 50% women representation in management with senior-level, strategic decision-making capabilities.

  Gender-responsive business: Legal entity that actively promotes gender equality and empowerment of women and young women through their policies and labour practices.