Syria TVET Roaster- Comprehensive Roster of TVET, MSME, Agriculture, Livestock, Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment Experts

Contract Type: Individual Consultancy – Project-Based
Engagement Modality: In-person, remote or hybrid
Location: Syria, with potential regional and international assignments
Application Period: Open and reviewed on a rolling basis

About STOOS Consulting

STOOS Consulting is an international consulting firm established in 2019, with legal registrations and operational presence across several countries, including Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Kenya, Türkiye and Ukraine. STOOS specializes in research, assessments, monitoring and evaluation, third-party monitoring, capacity building, institutional development, livelihoods, economic empowerment, conflict and gender analysis, and technical advisory services.

To date, STOOS has implemented more than 230 assignments across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, supporting UN agencies, international NGOs, donors, public institutions, civil society organizations and private-sector partners. STOOS combines international expertise, strong national teams and practical knowledge of local markets and communities to deliver evidence-based and context-sensitive services.

Purpose of the Call

STOOS is establishing a comprehensive roster of qualified national and international consultants, trainers, coaches, technicians, master craftspeople, curriculum developers, researchers and subject-matter experts for upcoming projects in Syria and other countries.

The roster will support potential assignments related to TVET, vocational skills, labour-market development, employment, MSME development, entrepreneurship, agriculture, livestock, food processing, value chains, livelihoods and economic empowerment.

Experts may be engaged through short-term or long-term consultancy agreements on a project-by-project basis. Assignments may include assessments, curriculum development, training delivery, Training of Trainers, technical assistance, business coaching, market-system support, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional capacity building.

This is a roster-building announcement rather than recruitment for one specific position. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate engagement. Consultants will be contacted when their expertise matches a specific project or Terms of Reference.

Areas of Specialization

STOOS welcomes applications in the following areas, including related specializations not specifically listed below.

1. TVET Systems and Vocational Training Development

Relevant expertise includes TVET policy and strategy, vocational training centre management, competency-based training, occupational standards, qualifications frameworks, accreditation, certification, quality assurance, curriculum development, practical assessment and instructor development.

STOOS also seeks experts in:

• Institutional and training-needs assessments;
• Competency and occupational profiling;
• Development of curricula, manuals and practical exercises;
• Training of Trainers and master-trainer programmes;
• Recognition of prior learning;
• Apprenticeship and workplace-based learning;
• Establishment and rehabilitation of vocational training workshops;
• TVET equipment specification, procurement and workshop safety;
• Partnerships between TVET centres and employers.

2. MSME Development, Entrepreneurship and Business Support

This category covers micro, small and medium enterprise development, including start-up support, business recovery and expansion. Relevant areas include:

• Entrepreneurship and business planning;
• Business-model development;
• Economic and technical feasibility studies;
• Market research and customer analysis;
• Costing, pricing and financial management;
• Basic bookkeeping and accounting;
• Marketing, branding, packaging and sales;
• Digital marketing, e-commerce and online businesses;
• Business formalization, registration and regulatory compliance;
• Enterprise diagnostics and business-development services;
• Business incubation and acceleration;
• Coaching, mentoring and post-grant support;
• Social enterprise and cooperative business models;
• Women-led and youth-led enterprises;
• Green businesses and circular-economy enterprises;
• Home-based businesses and family enterprises;
• Business continuity and recovery in fragile contexts.

3. Access to Finance and Financial Inclusion

Relevant profiles include specialists in financial literacy, savings, responsible borrowing, microfinance, Islamic finance, Village Savings and Loan Associations, revolving funds, grants and in-kind business support.

Experts may support the design and delivery of:

• Financial-literacy programmes;
• Savings and lending groups;
• Microenterprise financing mechanisms;
• Business-grant selection and due diligence;
• Cash-grant and asset-transfer programmes;
• Financial-management systems for MSMEs;
• Linkages between entrepreneurs and financial institutions;
• Investment-readiness and access-to-finance coaching.

4. Agriculture and Crop Production

STOOS welcomes agricultural specialists, extension workers, trainers and experienced practitioners in:

• Field crops, including wheat, barley, legumes and fodder crops;
• Vegetable and horticultural production;
• Greenhouse and protected agriculture;
• Fruit trees, olives, grapes and orchard management;
• Seed production, seed multiplication and nursery management;
• Soil management and soil-fertility improvement;
• Organic and climate-smart agriculture;
• Integrated pest management;
• Plant protection and safe pesticide use;
• Composting and organic fertilizer production;
• Post-harvest handling and storage;
• Agricultural machinery operation and maintenance;
• Agricultural inputs, supply chains and extension services;
• Urban, peri-urban and household agriculture;
• Mushroom cultivation and other small-scale agricultural enterprises;
• Medicinal and aromatic plants;
• Agricultural cooperatives and producer groups.

5. Irrigation, Water Management and Agricultural Infrastructure

Relevant expertise includes:

• Irrigation-system design, installation and maintenance;
• Drip and sprinkler irrigation;
• Solar-powered irrigation systems;
• Water harvesting and storage;
• Rehabilitation of wells, canals and irrigation networks;
• Efficient water use and irrigation scheduling;
• Pump installation, operation and maintenance;
• Water-user associations and community water management;
• Agricultural infrastructure and land rehabilitation;
• Water-energy-food nexus programming;
• Drought resilience and climate-adaptation practices.

6. Livestock, Poultry and Animal Production

STOOS seeks veterinarians, livestock specialists, animal-health workers, trainers and experienced practitioners in:

• Cattle, sheep and goat breeding and production;
• Poultry, broiler and layer production;
• Dairy-farm management;
• Animal nutrition and feed formulation;
• Fodder production and feed storage;
• Animal health, vaccination and disease prevention;
• Veterinary extension and community animal-health services;
• Artificial insemination and breeding management;
• Livestock housing and farm hygiene;
• Meat and dairy value chains;
• Small-scale livestock and poultry enterprises;
• Rabbit breeding and other household livestock activities;
• Beekeeping, hive management and honey production;
• Aquaculture and small-scale fisheries, where relevant;
• Livestock-market systems and producer cooperatives.

7. Food Processing, Food Safety and Agro-Industry

This category includes experts in food production, processing, preservation, packaging, quality control and marketing, including:

• Dairy processing, cheese, yoghurt and other milk products;
• Fruit and vegetable drying;
• Pickles, jams, molasses, sauces and preserves;
• Olive-oil production and processing;
• Grain milling and cereal products;
• Bakery, bread, pastry and confectionery production;
• Catering, commercial cooking and meal production;
• Meat processing and safe handling;
• Juice, beverage and food-product development;
• Food packaging, labelling and branding;
• Food hygiene and food safety;
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points;
• Quality assurance and production standards;
• Small-scale food-processing equipment;
• Commercial kitchen management;
• Business development for home-based food producers.

8. Construction, Rehabilitation and Building Trades

STOOS welcomes experts, trainers and master craftspeople in:

• Masonry, blockwork and plastering;
• Painting, decoration and finishing;
• Carpentry and furniture making;
• Aluminium and glass installation;
• Plumbing and sanitary installations;
• Household and industrial electrical installation;
• Solar-system installation and maintenance;
• Welding, metalwork and blacksmithing;
• Tiling, flooring and stonework;
• Roofing and insulation;
• Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning;
• Refrigeration and cooling systems;
• Building maintenance and repair;
• Construction-site supervision and occupational safety;
• Quantity surveying and cost estimation;
• Climate-responsive and energy-efficient construction.

9. Engineering, Architecture and Technical Design

Relevant technical specializations include:

• AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Rhino 3D and related applications;
• Autodesk Revit and Building Information Modelling;
• Revit MEP, HVAC, plumbing and mechanical systems;
• Primavera P6, project scheduling and work breakdown structures;
• Architecture and interior design;
• Mechanical, electrical and civil engineering;
• Product and industrial design;
• Technical drawings and three-dimensional modelling;
• Manufacturing and assembly design;
• Production planning and bills of materials;
• Geographic Information Systems and technical mapping.

10. Renewable Energy and Green Livelihoods

Relevant profiles include specialists in:

• Solar photovoltaic systems;
• Solar water heating;
• Wind and hybrid-energy systems;
• Energy-efficiency assessments;
• Installation, operation and maintenance of renewable-energy systems;
• RETScreen, SAM and renewable-energy feasibility analysis;
• Solar pumping and agricultural-energy applications;
• Battery storage and off-grid systems;
• Green construction and energy-efficient buildings;
• Recycling, waste management and reuse;
• Circular-economy businesses;
• Environmental services and green jobs;
• Climate-smart and environmentally sustainable enterprises.

11. Manufacturing, Industrial Production and Maintenance

STOOS seeks experts in:

• Small-scale manufacturing and production management;
• Industrial machinery operation and maintenance;
• Industrial electricity and electronics;
• Mechatronics and automation;
• Programmable logic controllers;
• Industrial Internet of Things;
• Computer numerical control and machining;
• Welding and metal fabrication;
• Quality control and production standards;
• Packaging and production-line management;
• Equipment repair and preventive maintenance;
• Occupational health and industrial safety;
• Supply-chain and inventory management.

12. Automotive and Motorcycle Trades

Relevant expertise includes:

• Automotive mechanics and vehicle maintenance;
• Automotive electricity and electronics;
• Hybrid and electric vehicles;
• High-voltage systems and electrical safety;
• Electronic control units and CAN BUS;
• Vehicle diagnostics and OBD systems;
• Regenerative braking systems;
• Motorcycle and small-engine repair;
• Auto-body repair, painting and detailing;
• Tyre repair and wheel services;
• Spare-parts management and automotive workshop development.

13. Garment, Textile and Fashion Production

Relevant specializations include:

• Tailoring and sewing;
• Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing production;
• Pattern-making and grading;
• Industrial sewing-machine operation and maintenance;
• Embroidery, knitting and textile decoration;
• Fashion and clothing design;
• Gerber AccuMark and digital garment design;
• Marker-making and fabric utilization;
• Cutting, finishing and quality control;
• Home-based garment enterprises;
• Textile-product development, costing and marketing;
• Upholstery, curtains and household-textile production.

14. Hairdressing, Barbering, Beauty and Personal Care

STOOS welcomes qualified trainers and practitioners in:

• Women’s hairdressing and hairstyling;
• Men’s barbering and grooming;
• Hair colouring and treatment;
• Skincare and facial treatments;
• Makeup and bridal beauty services;
• Manicure, pedicure and nail care;
• Beauty-salon management;
• Hygiene, sterilization and client safety;
• Cosmetics and personal-care product production;
• Soap and detergent production;
• Perfume and fragrance manufacturing;
• Packaging, branding and marketing of beauty products;
• Establishment and management of home-based or small beauty businesses.

15. Electrical, Electronics and Repair Services

Relevant vocational areas include:

• Household electrical installation and maintenance;
• Electronics repair;
• Mobile-phone and tablet repair;
• Computer and laptop maintenance;
• Household-appliance repair;
• Generator operation and maintenance;
• Solar-inverter and battery maintenance;
• Refrigeration and air-conditioning repair;
• Telecommunications and fibre-optic installation;
• Networking and security-system installation;
• Water-pump and small-equipment repair.

16. Digital Skills, Information Technology and Freelancing

This category includes:

• Basic and advanced computer skills;
• Microsoft 365, Excel, Teams, OneDrive, OneNote, Forms and Sway;
• Database management and reporting;
• Data analysis using Excel, SPSS and Power BI;
• Artificial intelligence and practical workplace applications;
• Artificial intelligence in vocational education and training;
• Programming, web development and mobile applications;
• Graphic design, Canva and digital content production;
• Photography, videography and video editing;
• Social-media management;
• Digital marketing and e-commerce;
• Online freelancing and remote-work readiness;
• Business process automation and BPMN;
• Camunda and related workflow platforms;
• Cybersecurity, networking and cloud technologies;
• Industrial Internet of Things;
• Fibre-optic installation, welding and maintenance.

17. Handicrafts, Cultural Industries and Home-Based Production

STOOS welcomes experts in marketable traditional and creative skills, including:

• Woodwork, carving and furniture production;
• Hand embroidery, crochet and knitting;
• Carpet and textile production;
• Mosaic, pottery and ceramics;
• Jewellery and accessories;
• Leatherwork and leather-product manufacturing;
• Candle, soap and decorative-product production;
• Traditional Syrian crafts;
• Gift items, souvenirs and home decoration;
• Product design, packaging, branding and market access;
• Development of home-based businesses and artisan cooperatives.

18. Hospitality, Catering and Service-Sector Skills

Relevant areas include:

• Commercial cooking and food preparation;
• Bakery, pastry and confectionery;
• Catering and event services;
• Restaurant and café operations;
• Hospitality and hotel services;
• Housekeeping and cleaning services;
• Customer service and client relations;
• Retail sales and shop management;
• Warehousing and inventory management;
• Tourism services, where relevant;
• Hospitality hygiene, occupational safety and quality standards.

19. Health, Care and Community-Based Services

Relevant vocational and enterprise-development profiles may include:

• First aid and occupational health;
• Community health and health awareness;
• Elderly care and home-based care;
• Childcare and early childhood services;
• Disability-support services;
• Psychosocial support and basic helping skills;
• Cognitive behavioural approaches;
• Community-service enterprises;
• Health and safety in workplaces and training centres.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate appropriate qualifications and professional authorization for regulated health or psychosocial services.

20. Employment, Career Guidance and Workforce Development

Relevant expertise includes:

• Career counselling and occupational guidance;
• Skills and competency profiling;
• Job-search and employment-readiness training;
• CV writing and interview preparation;
• Workplace communication and professional conduct;
• Leadership, teamwork and problem solving;
• Job matching and referral services;
• Apprenticeship and internship programmes;
• Employer engagement and workplace-based learning;
• Graduate and trainee tracer studies;
• School-to-work transition;
• Youth employment and employment services;
• Self-employment pathways and business referral.

21. Market Systems, Value Chains and Private-Sector Engagement

This category includes:

• Labour-market assessments;
• Market-system analysis;
• Agricultural and non-agricultural value-chain analysis;
• Employer and business surveys;
• Market-demand and supply analysis;
• Business and service-provider mapping;
• Private-sector partnership development;
• Producer-to-buyer linkages;
• Local procurement and market-access strategies;
• Cooperative and producer-group development;
• Enterprise clustering and collective marketing;
• Export readiness and product compliance;
• Identification of growth sectors and employment opportunities.

22. Cooperatives, Producer Groups and Community Enterprises

Relevant expertise includes:

• Formation and strengthening of cooperatives;
• Governance and management of producer groups;
• Cooperative financial management;
• Collective purchasing and marketing;
• Farmer and livestock-producer organizations;
• Women’s and youth economic groups;
• Community enterprises and social businesses;
• Savings groups and Village Savings and Loan Associations;
• Conflict-sensitive management of shared economic assets;
• Sustainability planning and institutional strengthening.

23. Research, Assessments, MEAL and Programme Quality

STOOS invites specialists in:

• Livelihood and economic-recovery assessments;
• Labour-market and market assessments;
• Agricultural and livestock assessments;
• Value-chain and feasibility studies;
• Baseline, midline and endline studies;
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning;
• Indicator and monitoring-plan development;
• Quantitative and qualitative research;
• Survey design and sampling;
• KoBoToolbox and mobile data collection;
• Excel, SPSS, Power BI and data visualization;
• Qualitative coding and thematic analysis;
• Business-performance and outcome monitoring;
• Employment and enterprise tracer studies;
• Beneficiary feedback and accountability systems;
• Impact measurement and learning.

24. Inclusion, Gender, Protection and Safeguarding

Relevant profiles include specialists in:

• Gender-responsive economic empowerment;
• Women’s economic participation;
• Youth inclusion and youth employment;
• Disability-inclusive TVET and livelihoods;
• Protection mainstreaming;
• Safeguarding and PSEA;
• Conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm;
• Social cohesion and community engagement;
• Safe and accessible training environments;
• Economic inclusion of displaced people, returnees and vulnerable host communities;
• Adaptation of training materials and facilities for persons with disabilities;
• Prevention of exploitation and unsafe working conditions.

Indicative Responsibilities

Depending on the assignment, consultants may be required to:

• Conduct training-needs, labour-market, value-chain, institutional or enterprise assessments;
• Identify market-relevant occupations, products, services and economic opportunities;
• Design and adapt competency-based curricula, manuals, lesson plans and practical exercises;
• Deliver technical training, workshops, Training of Trainers, coaching and mentoring;
• Conduct practical demonstrations and supervise workplace-based learning;
• Prepare competency tests, pre- and post-training assessments and certification tools;
• Develop business plans, feasibility studies, marketing strategies and enterprise-support tools;
• Support entrepreneurs, MSMEs, cooperatives and producer groups;
• Establish linkages with employers, buyers, suppliers, financial institutions and service providers;
• Advise on training equipment, tools, workshop layout, safety and maintenance;
• Monitor participant attendance, learning, employment and business outcomes;
• Prepare workplans, training reports, technical reports and recommendations;
• Coordinate with STOOS teams, clients, local authorities, training institutions and community stakeholders;
• Apply gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, conflict-sensitive and safeguarding standards;
• Contribute to technical proposals, methodologies, budgets and project designs when requested.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate a combination of the following:

• A relevant university degree, technical diploma, vocational certificate, professional licence or recognized trade qualification;
• Master craftspeople and experienced practitioners without university degrees may apply where they can demonstrate strong practical experience;
• Normally at least three years of relevant experience, while senior and lead positions may require five or more years;
• Strong practical knowledge in at least one specialization area;
• Experience delivering training, coaching, technical assistance or enterprise support;
• Ability to develop clear and practical training materials;
• Knowledge of the Syrian labour market, local value chains, MSME environment and livelihood conditions is a strong advantage;
• Experience working with UN agencies, NGOs, donors, public institutions, TVET centres, cooperatives or private-sector actors is desirable;
• Strong communication, facilitation and reporting skills;
• Ability to work in Arabic and/or English, depending on the assignment;
• Willingness to undertake field travel when required;
• Commitment to safeguarding, non-discrimination, confidentiality and professional conduct.

Contractual Arrangements

Experts will be engaged through individual consultancy agreements on a project-by-project and deliverable-based basis. Each assignment will have a specific Terms of Reference defining the scope, deliverables, location, timeline, level of effort and agreed consultancy fee.

Assignments may range from several days to several months and may be implemented remotely, in person or through a hybrid approach. Experts may be engaged as lead consultants, technical specialists, trainers, coaches, assessors, supervisors, researchers or quality-assurance reviewers.

How to apply

Please share your CV using the following link making sure to select the relevant areas based on your profile and experience.

https://forms.gle/2tvHhi3BkabckugY6