Youth On-Job Training Program

                                                                          Youth Grow Activity (YGA)

                                                                                    Scope of work

PROJECT BACKGROUND

About Youth Grow Activity

Launched in 2023, Youth Grow Activity (YGA) is a five-year US Government (USG)-funded initiative that aims to transform the economic trajectory of Jordan’s youth while strengthening resilient, opportunity-rich local systems to promote long-term stability and security. YGA reflects a growing strategic consensus: youth economic empowerment is no longer just a development objective; it is a tool for socioeconomic prosperity. YGA tackles the root causes of economic exclusion and youth unemployment are key drivers of social unrest, destabilized vulnerable communities, and brain drain and migration. By aligning local and national economic opportunities with shared regional and global strategic interests, YGA leverages economic empowerment as a force to foster resilient partnerships that help co-create future-ready systems.

YGA focuses on three core objectives:

1. Increased youth access to income-generating opportunities. YGA prepares, inspires, and links youth with opportunities and career pathways that allow them to generate income in growing arenas, including technology-enabled work, remote employment, and enhancing youth-led and youth-serving enterprises’ growth opportunities.
2. Enhanced youth economic leadership through targeted support of youth-led, youth-serving organizations, and youth groups through integrating sustainable practices and procedures for youth economic integration into the local and national ecosystem and enhancing youth's meaningful involvement in decision-making by creating avenues where their voices are heard to shape support activities that affect their economic progress. This approach allows YGA to support inclusive economic growth that fosters innovation and long-term value creation.
3. Strengthened Jordan's youth development system in partnership with youth through enhanced coordination among stakeholders within youth-relevant services and policies and strengthened youth centers' capacity to serve as a connection hub between youth and youth support ecosystems to develop a lasting environment for youth empowerment and engagement.

About Q2IMPACT (QED Group, LLC DBA Q2 Impact)

Q2IMPACT, a QED Group company, brings over 25 years of expertise in data-driven, impact-focused solutions at the intersection of development, diplomacy, and defense. Rooted in this dynamic history, Q2IMPACT leverages cutting-edge technology, data-driven insight, and strategic expertise to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. Evolving with global priorities, Q2IMPACT blends its rich legacy in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA); data analytics; systems strengthening; and adaptive programming with a renewed focus on strategic relevance, economic growth, and national security. Q2IMPACT is the Prime Subrecipient under the USG-funded Youth Grow Activity (YGA) under Agreement No. 72027823CA00003.

Job Matching Background

Youth unemployment in Jordan remains a critical development challenge, driven by skills mismatches, limited work experience, and weak transitions from education to employment. The Youth Grow Activity (YGA) addresses these challenges through a Training-to-Employment model that integrates life skills, technical skills, and direct exposure to the workplace.

As part of YGA’s employability pillar, the Job Matching component is designed to provide youth with structured, hands-on work experience in real private-sector settings, enabling them to acquire market-relevant technical competencies, workplace behaviors, and professional confidence, while responding directly to employer demand.

Labor market assessments and employer consultations consistently highlight the need for work-ready youth with hands-on experience, soft skills, and occupation-specific competencies. Traditional classroom-based training alone is insufficient to ensure smooth school-to-work transitions.

SCOPE OF WORK

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to design, implement, and manage apprenticeship, internship, and on-the-job training (OJT) opportunities for beneficiaries of the YGA, with the aim of enhancing youth employability and facilitating sustainable integration into the private-sector labor market for at least 3 months for 500 beneficiaries within various sectors including Tourism and Hospitality, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Industrial, Manufacturing, Production, Agrobusiness, Food Processing, Green Economy, Creative Industries, Banking, Digital Services and Health.

To ensure effective and timely delivery, the assignment will be implemented through the engagement of three consultants, working individually or as a coordinated team. The consultants will collectively cover all technical and operational components of the program, including employer outreach and mapping; beneficiary selection and matching; apprenticeship, internship, and OJT placement; contracting and labor-law compliance; financial and logistical support; monitoring, follow-up, and mentorship; and skills assessment and documentation.

The engagement of three consultants will allow functional specialization while ensuring effective implementation, adequate geographic coverage in the three geographical regions (North, Center and South), equal distribution of the 500 beneficiaries, and timely delivery of all Apprenticeship, Internship, and On-the-Job Training (OJT) activities. This approach will strengthen coordination with private-sector partners and ensure high-quality implementation aligned with YGA’s Training-to-Employment model and inclusive workforce development objectives.

Key Responsibilities for the Job Matching Lead Consultant (1 Lead Consultant required)

The Job Matching Lead Consultant shall provide overall technical leadership, coordination, and quality assurance for the Job Matching component under the Youth Grow Activity (YGA). In addition to performing the core responsibilities of the Job Matching Consultant, the Lead Consultant will be responsible for standardization, capacity building, and supervision of the consultant team. In addition, the Job Matching Lead Consultant shall actively implement all components of the Job Matching assignment jointly with the Job Matching Consultants, rather than serving solely in an oversight or advisory capacity.

1. Technical Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the planning, sequencing, and coordination of all Job Matching activities across targeted governorates.
• Ensure consistent application of YGA’s Training-to-Employment approach, inclusion principles, and quality standards across all consultants.
• Serve as the primary technical focal point for coordination with YGA management, partners, and key stakeholders.

2. Employer Outreach and Mapping (Lead Role)

• Oversee employer outreach and mapping strategies and tools used by all consultants.
• Review and validate employer screening results to ensure compliance with safety, training capacity, and labor standards.
• Ensure consolidation and quality control of the employer database.
• Conduct continuous employer mapping in YGA-targeted governorates to identify businesses willing to host apprentices, interns, or On-the-Job Training (OJT) participants.
• Assess employers against agreed criteria, including safe working conditions, training capacity, commitment to skills transfer, and potential for post-placement employment.
• Maintain and validate an updated database of participating employers, including number of available placements and required skills profiles.

3. Life Skills Curriculum, Materials, and Manual Development

• Lead the development, adaptation, and standardization of life skills training materials and a facilitator manual to be used by all Job Matching.
• Ensure that materials are practical, context-appropriate, and aligned with private-sector expectations and YGA employability objectives.
• The life skills materials and manual shall cover, at a minimum, the following topics:
  • Professional behavior and work ethics
  • Communication and teamwork
  • Time management and problem solving
  • Occupational health and safety awareness
  • Adaptability and conflict management in the workplace
  • Labor rights and responsibilities
• Develop session plans, training agendas, exercises, case studies, pre- and post-assessment tools, and participant handouts.
• Orient and support other consultants on the use of the materials to ensure consistency in delivery and quality across locations.
• Co-Deliver 30 hours of life skills training over one week for selected YGA beneficiaries, prior to or at the early stage of apprenticeship, internship, or OJT placement.
• Training delivery modality and location shall be flexible and determined based on:
  • The number of beneficiaries per cohort
  • Employers’ willingness and capacity to host training on their premises
  • Logistical considerations and accessibility for beneficiaries
• Life skills training may be delivered:
  • Within employer premises, where feasible and agreed with participating employers; or
  • At external training venues, when cohort size, employer constraints, or safeguarding considerations require off-site delivery.

• Consultants shall coordinate closely with employers to ensure alignment between life skills training content and workplace expectations, and to minimize disruption to business operations.
• Attendance, completion, pre & post assessment and participant feedback shall be documented and reported as part of YGA monitoring and reporting requirements.

4. Beneficiary Selection and Matching (Quality Assurance)

• Provide technical oversight to ensure transparent, demand-driven, and gender-responsive beneficiary selection and matching processes.
• Review and validate matching decisions where required to ensure alignment with employer needs and beneficiary profiles.
• Coordinate with YGA employability specialist to identify eligible youth beneficiaries who have completed required life skills.
• Match beneficiaries with suitable apprenticeship, internship, or OJT opportunities based on qualifications, interests, geographic location, and employer needs.
• Ensure transparent, demand-driven, and gender-responsive matching processes.

5. Apprenticeship / Internship / OJT Placement Oversight

• Ensure standardized placement procedures, learning/development plans, and supervision arrangements are applied by all consultants.
• Provide guidance on resolving placement-related challenges and employer or beneficiary concerns.
• Facilitate placement of beneficiaries in host businesses for a minimum duration of 3 months.
• Ensure each placement includes:
  • A designated workplace supervisor or mentor
  • A structured on-the-job learning plan or development plan
  • Clear roles, responsibilities, and expected competencies

6. Contracting and Compliance Oversight

• Prepare apprenticeship/internship/OJT agreements and compliance documentation, and review and validate those prepared by the other two consultants.
• Ensure consistency with Jordanian labor law, YGA policies, and USG compliance requirements.
• Support the signing of apprenticeship/internship/OJT agreements between YGA and employers, and between YGA and employees in compliance with Jordanian labor regulations, noting that YGA will subsidies salary of youth mainly to cover monthly transportation allowances of youth in addition to paying full social security amount on behalf of employer and employees.
• Agreements shall outline duration, working hours, learning objectives (development plan), supervision arrangements, health and safety measures, and grievance mechanisms.

7.Financial and Logistical Support

• Ensure timely verification of attendance and performance prior to any allowance disbursement.
• Consultants shall collect, review, and maintain all required means of verification related to transportation allowances and social security contributions, in accordance with YGA financial, compliance, and audit requirements.

8. Monitoring, Mentorship, and Quality Control

• Oversee monitoring, follow-up, and mentorship approaches implemented by consultants.
• Ensure that pre- and post-skills assessments are conducted consistently and that results are documented and analyzed.
• Support consultants in addressing retention risks and performance challenges.
• Ensure timely verification of attendance and performance prior to any allowance disbursement.
• Collect, review, and maintain all required means of verification related to transportation allowances and social security contributions, in accordance with YGA financial, compliance, and audit requirements.
• Conduct regular workplace follow-up visits (at least three per placement) to monitor progress and address challenges.
• Collect feedback from beneficiaries and employers on training quality and performance.
• Provide mentoring and problem-solving support to enhance retention and learning outcomes.
• Conduct pre- and post-placement skills assessments to measure competency development.
• Document lessons learned, challenges, and success stories to inform continuous program improvement.

9. Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Consolidate inputs from all consultants into high-quality reports, including lessons learned and success stories.
• Document best practices and recommendations to inform future YGA job matching and workforce development programming.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS – Job Matching Lead Consultant

• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in youth employability, job matching, workforce development, or labor-market integration programs, including leadership or coordination roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing apprenticeship, internship, and/or on-the-job training (OJT) initiatives, from design through implementation and post-placement follow-up.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and coordinating teams of consultants or field staff, including quality assurance and performance oversight.
• Experience working with USAID- or other donor-funded programs is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities for the Job Matching Consultants (two consultants required)

1. Employer Outreach and Mapping

• Conduct continuous employer mapping in YGA-targeted governorates to identify businesses willing to host apprentices, interns, or OJT participants.
• Assess employers against agreed criteria, including safe working conditions, training capacity, commitment to skills transfer, and potential for post-placement employment.
• Maintain an updated database of participating employers, including number of available placements and required skills profiles.

1. Life Skills Training

As part of the Scope of Services, the consultants shall co-deliver, and coordinate life skills training for selected Youth Grow Activity (YGA) beneficiaries prior to or at the early stage of their Apprenticeship, Internship, or On-the-Job Training (OJT) placement.

• The life skills training shall consist of 30 training hours delivered over one week.
• Training content shall focus on core employability and workplace readiness competencies, including but not limited to:
  • Professional behavior and work ethics
  • Communication and teamwork
  • Time management and problem solving
  • Occupational health and safety awareness
  • Adaptability and conflict management in the workplace
  • Labor rights
• Training delivery modality and location shall be flexible and determined based on:
  • The number of beneficiaries per cohort
  • Employers’ willingness and capacity to host training on their premises
  • Logistical considerations and accessibility for beneficiaries
• Life skills training may be delivered:
  • Within employer premises, where feasible and agreed with participating employers; or
  • At external training venues, when cohort size, employer constraints, or safeguarding considerations require off-site delivery.
• Consultants shall coordinate closely with employers to ensure alignment between life skills training content and workplace expectations, and to minimize disruption to business operations.
• Attendance, completion, pre & post assessment and participant feedback shall be documented and reported as part of YGA monitoring and reporting requirements.

1. Beneficiary Selection and Matching

• Coordinate with YGA employability specialist to identify eligible youth beneficiaries who have completed required life skills.
• Match beneficiaries with suitable apprenticeship, internship, or OJT opportunities based on qualifications, interests, geographic location, and employer needs.
• Ensure transparent, demand-driven, and gender-responsive matching processes.

1. Apprenticeship / Internship / OJT Placement

• Facilitate placement of beneficiaries in host businesses for a minimum duration of 3 months.
• Ensure each placement includes:

• A designated workplace supervisor or mentor
• A structured on-the-job learning plan or development plan
• Clear roles, responsibilities, and expected competencies

1. Contracting and Compliance

• Support the signing of apprenticeship/internship/OJT agreements between YGA and employers, and between YGA and employees in compliance with Jordanian labor regulations, noting that YGA will subsidies salary of youth mainly to cover monthly transportation allowances of youth in addition to paying full social security amount on behalf of employer and employees.
• Agreements shall outline duration, working hours, learning objectives (development plan), supervision arrangements, health and safety measures, and grievance mechanisms.

1. Financial and Logistical Support

• Ensure timely verification of attendance and performance prior to any allowance disbursement.
• Consultants shall collect, review, and maintain all required means of verification related to transportation allowances and social security contributions, in accordance with YGA financial, compliance, and audit requirements.

1. Monitoring, Follow-Up, and Mentorship

• Conduct regular workplace follow-up visits (at least three per placement) to monitor progress and address challenges.
• Collect feedback from beneficiaries and employers on training quality and performance.
• Provide mentoring and problem-solving support to enhance retention and learning outcomes.
• Conduct pre- and post-placement skills assessments to measure competency development.
• Document lessons learned, challenges, and success stories to inform continuous program improvement.
• Share with Job Matching Lead Consultants reports, including lessons learned and success stories, best practices and recommendations to inform future YGA job matching and workforce development programming.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS – Job Matching Consultant

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in youth employability, job matching, workforce development, private-sector engagement, or labor-market integration programs.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing apprenticeships, internships, or on-the-job training (OJT) initiatives.
• Proven track record in employer outreach, mapping, and engagement, preferably within the Jordanian private sector.
• Experience working with USAID- or other donor-funded programs is highly preferred.

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning

The consultants, lead and implementers, are required to implement Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) activities to track and assess the progress and achievement of the intervention phases. The YGA MEL team will collaborate with the consultants to develop and finalize the MEL framework before delivering the proposed activities. This includes indicators (YGA indicators and activity custom indicators), the MEL reporting template, and the reporting timeframe to ensure accurate and accountable reporting of achievements and to measure the outputs, outcomes (short and long-term), and overall contribution of the YGA objectives.

Indicators include:

1. Number of youths generated income as a result of USG assistance
2. Percent of youth who report increased self-efficacy as a result of USG assistance.

Number of youths who completed USG-assisted income-generating programs.

The consultants should work closely with the YGA MEL team on finalizing the MEL activities, ensure adherence to the approved activities, and be responsible for implementing the routine monitoring and relevant evaluation activities. The YGA MEL team will grant access to data collection tools. The consultants should use the unified data collection tools developed by the YGA team; these tools include, but are not limited to, the Youth registration and rolling baseline tool, tracking sheets, and satisfaction survey. Additionally, the consultants, based on their experience, should propose and use any necessary tools to monitor and evaluate the grant outcome.

To ensure collecting learning insights, the consultants will help the YGA team organize focus-group discussions, interviews, and pause and reflect activities with the targeted youth. This aims at improving the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, outcomes, and sustainability of the interventions.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE for each one of the three (3) consultants

All deliverables should be in English; the consultant will be responsible for reviewing the translation to Arabic.