Consultant for Development of the South Sudan National Qualifications Framework

Development of the South Sudan National Qualifications Framework

Introduction

South Sudan is at a pivotal moment in its nation building and education reform process. On 20 March 2025, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a high level National Consultation Meeting in Juba, marking a significant milestone toward implementing the IGAD Qualifications Framework (IGADQF) and advancing the establishment of South Sudan’s first National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The consultation brought together government ministries, education and labour institutions, UN agencies, development partners, academia, the private sector, and representatives of women, youth, refugees, and returnees. Together, these stakeholders reaffirmed the urgency of developing a coherent and credible national system for qualifications, learning pathways, and skills recognition. The IGADQF, adopted in May 2024 in Entebbe, serves as a flagship regional instrument under the Djibouti Declaration, aimed at harmonizing qualifications across IGAD Member States. By aligning national systems with this regional framework, member states can promote labour mobility, strengthen quality assurance, advance regional integration, and facilitate mutual recognition of skills. Against this backdrop, UNHCR, working closely with government authorities in South Sudan and IGAD, seeks to recruit a highly qualified international consultant to lead the design, development, and national validation of the South Sudan National Qualifications Framework (SSNQF). The framework aims to enhance transparency, comparability, employability, and lifelong learning opportunities for all individuals, including refugees and host communities.

Background

South Sudan has initiated several foundational reforms in preparation for the development of a National Qualifications Framework. These include the establishment of a National Qualifications Framework Steering Committee, efforts to strengthen quality assurance processes across education sectors, improving institutional capacity for curriculum development and accreditation, and expanding student support services and opportunities for skills development and lifelong learning. These reform efforts, however, take place within a complex humanitarian and development context. South Sudan currently hosts more than 618,947 refugees and asylum seekers, alongside approximately 1,195,858 returnees and 1,992,513 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many among these populations, especially youth, have acquired valuable skills and knowledge through non formal, informal, and community based learning both within South Sudan and in displacement. Yet, in the absence of a national system for recognizing prior learning, these individuals face significant barriers to accessing further education, employment, and meaningful socio economic participation. A nationally validated qualifications framework is therefore essential to ensure inclusivity, transparency, and flexibility within the education and skills ecosystem. The final SSNQF must support the recognition of diverse learning pathways, empower learners, enhance employability, facilitate mobility, and strengthen the coherence and credibility of South Sudan’s broader education and training system. Role of the Pathways to Empowerment (P2E) Project in Advancing SSNQF The development of the SSNQF is further supported under the Pathways to Empowerment (P2E) Project for Youth in South Sudan, a six year national initiative funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by a consortium led by War Child Canada, with UNHCR as the lead for the Policy and Enabling Environment component. The P2E project aims to expand access to quality learning and skilling opportunities for youth, strengthen national systems that support dignified and sustainable livelihoods, enhance pathways for refugees, returnees, and host community youth to transition into employment and entrepreneurship. Under this initiative, UNHCR is tasked with supporting the national Sub Committee on the SSNQF, composed of Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI), Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MoHEST), regulatory and professional bodies (Medical Council, Engineering Council, Law Society, etc.) and relevant line ministries and national stakeholders. The recruitment of an international consultant under this ToR is a major step toward advancing South Sudan’s commitments under the Djibouti Declaration, which calls for the development and adoption of harmonized, inclusive, and regionally comparable qualifications frameworks. Strategic Importance of SSNQF for Refugees and Returnees Central to the SSNQF is the establishment of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanisms. RPL enables individuals, especially refugees, returnees, and those without formal documentation, to have their skills formally assessed and certified. This is essential for reintegration into the national education system, access to higher education or TVET institutions, transition into labour markets and self employment and mobility across sectors and regions. With the Mastercard Foundation significantly increasing its investment in the new P2E scale up, timely progress on the SSNQF is essential to demonstrate UNHCR’s leadership, deliver measurable outcomes, and strengthen national systems. P2E Deliverables Linked to SSNQF Under the P2E project, UNHCR by June 2026 will convene a national workshop with stakeholders and the National Steering Committee to finalize the SSNQF by July-August 2026 UNHCR will support the full development, validation, national endorsement, printing, and dissemination of the SSNQF. The collaboration between UNHCR, IGAD, the Government of South Sudan, Mastercard Foundation, and consortium partners ensures a robust foundation for the development of a credible, regionally aligned national qualifications system. Purpose of the Assignment The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a compreh