Development of a practical guide for young job seekers and the career guidance professionals who support them

ILO
Development of a practical guide for young job seekers and the career guidance professionals who support them Call for individual consultants

Reference: ILO/CO-DAR/RWA/excoll/2025/05
Beneficiary countries or territories: Rwanda
Registration level: Basic
Published on: 03-Jun-2025
Deadline on: 20-Jun-2025 00:00 (GMT 2.00)

Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE

“How to work in the digital economy?”

Development of a practical guide for young job seekers
and the career guidance professionals who support them

July 1 - September 30, 2025

 

1. Background

1.1. The Youth Employment in the Digital Economy Project

The project for Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda's Digital Economy, is a multi-year project, funded by the Government of Luxembourg and brings together the ILO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ‒ in support of the African Union (AU) under the umbrella of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. The programme aims to implement interventions that empower African youth, ensue they benefit from new opportunities in Africa’s growing digital economy and steer it forward with their energy and creativity. The joint programme is continental in scope and is implemented across six countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.

In Rwanda, the project aims to support Rwanda’s structural transformation and contribute to a just transition towards a digital economy. Its main goal is to enable more young women and men in Rwanda to access decent jobs in Rwanda’s digital economy, focusing on the youth between the age brackets of 16 and 30 years from Secondary Cities as well as Kigali. The three main components of the project are: (i) Promoting job creation and entrepreneurship opportunities in the digital economy, (ii) Improve digital skills of young women and men, and (iii) Facilitate young people’s transition to decent work in the digital economy.

Under these components, the project will strengthen career guidance services in employment service centers, ICT hubs, and TVET institutions to better align training pathways with the evolving demands of the digital economy. Career guidance materials and tools will be enhanced, and technical support will be provided to TVET institutions to incorporate labour market insights on digital jobs into counselling services. As part of that, a Guide on “How to Work in the Digital Economy” will be developed, with tailored examples about Rwanda’s digital economy. This will be designed to support young people and career guidance practitioners in navigating pathways to digital work and digitally enabled employment. It will include practical guidance on identifying relevant digital skills, understanding digital job trends, and planning career development in line with current and emerging opportunities in the digital sector.

1.2. Work in the Digital Economy

The world of work is undergoing significant and increasingly frequent transformations, mainly linked to climate change, demographics, and technological developments. Some professions are disappearing, others are being created, and most are evolving. The impacts on workers are significant. Increasingly, professionals today are required to change positions and/or professions quite regularly—on average, five times over the course of their careers. It is therefore essential for a worker to keep an eye on their professional environment and learn how to orient themselves to best manage their career development. Be the pilot of their professional career and not just a passenger who suffers the ups and downs of the storms.

Technological developments have transformed all sectors of the economy and given rise to new professions specifically related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT).  A new sector of activity has been created: the digital economy. For the uninitiated, the digital economy can appear vast, fragmented, and constantly evolving. As a result, individuals exploring career options often find it challenging to navigate this landscape, understand the range of emerging professions, and grasp how these roles are connected or likely to evolve over time. To help young and old navigate the world of work, the ILO has created a collection of practical guides entitled "Building My Future at Work." These guides are also useful for employment professionals, who are responsible for supporting job seekers in their efforts.

These "terms of reference" aim to describe the work to be carried out to prepare the publication of a new guide in this collection, entitled: "How to work in the digital economy?"

2. Objective

The objective of the guide is to provide practical advice and clear guidance to young job seekers, and those who support them, on exploring opportunities in the digital economy. It aims to break down complex information and present a simple, organized overview of the digital economy, its key sectors, and the types of jobs it offers. By explaining how the digital economy works, outlining the main career paths, and identifying the skills needed for each profession, the guide will help young people globally and in Rwanda beyond better understand their options and make informed decisions about training, job search, and long-term career development in the digital world.

3. Scope

The guide will cover the evolution and current state of the digital economy, with examples from Rwanda’s context, including emerging trends, key sectors, and digital transformation policies. The guide will map out various digital job families—both within the core ICT sector and across technology-enabled industries such as agriculture, health, finance, and education—describing typical roles, required skills, and pathways into these professions. It will also introduce key industry terms and highlight the digital skills and competencies most in demand, drawing from global research and Rwanda’s national digital skills assessment.

4. Deliverables

  • Inception report (see annex I for proposed content): the objective of the inception report is to review and synthesize literature, and to clarify expectations with ILO stakeholders before substantive drafting begins—ensuring relevance, practicality, and consistency with other ILO tools. The report would discuss not just the content structure but also delivery and dissemination methods suited for the users and audience (e.g., online formats, training modules, print-ready guides). The report will include:

 

  • Guide draft (see annex II for proposed outline): A complete, well-structured draft of the guide written in clear, simple language that is accessible to youth, job seekers, and employment service professionals. The draft will organize the selected content in a logical and engaging way, using visual aids where appropriate (e.g. infographics, tables, job profiles). It should include not only factual information but also practical examples, real-life case studies, and user-friendly summaries.

5. Research approach

To ensure the guide is evidence-based, context-specific, and practical for young people and employment professionals, the following research methods will be used:

  • Desk research
    • Gather both local and global relevant literature, data, and tools on digital jobs, skills, training pathways, and youth employment trends.
    • Comparative scan of existing tools to identify best practices and formats from similar guides globally
    • Sources: ILO publications (e.g. Digital labour platforms and the future of work, Digital Skills for Youth), ITU, World Bank, OECD, and WEF reports on the digital economy
  • Stakeholder consultation
    • Validate relevance and practical utility of proposed guide content with key stakeholder including:
    • ILO experts, TVET instructors, Career counselors in employment service centers, Representatives from youth-led digital start-ups or hubs, Policy actors (e.g., Ministry of ICT, Rwanda Development Board)
    • Carry out data and document research at a global level in order to bring together documents and studies relating to the digital economy and its professions, according to the themes specified in Appendix 1.

 

6. Schedule

The assignment will begin on July 1 2025 and will be completed and delivered no later than September 30 2025, the date on which this contract will expire.

Deliverables and Timeline

  • Inception report: 21/July
  • Full draft: 21/August
  • Finalization: 21/September

7. Payment

Upon completion of the work to the satisfaction of the ILO, the ILO will pay the external collaborator:

  • Consultant (Daily rate in USD * 16 days).

Payment will be made as follows:

  1. First payment comprising 30% of the total contract value upon submission of the initial report and annotated plan
  2. Second payment comprising 50% of the total contract value upon submission of the draft guide.
  3. Final payment comprising 20% of the total contract value upon submission and acceptance by the ILO of the finalized guide.

8. Selection criteria

The consultant will be selected based on the following criteria:

A. Relevant Technical expertise and experience (maximun mark: 50)

  1.  Demonstrated experience in researching and synthesizing evidence on digital economy trends and youth employment, including mapping emerging digital job families and training pathways.
  2. Proven ability to design and deliver user-friendly, practical guidance materials that effectively translate complex digital economy information into clear and accessible language for young job seekers and career advisors.
  3. Experience collaborating with government agencies, employment service centres, and digital hubs to ensure the contextual relevance of career guidance resources in Rwanda or similar settings.
  4. Ability to integrate Rwanda-specific digital transformation policies, national skills frameworks, and local examples into employment guidance tools.
  5. Prior experience working with international development agencies (e.g., ILO, ITU) and ensuring gender-responsive, inclusive approaches in developing career resources for the digital economy.

 

B. Proposed approach to deliver the ToR’s scope of work

  1. Applicant demonstrates (via submitted technical proposal) their expertise. The technical proposal includes a realistic workplan.  The evaluation will assess the understanding of scope, objectives and completeness of response (maximun mark: 30).
  2. Quality of the sample manual suggests that the applicant possess the required level of knowledge and analytical skill (maximun mark: 20).

NOTE:

  1. Total for Section A (50 Points) and Section B (50 Points) is 100
  2. Minimum Acceptable Score for the Financial Proposal to be reviewed, 60

 

9. Application

Interested consultants must submit the following:

a) Technical Proposal (maximum 5 pages)

  1. Understanding of the assignment objectives and deliverables.
  2. Proposed approach and methodology
  3. Stakeholder engagement and validation process.
  1. Draft timeline.

b) Curriculum Vitae (CV)

  1. Detailed experience in researching and synthesizing evidence on digital economy trends and youth employment, including mapping emerging digital job families and training pathways.
  1. Specific roles in similar assignments (with indication of country, client, and responsibilities).
  2. Contact details for at least two references.
  1. d) Financial Proposal Daily rate (in USD), number of estimated working days, and total consultancy cost.
  2. Any anticipated reimbursable costs (e.g., travel, accommodation).

ID

Activity Deliverables

Consultancy Fee

Total Activity Deliverable Days

Total Number of Mission Days

Total Deliverable Cost*

IMPORTANT NOTE: First activity below is provided as an example. Please ensure that this template table includes ALL activities detailed in the Key Deliverables section above. Also ensure that the last row is dedicated for Total Activity Days and Costs as shown below in the example.

1

Inception report

 

 

 

 

.

.

 

Please provide breakdown for each activity in the Key Deliverables section above.

 

 

 

 

Totals Activity Days and Costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 








 

Note: The following Table has been prepared to assist the Consultant in reporting their respective financial offers. Some deliverables have been reflected in the table as an example. However, all deliverable are to be reflected in the table.

*Deliverable Activity Cost = Daily Professional Fees X Total Activity Deliverable Days + Travel cost (mission days X DSA) + flight/travel cost

e) Annexes / Supporting Documents

  1. At least two examples of previous work (e.g., revised curricula, training modules, reports).
  2. Two references (with contact information and description of working relationship).

f) Submission Instructions

All application materials must be submitted electronically in PDF format to:
rwaprocurement@ilo.org

Deadline for submission:  20/June/2025, 23:59 CET

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Interviews may be held with shortlisted organizations.

 

Annex I: Draft content for inception report

  1. Synthesis of evidence and literature

Carry out data and document research at a global level in order to bring together documents and studies relating to the digital economy and its professions, according to the themes specified in the outline of the Guide.

  1. Purpose and Audience Clarification
  • Primary target users (youth job seekers, employment officers, trainers, etc.)
  • Where/when to use the guide (career guidance sessions, self-study, online training)
  1. Proposed Outline and Content Plan
  • Revised table of contents and structure
  • Key themes and focal areas (e.g. Rwanda-specific case studies, emerging AI jobs, platform work)
  • Integration of Rwanda’s national digital strategies and youth employment policies
  1. Delivery Format Options

The consultant will recommend the most effective delivery formats for the guide:

  • PDF for download and print (primary deliverable)
  • Interactive online version (HTML or hosted content)
  • Slide deck or facilitator guide for training sessions
  • Microlearning videos or voice notes for mobile access (optional)
  1. Dissemination and Learning Channels

Options for reaching young people, career counsellors, and policy actors, for example:

  • LinkedIn for reaching urban youth professionals
  • YouTube or MasterClass-style videos for broad accessibility
  • ITC-ILO eCampus or ILO Global Youth Employment Platform for structured learning
  • TVET institutions and ICT hubs for offline access

F.  Annotated Reference List

G. Workplan and Timeline

Final agreed schedule for the drafting, validation, and finalization phases, with milestone review dates and feedback loops.

 

Annex II. Draft outline of the ILO guide

Part 1: Understanding the Digital Economy

  1. What is the Digital Economy?
    • Definition and scope
    • Evolution of the digital economy globally and in Africa
  2. The Digital Economy in Rwanda
    • Rwanda’s Digital Transformation Strategy
    • Key sectors and emerging opportunities
    • Internet access, mobile penetration, and digital services in Rwanda
  3. The Role of Technology: AI, Big Data, IoT and Beyond
    • How technology is reshaping jobs
    • Artificial Intelligence impacts on work
  4. A Look Ahead: The Next 10 Years
    • Global and local trends (drawing from Rwanda’s foresight exercises)
    • Green and digital economy convergence

Part 2: Exploring Careers in the Digital Economy

  1. Mapping Digital Job Families
    • Core ICT roles (e.g., Software Development, Cybersecurity)
    • Digital jobs across other sectors (AgriTech, FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech)
  2. Directory of Digital Professions
    • Profile templates: Role description, key skills, expected responsibilities
    • Localized examples (e.g., Rwandan startups, entrepreneurs)
  3. Gig and Platform Work in Rwanda
    • What it is, pros and cons
    • Worker rights, challenges, and protections

Part 3: Skills and Training for Digital Jobs

  1. Skills for Success in the Digital Economy
    • Core technical skills (programming, data analytics, cybersecurity)
    • Critical soft skills (problem-solving, creativity, communication)
  2. Learning Pathways
    • TVETs, universities, online certifications
    • Bootcamps, hubs and innovation centres (e.g., kLab, FabLab Rwanda)
  3. Building Your Skills Portfolio
    • How to choose the right courses
    • Recognized certifications in Rwanda, global

Part 4: Finding and Securing Digital Work

  1. Navigating the Job Search
    • Where to find jobs: Local and international platforms
    • Crafting a digital CV and online profile (LinkedIn, Upwork)
  2. Freelancing and Entrepreneurship
    • How to start
    • Managing your own business or freelance career
  3. Youth Career Support Services
    • Services available in Rwanda
    • Online tools, mentorship programs, and incubators

Part 5: Decent Work and Workers’ Rights in the Digital Economy

  1. Know Your Rights
    • Basics of labour law in digital and platform work
    • Digital work contracts and terms of service
  2. Challenges in Digital Work
    • Algorithmic management and data privacy
    • Access to social protection and collective action
  3. Advocating for Better Digital Work Conditions
    • Initiatives and movements in Rwanda and Africa

Annexes

  • Glossary of Key Terms
  • Templates (CV, Online Profile Checklist, Career Plan Worksheet)
  • Annotated Bibliography

► Note to Consultants

  • All CVs submitted should include the Date of Birth and Nationality of the Consultant;
  • Consultant should quote in USD prices and/or using prices calculated using the Official UN Exchange Rates for the country;
  • Candidates should be prepared to submit a copy of their national Passport upon Notification of Award;
  • Candidates planning field visits, movements, and/or DSA travel dates are required to completed the UN BSAFE security training course upon Notification of Award. Failure to complete the course will prevent the finalization of contracting between the Consultant and the ILO;
  • Professional Fees should include all costs associated with the Activity Deliverable;
  • Consultants are responsible for arranging their own travel arrangements to project sites;
  • Consultants agree to be paid based upon compliance with UN Harmonized DSA rates set for the country;
  • Consultants agree that all mission costs will be based upon the most economical direct fares AND that any travel-related costs cannot exceed those payable to an ILO official on the same itinerary;
  • All mission cost days will be paid based upon actual receipts paid by the Consultant and actual travel/mission dates;
  • Consultants are not to add the VAT to their financial offer unless they are a VAT Registered Individual with the Sudanese VAT Authority;
  • Consultants should be aware that all intellectual property rights arising from the contract are vested with the ILO however authorship will be acknowledged by the Organization; and
  • Consultants will bear all charges levied by their own bank in receiving of managing funds transferred by ILO.