Consultants

Consultants – World University Service of Canada

Job Overview

Job Title: Consultant(s) – Accessibility Research to Promote Inclusive Youth Participation in TVET
Organization: World University Service of Canada (WUSC)
Project: STRIVE – Strengthening TVET Resilience and Inclusive Vocational Employment
Job Locations: Batticaloa, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka
Contract Period: October 2026 – June 2027
Application Deadline: 21 September 2026
Reports To: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor, STRIVE
Employment Type: Consultancy

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is seeking qualified consultant(s) or consultancy firms to conduct accessibility research focused on promoting inclusive youth participation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and transition to employment under the STRIVE Project.

Position Details

• Position: Consultant(s) – Accessibility Research to Promote Inclusive Youth Participation in TVET
• Project: STRIVE
• Locations: Batticaloa, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu
• Contract Period: October 2026 – June 2027
• Reports To: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor, STRIVE
• Application Deadline: 21 September 2026
• Position Type: Consultancy

Company Overview

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian international development organization committed to fostering human development and global understanding through education, training and economic empowerment.

WUSC has been active in Sri Lanka since 1989 and works with partners across civil society, government, academia and the private sector to expand education, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth, particularly young women, through gender-responsive and sustainable development initiatives.

The STRIVE Project focuses on improving the economic prospects of young people, particularly young women, in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces. The project promotes gender-responsive, environmentally sustainable and inclusive action within the TVET ecosystem, with particular attention to Agriculture, Hospitality and Tourism, and ICT.

Qualifications & Experience

Consultants or consultancy firms should demonstrate:

• Expertise in both primary and secondary research.
• Demonstrated experience implementing gender-sensitive research methodologies.
• Experience using qualitative and participatory research approaches.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the TVET sector in Sri Lanka.
• Experience developing campaign activities for community engagement.
• Experience in BCC-focused social marketing activities.
• Excellent communication and written English skills.
• Fluency in Tamil, with Sinhala considered an advantage.
• Ability to produce clear, concise and high-quality reports and learning documents.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess barriers and opportunities affecting access to and participation in TVET and transition to employment.
• Pay particular attention to young women and other marginalized young people.
• Examine social, cultural, gender, attitudinal, institutional, informational, financial, physical and climate-related barriers.
• Generate evidence for dialogue and collective action.
• Develop district-level discussion papers identifying priority accessibility challenges.
• Propose incentives, strategies and collective actions to increase youth participation in TVET and sustainable employment.
• Support the WUSC technical team in co-designing an Inclusive Community Engagement and Social Marketing Strategy and Implementation Plan.
• Collaborate closely with TVET providers, Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), youth champions, employers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develop appropriate research methodology and campaign strategies for community engagement and social marketing.
• Produce quality research reports, discussion papers and learning documents.

Required Skills

• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of gender-sensitive and inclusive research practices.
• Ability to conduct qualitative and participatory research.
• Understanding of accessibility and inclusion issues within the TVET sector.
• Strong community engagement skills.
• Social marketing and BCC campaign development skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Tamil language proficiency.
• Sinhala language proficiency will be an advantage.
• Strong report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to develop clear and practical recommendations based on research findings.

Salary & Benefits

The consultancy will be engaged under a consultancy arrangement for the period October 2026 to June 2027.

The financial proposal should include:

• Work plan.
• Level of effort.
• Cost breakdown.
• Proposed payment schedule.

Specific consultancy fees are to be proposed by the consultant(s) or consultancy firm as part of the financial proposal.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified consultant(s) or consultancy firms are invited to submit:

1. Technical Proposal clearly describing the research methodology, campaign strategy development and process for community engagement and social marketing.
2. CVs of the research team members.
3. Financial Proposal including work plan, level of effort, cost breakdown and payment schedule.
4. All required technical and financial proposal documents.

Applications should be submitted electronically through the WUSC application process.

For inquiries regarding the RFP, contact:

Email: strive.rfp@wusc.ca
Subject Line: INQUIRIES – STRIVE / Accessibility Research

Questions regarding the RFP should be submitted by email. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Important Notes

• This is a consultancy opportunity under the WUSC STRIVE Project.
• The research will focus on accessibility and inclusive youth participation in TVET and transition to employment.
• Particular attention will be given to young women and other marginalized young people.
• The assignment covers Batticaloa, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu.
• The contract period is October 2026 to June 2027.
• Applicants should demonstrate relevant research, gender-sensitive, participatory and TVET-sector experience.
• Fluency in Tamil is required, while Sinhala is an advantage.
• The application deadline is 21 September 2026.
• Late applications will not be accepted.