Terms of Reference

Implementing Partner for provision of:

Facilitation of Logistics for Cyber security curriculum Pilot Training for TVET Students 

ILO Country Office for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda

Project: Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for the youth in Rwanda’s digital economy

1. Background

Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) places digital transformation at the center of its ambition to build a knowledge-based economy. The country is positioning itself as a regional digital hub, with strong emphasis on digital skills development, innovation, and ICT-driven growth. The Government of Rwanda has made notable progress toward this vision through initiatives such as the Smart Rwanda Master Plan, investments in digital infrastructure, and the National Digital Skills Framework (NDSF), which sets standardized benchmarks for digital literacy and workforce readiness.

Ensuring the success of this transformation requires a skilled and adaptive workforce capable of meeting the growing demand for digitally competent professionals. Rwanda’s rapid growth in online services across health, finance, education, and public administration presents a strong opportunity to position the country as a leader in secure digital innovation. By equipping youth with practical, industry-aligned skills in cybersecurity and data protection, Rwanda is well-placed to strengthen digital trust, enable business growth, and safeguard its expanding digital ecosystem.

To address these challenges, the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth is implementing the Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda's Digital Economy project. This four-year partnership, funded by the Government of Luxembourg and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) is supporting the Government of Rwanda, employers' and workers' organizations, and young people to contribute to the country’s structural transformation and digitalization agenda. 

More specifically, it aims to empower young women and men (aged 18–30) in Kigali and secondary cities to access decent employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the digital economy. The project is part of a broader ILO/ITU/AU Joint Programme spanning several African countries, focusing on:

• Job creation and entrepreneurship in the digital economy
• Digital skills development for young people
• Facilitating the transition to decent work in the digital economy

Under Outcome 2, the project focuses on improving the digital skills of young men and women through strengthened partnerships for the delivery of training programmes and the establishment of digital campuses across the TVET system. In this context, the ILO seeks to engage an implementing partner to partner with ILO, RTB and the National Cyber Security Programme in the roll out of new cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy curricula (equivalent to RTB’s level-neutral cybersecurity short-course programme) within 2 selected TVET schools. The primary objective of this assignment is to deliver a pilot phase of modular training aligned with labour market needs, facilitate hands-on lab-based learning resources, and adapt teaching delivery to a digital campus model.

The Cybersecurity pilot Program for TVET Development initiative is a collaborative national programme designed to equip Rwanda’s workforce with practical skills in cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy, essential for safeguarding the country’s digital transformation. The programme is jointly led by the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA), mandated to protect Rwanda’s digital infrastructure and national assets, the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), tasked with ensuring quality and alignment within the TVET(Technical and Vocational Education and Training) system, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), which provides technical expertise in competency-based training and international standards.

The programme delivers modules of the Rwanda TVET Qualification Framework (RTQF) through a modular curriculum that combines classroom learning, online resources, and lab-based exercises. The training covers key areas including Cybersecurity Essentials, Blue Teaming (SOC and Threat Hunting), Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), and Data Protection and Privacy, providing structured entry points into the cybersecurity profession and ensuring alignment with industry needs.

To build on Rwanda’s digital skills agenda and strengthen pathways from foundational training to employment, in addition with other partners the initiative will establish Cybersecurity hubs in the 2selected TVET schools. These hubs will serve as stepping stones between cybersecurity literacy and advanced, hands-on learning experiences. By aligning national cybersecurity priorities with TVET curricula and fostering industry partnerships, the programme aims to enhance the relevance and quality of training and better produce young Rwandans for decent jobs in the digital economy, ultimately contributing to Rwanda’s broader digital transformation agenda under NST2.

2. Overall Objective

The objective of this assignment is to assist the implementation of the Cyber Security Curriculum Programme being implemented by RTB, NCSA, and ILO to pilot a competency-based, occupationally aligned, level-neutral cybersecurity short-course programme aligned with labour market needs and contributing to digital skills development, workplace readiness, and youth employability within Rwanda’s digital economy ecosystem.

The Implementing Partner will assist: 

A-Pre-training preparation: including school operational preparation and following the RTB and Schools guidance on student selection.

B- Operational coordination during active training implementation: training logistics coordination, student and teacher welfare administration, industry engagement activities, monitoring and reporting, oversight and coordination of technical curriculum delivery, assessments, certification, accreditation processes.

C- Post-training reporting and close-out activities: including graduation and visibility activities, and financial acquittal and close-out requirements.

NOTE: All the process above including academic quality assurance will be technically led by RTB,NCSA, ILO and participating TVET schools.

3. Scope of Work and Key Deliverables

The IP will organize operational and logistical assist across the training phases (pre, during and post) covering approximately 8 weeks(2.5 days/week) of active training, 20 training days, 60 students across 2 participating TVET schools, with training conducted simultaneously at both schools. And a total assignment duration of 6 months from contract signature. 

NOTE: The technical curriculum delivery, assessments, certification, academic quality assurance, approval processes, and technical oversight remain the responsibility of RTB, NCSA, ILO, and participating TVET schools.

The core Training Delivery Table

The scope of work is divided into three implementation phases:

Part A: Pre-Training Preparation

Part B: During Training Active Implementation

Part C: Post-Training Close-Out

4. Annex: Core Training Delivery Table (Proposal subject to change)

Total: 20 training days
Delivery: ~2 months | 2 days/week (Wednesday & Saturday) | 2 TVET schools

5. Performance Targets (Monitoring Indicators)

• Enrollment: 60 students registered (≥50% women where feasible).
• Attendance: ≥98% average session attendance across trainees.
• Completion: ≥95% complete all required modules/assessments.
• Industry engagement: ≥3 activities (two guest lectures (1–2 hours each), 1 employer virtual session, and 1–2 mentoring/career exposure sessions)
• Timely reporting: 100% of technical reports submitted on schedule with complete supporting documents.
• Complaints/safeguarding: 0 unresolved /unreported cases; documented handling per Government of Rwanda and ILO policy.

6. Duration & Location

The assignment duration is six and a half (6.5) months from contract signature. Primary delivery in Kigali and a selected Secondary City, with activities at two TVET schools.

7. Management & Reporting Lines

The Implementing Partner will report to the ILO Project Manager and will follow the guidance of the focal coordination points the technical guidance is led by RTB , NCSA and ILO Decent Work Teams. Regular planning and evaluate meetings will be held; minutes and action trackers will be maintained and recommendations are expected to be reflected in the implementation.

8. Payment Arrangements

Each subsequent advance payment shall be subject to: 

1. Approval of the corresponding technical and financial progress reports demonstrating achievement of the agreed targets and deliverables as per terms of reference, technical proposal; 
2. Evidence that at least 80% of the previous advance payment has been utilized and duly acquitted. No payment will be made before the Approval of the technical and delivery report by ILO.
3. Payment shall be due only upon completion and written acceptance by the ILO of the deliverables, in accordance with the TOR. No payment shall be made for unaccepted deliverables.

9. Budget Rules & Eligible Costs

• Personnel/Staffing costs (management/coordination) must not exceed 7% of the total budget.
• Administrative/Overhead costs must be clearly detailed and justified within the proposal; unsupported assumptions are discouraged.
• Student stipends are capped at USD 3 per student per training day; disbursements must be attendance-based and processed through traceable methods only (bank/MoMo).
• Teacher overtime/stipends must be based on approved timesheets, documented procedures, and applicable ILO/government practices, and apply only to TVET teachers delivering the 20 student training days.
• Visibility/graduation, communications, and media coverage costs must remain within approved implementation plans and branding guidelines.
• Refreshments (lunch and coffee break) for up to 30 teachers during 20 full training days at the UR NCSA Cyber Hub.
• Refreshments (lunch and coffee break) for 60 students during 20 full training days at the two selected TVET schools
• All costs must be reasonable, necessary, verifiable, and supported with receipts and payment evidence.

10. Travel, DSA & Safety

• DSA for approved missions outside the duty station will be covered by the IP in line with Government Ministerial Orders after securing ILO approval.
• Travel, insurance, and DSA for IP staff are the responsibility of the IP.

11. Safeguarding, PSEA & Ethics, Data Protection & Records

• The IP shall enforce safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies; all staff must be trained and sign a code of perform.
• Only defensive cybersecurity content is in scope; no offensive tooling will be taught or distributed.
• Photography and media require informed consent; sensitive data must be anonymized where applicable.

12. Proposal Submission

Interested organizations should submit a Technical and Financial Proposal apply via: rwaprocurement@ilo.org by 11 July 2026, 16:00 (Kigali,).

• Questions due: 06 July 2026, 16:00 Kigali; responses shared with all interested parties by 08 July 2026 (COB).

Currency: USD. Language: English.

• The Technical Proposal

The technical proposal should deliver a comprehensive outline of the Implementing Partner’s capacity to successfully deliver on the scope of work outlined in this ToR. At a minimum, it should include the following components:

1. A detailed implementation plan, clearly outlining key activities, deliverables, and milestones for each phase of the assignment. The work plan should reflect a deep understanding of the assignment deliverables, including student selection and validation, training logistics coordination, stipend and attendance management, industry engagement activities, monitoring and reporting requirements, graduation/visibility activities, and field-level operationalization across Kigali and selected Secondary Cities.
2. A portfolio of relevant work demonstrating the organization’s experience in youth employment, digital skills, cybersecurity, training logistics coordination, or skills development initiatives. Preference will be given to proposals demonstrating prior collaboration with UN agencies, development partners, government institutions, or TVET-related programmes in implementation of training, capacity-building, or youth-focused initiatives. 
3. A staffing proposal including a gender-balanced team structure, detailing roles, responsibilities, and levels of effort. The CVs of key personnel—particularly those leading training implementation, content refinement, and stakeholder engagement—should clearly highlight their experience and qualifications in line with the technical areas described in this ToR.
4. An overview of how the Implementing Partner intends to organize with relevant stakeholders including RTB, NCSA, participating TVET schools, employers/industry practitioners, and ILO. The proposal should outline mechanisms for implementation coordination, student engagement, attendance and reporting follow-up, industry engagement activities, and feedback integration throughout the implementation cycle.
5. Evidence of organizational structure and financial viability to independently deliver the assignment. This may include a valid registration certificate, recent financial audits (from the past two years), and internal management frameworks such as risk management protocols, safeguarding policies, and codes of ethics or perform.
6. At least one example of a report previously developed by the organization on a similar topic, preferably under contract with the UN or other development institutions

All submitted documents will be treated with strict confidentiality and should be compiled in a single PDF file May be possible.

• The Financial Proposal

1. The financial proposal is to include a detailed breakdown of cost per activity and must be submitted in USD. It should reflect all anticipated costs required to successfully execute the assignment, including but not limited to Personnel costs); Training implementation costs; Content validation and finalization; Communication; Monitoring and reporting; Reasonable administrative and overhead costs.
2. The financial proposal should be accompanied by a short budget narrative that explains the rationale for each cost component. A contingency line (up to 5%) may be included where clearly justified.
3. Please note that incomplete submissions will not be considered. All financial proposals and supporting documents will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be made publicly available.

The technical proposal should deliver a comprehensive outline of the Implementing Partner’s capacity to successfully deliver on the scope of work outlined in this ToR. At a minimum, it should include the following components.

13. Selection & Evaluation

Only proposal attaining at least 70 out of 100 points of the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation. The financial evaluation will award 30 points to the applicant with the lowest offer amongst all offers meeting the minimum technical requirements. Other qualified applicants will be awarded points according to the following formula:

Points awarded to applicant X = 30 * (Budget of lowest bidding applicant) / (budget of applicant X).

14. Eligibility, Conflict of Interest & Exclusions

• Bidders must not be under UN sanctions, debarment, or suspension; eligibility may be verified by ILO.
• Disclose any real or potential conflicts of interest; ILO may exclude bids where conflicts cannot be mitigated.
• Adherence to ILO principles (no forced/child labour, non‑discrimination, freedom of association) is mandatory.
• An organization carrying out non-profit oriented work, including: non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, research institutions, statistical institutions, educational
• A constituent of the ILO and/or an affiliated member of such a constituent, including employers’ and workers’ organizations;