According to ADB documents, the proposed transaction TA facility will support project preparation, capacity development, due diligence, and improved readiness for pipeline education and skills development projects that are included in the country operations business plan (COBP) as 2022 and 2024 project pipelines as of now, as agreed with the government during the TA facility's timeframe. It will also support ongoing STEPUP implementation. The TA facility is aligned with (i) ADB's strategy 2030; (ii) TVET Blueprint 2016-2026; (iii) TVET reform strategic plan, and (iv) Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The TA facility will support strategic policy advisory and technical inputs on a range of education and skills development issues, strategy and operational plan development, feasibility study preparations including assessment of financial management, procurement, curriculum, pedagogy, evaluation, and competency standards as well as economic and financial analysis. The TA facility will also develop capacity by sharing international good practices and fostering innovation. In particular, the TA facility will bring international expertise not available in-country in the areas of curriculum on emerging skills areas, pedagogy for blended learning, TVET-industry linkages, TVET instructor capacity development. The TA facility is listed in the COBP for Bhutan, 2021-2023, with the title Preparing Transformative Approaches to Skills Development Project (TVET). The TA facility approach is suitable as it will enhance project preparation efficiency and project implementation readiness for two education and skills development project pipelines by (i) allowing the same experts to be mobilized for similar due diligence activities, (ii) facilitating learning on project processing and implementation across different projects, (iii) creating synergies from working with common expertise and improving knowledge transfer, and (iv) strengthening coordination and synergy among various technical inputs and capacity building efforts. Overall, this TA facility will reduce transaction costs compared to resources required for separate stand-alone transaction TA projects.

CONSULTING SERVICES

ADB will engage the consultants, including Resource Persons, following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions.

The TA facility will require 23.5 person months of international and 92.0 person-months of national consultant inputs including a firm to support the ongoing Skills Training and Education Pathways Upgradation Project and pipeline project in the country business operations plan such as Pathways for Emerging Skills and Jobs Project and Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Innovation and Digital Transformation Project.

A firm will also be engaged using consultants qualification selection method and individual consultants using individual consultant selection method.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.adb.org/forms/request-information-form

ADB has a two-stage appeals process for requesters who believe that ADB has denied their request for information in violation of its Access to Information Policy. You can learn more about filing an appeal at: https://www.adb.org/site/disclosure/appeals

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF ADB

The Accountability Mechanism is an independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by an Asian Development Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Accountability Mechanism, they may investigate to assess whether the Asian Development Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can learn more about the Accountability Mechanism and how to file a complaint at: http://www.adb.org/site/accountability-mechanism/main.