Arthur E. Shears's Blog, page 2

WorldSkills is Hiring

Hello all. I just received a copy of the below job description and wanted to get it online today – World Youth Skills Day. Apologies in advance for the clunky formatting. The original JD was properly formatted but the formatting didn’t carry over to here. Anyway, do apply if you are qualified and interested. Deadline: 31 July 2025. See details at the bottom of this post.

WorldSkills Occupational Standards Specialist

About WorldSkills
WorldSkills International (WSI) is a movement that impacts the lives of young people through initial vocational development. The 89 Member countries and regions that are part of WSI reach two-thirds of the world’s
population and create measurable impact at every level through skills development and promotion. We inspire young people to develop a passion for skills and pursue excellence through competitions, projects, and
programmes.
Every two years we host the world’s largest technical and vocational skills event, the WorldSkills Competition, in which over 1,500 outstanding young practitioners vie to be “the best in the world” in one of around 60 global
occupations. To underpin this endeavour, the WorldSkills Occupational Standards (WSOS) are descriptions of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours that capture occupational mastery and excellence.
Over the last decade, WSI has become more engaged with global trends, pressures, and opportunities affecting both TVET and work. As a “tool with a vision”, the idea and practical manifestation of the WSOS now actively
contributes to the global search for common reference points and benchmarks for best practice in TVET and work. The WSOS and what they symbolise, entrain and enable, are now an embedded part of the WorldSkills brand.
The position
WorldSkills is looking for a WorldSkills Occupational Standards Specialist to join our global, diverse, and virtual team.
The postholder will be a member of the WorldSkills Secretariat and collaborate with colleagues within the WSOS development team and more widely, wherever their responsibilities combine or interact.
They will report to the Chief Executive Officer with close contact and accountability to the WSOS development team leadership.

Responsibilities and duties
WSOS research, policy, and strategy

To systematically scan the international skills environment to identify potential opportunities and challengesTo design strategic opportunities for initiatives and carry them through WSI’s and other organisations’ processesTo monitor information relevant to global standards, sharing and providing digests as appropriateTo respond to enquiries, conversations, and joint work with global partners and equivalent bodiesTo contribute as requested to WSI’s larger strategic developmentTo make reasonable and helpful interventions as part of one’s contingency managementTo consult with business and industry and make use of other consultation processes.
Development of WSOS and growth To support the (Skill) Competitions Portfolio Working Group/process by drafting, editing, and/or quality
assuring WSOS to help substantiate the case for new skill competitions that meet agreed principlesTo contribute to colleagues’ projects where they are relevant to the WSOS.

WSOS management To support the systematisation, development, and expansion of the biennial updating cycle, in line with the WSOS’ growing range of purposes globally and within the WorldSkills movement. This includespositioning the WSOS as representing an international core of technical and vocational mastery in occupations open to young adults among othersensuring the continuing validity and relevance of the WSOS as benchmarks for skill competitions through analyses of the WSOS, contributing to the biennial review of the skill competitions portfolio.To support the management and reputation of the “WSOS Brand” as benchmarks for skill competitions.To advance the WSOS brand and its growing wider application to the global skills agenda.
WSOS alignment To support those responsible for reviewing and aligning regional competitions’ use of the WSOS, toenable them to be updated in line with the biennial reviewavoid reputational harmidentify, quality assure, and align additional standards using the WSOS “brand”To support the development of coherent and effective regional standards and associated policiesTo support the coherent application of WSOS to TVET assessment and practice.
WSOS-TVETTo support those responsible for working with Members’ WSOS-TVET reforms with advice, boundary management, professional development, and guidance.
Skills, knowledge, and experience
Attributes
The person appointed will have these essential attributes:A comparative understanding of technical and vocational education and training, systemically and
pedagogicallyA strategic understanding of economies and labour markets across the worldA comparative understanding of assessment and assessment systemsPractical experience in the modern design of knowledge, skills, and behaviours in TVET systemsA conceptual and practical understanding of quality assurance and controlA commitment to informed and intelligence-led decision-makingProven ability to work across and between research and practitioner communitiesAdvanced communication and presentation skillsExcellent written and verbal communication skills in English (additional languages are an advantage), including an ability to summarize complex information and present it in a simplified, accurate formatThe ability to work with complexity, ambiguity, and uncertaintyA concern for order and precision where it mattersSelf-knowledge and metacognition (a reflective and creative practitioner)A willingness and capacity to “get the job done”, however routine or tediousAn enjoyment of challengeA team player with the ability to be individually accountableContingency management skills, with a willingness to take reasonable risks and learn from mistakesDiscretion, dependability, integrity, and pragmatism.
Profile
The successful candidate is likely to have the following profile:
A qualification or equivalent at ISCED level 6 or higherAt least 15 years’ experience of working in TVET, business/industry, or ideally bothA record of seeking continuing professional development, formally or informallyA record of working autonomously and/or remotelyA record of successful innovationProven interest in innovation and “otherness” (people, places, ideas, phenomena)A record of designing and writing material and documents, in English, to publication standard.
A knowledge of WorldSkills International is less important than an informed outlook on the global skills agenda.
To apply
Please send your CV and a statement sharing why you are interested in this role and evidencing your suitability for this role, to Cara McCormack cara.mccormack@worldskills.org. Please include in the subject line of the email:
Application – WorldSkills Occupational Standards Specialist.
All applications are strictly confidential between the applicant and WorldSkills International management.
Deadline: 31 July 2025.

July 15 is World Youth Skills Day

See the post below from my former UNESCO colleague, Dr. Borhene Chakroun.

Skills Can’t Wait!

More than 70 million youth are unemployed, and millions more are underemployed or stuck in informal, unstable work. At the same time, the world of work is changing rapidly — driven by green and technological transformation, demographic shifts, and the rise of artificial intelligence.

In this evolving landscape, the need for skills development and lifelong learning opportunities for all has never been more critical. Young people must be equipped not only with job-specific and digital capabilities, but also with the green, entrepreneurial, critical and citizenship skills needed to thrive in a future that demands adaptability, creativity, and resilience.

But youth are not just beneficiaries of this transition — they are its agents of change. They are innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, climate activists, creators, and problem-solvers. Investing in their potential means investing in a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future for all.

Join us to celebrate the energy, talent, and determination of young people everywhere — and commit to building education and skills systems that truly empower them to shape the future of work, economy and society. Join on-line our celebration of the World Youth Skills Day on 15th July : https://lnkd.in/eamMhmNk

We are launching our Global Skills Tracker to offer up-to-minute information on demands for skills: https://lnkd.in/exFDcw_w

Hervé Huot-Marchand Friedrich Huebler François Taddei Stefania Giannini

hashtag#unescounevoc hashtag#SDG4 hashtag#unescoActivate to view larger image,

New Job Opportunity with UNESCO in Afghanistan

UNESCO Office in Afghanistan is recruiting a Programme Specialist (Skills Development and Literacy Education). The deadline for the application is 9 June 2025.
https://lnkd.in/dBbf_YA7

I had a quick scan of this opportunity, and it looks both interesting and challenging. I believe the requirement that candidates need a PhD maybe raising the bar too high but that is just my opinion.

In 2007, when the situation in Afghanistan was relatively calm, I had an assignment with the International Labour Organization to start development of a National Employment Policy. It was an intense but worthwhile experience, and many of the international consultants and advisors who were there at the same time would probably say the same thing. With Afghan colleagues we made a difference in health, education, infrastructure development and in other areas. (You can read more about my Afghan experience in my book available from this website.)

Times have changed, but this is your chance to help the young women of Afghanistan.

Below are a couple of pictures from my time in Afghanistan. I wonder if the co-op shown in picture 1 is still operating.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

ILO to Slash 200+ Jobs

It was a shock to read this Reuters story yesterday. A shock to me personally since I worked with the ILO as Chief Technical Advisor on the TVET Reform project in Bangladesh for seven years (2008-2015), and more recently on short assignments in the Middle East.

It is not clear yet what budget cuts will mean to currently funded projects overseas but job cuts at the ILO HQ in Geneva suggest fewer persons to backstop projects, provide centralized accounting support, and extend solid project monitoring and evaluation.

More than 200 jobs cut at International Labour Organization as US slashes funding

GENEVA, May 28 (Reuters) – The Geneva-based International Labour Organization (ILO) has axed about 225 jobs due to cutbacks in U.S. funding at the United Nations agency, its head said on Wednesday.

The job losses, which affect posts at the ILO’s Geneva headquarters and in the field, follow the U.S. administration’s decision to reduce voluntary contributions under President Donald Trump, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said.

“One job loss is too many … You would not imagine the mood that has generated within my staff,” he told reporters in Geneva.

See the whole story here:

https://www.reuters.com/world/more-than-200-jobs-cut-international-labour-organization-us-slashes-funding-2025-05-28

I wish the ILO all the best as it responds to this funding emergency. The world needs this UN agency (and others too) to provide inspiration and guidance in a changing world.

Upcoming Assignment in Dominica with Catalyste+

The Dominica Technical Vocational Education and Training Council (DTVETC)
seeks comprehensive support to develop a 5-year strategic plan to support
TVET in the country, including institutional strengthening for the New
Goodwill Secondary School (GSS) TVET Center of Excellence. Catalyste+ contacted me for the short assignment as Strategic Planning Advisor.

The TVET Council belongs to an organization named CANTA – Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies. See their member countries below. The map also serves the purpose of showing where Dominica is located. (And no, Dominica is not the Dominican Republic.)

The in-county assignment will be about 2 weeks with a possible follow-up visit some time later. The parallel virtual assignment has already started with a kick-off meeting via ZOOM last week, and the first technical working group meeting coming up this Thursday.

I look forward to sharing my international expertise with the wonderful people of Dominica and advising officials as they develop the strategy.

ETF REPORT ON USAID REDUCTIONS

A summary of this report popped up on my LinkedIn feed this morning. See the summary below.

Impact of USAID Withdrawal on Global Education and Skills Development

This new report by Elena Walls in collaboration with the European Training Foundation provides the first comprehensive analysis of the global consequences following the withdrawal of USAID from international education funding in early 2025.

It details the size, scope and immediate impact of this decision — drawing on public data from ForeignAssistance .gov, national budget records, and official programme documentation.

Key findings:

396 education programmes were cancelled across 58 countries, including early childhood education, foundational literacy, vocational training and access to higher education.

More than $1.02 billion in annual funding was withdrawn. In 2023, USAID managed over 75% of all US international education investments.

Top five recipient countries (2022–2024):
• Jordan – $402.5 million
• Egypt – $191.2 million
• Lebanon – $161.6 million
• Afghanistan – $138.9 million
• Malawi – $81.7 million

These countries are among the most affected by the loss of USAID support. In 2024, USAID funding accounted for 12.9% of Afghanistan’s entire education budget and 8.1% of Jordan’s.

Breakdown by sector (2023):
• 75% of USAID’s education portfolio supported primary education
• 17% supported higher education
• 8% supported technical and vocational education and training

Between 2011 and 2021, USAID foundational skills programmes reached 246 million students in 53 countries.

Main programme partners included:
• NGOs – 28.9%
• Universities and colleges – 21.2%
• Multilateral platforms (GPE, ECW) – 15.1%
• Government institutions – 11.1%

Examples of cancelled programmes:
• Lebanon – QITABI 2 & 3 national reading programme – $99.5m
• Uganda – Integrated Child and Youth Development – $118.9m
• Malawi – NextGen Early Grade Reading – $74.9m
• Kenya – Primary Literacy Programme – $79.5m
• Afghanistan – Access to Quality Basic Education (AQBE) – $49m
• Zambia – Let’s Read – $49m

USAID was the largest bilateral donor to Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and one of the biggest contributors to the Global Partnership for Education. It also supported collaborative efforts such as BE2, the Coalition for Foundational Learning, and a number of research, innovation and data-sharing initiatives across multiple regions.

The report includes regional breakdowns, funding patterns, and detailed analysis of the systems-level impact — particularly for low- and middle-income countries reliant on long-term bilateral support.

It concludes with recommendations for global coordination, including increased EU leadership through Team Europe Initiatives and the Global Gateway.

A must read for anyone working in global education.

Ban-Ki Moon Foundation

Today, I received the latest update from this organization established by the former Secretary-General of the United Nations. The updates always make informative reading. You can check their website and sign up to receive these updates for free.

https://www.bankimoonfoundation.org

In today’s update, I snipped the following announcement that might be interesting to young persons, academics, NGOs and others. Use the email in the snip to follow-up with the Foundation.

Keep well, healthy and doing good.

UN Volunteers

This morning I received the below message from UNV Malawi about the value of UN Volunteering and how to apply.

I need no convincing since as Team Leader on the STEP Malawi program, we hired two excellent communications volunteers. There are different categories of volunteers, and in particular, national versus international volunteers. Some assignments are in country, others are online/remote.

If interested, you can create a profile at https://app.unv.org as indicated in the image below. And also check there, the type of assignments available and where.

GOOD LUCK.

UN organizations and funding cuts. A month and a half in, where are we? A recap

Good morning readers.

I am sharing below an informative article by Ian Richards. It makes for depressing reading but at least the International Labour Organization got off lightly. That says to me the value of skills and employment training is still being recognized.

It’s a month and a half since the US stopped almost all voluntary funding to UN organisations through stop-work orders, heavily impacting the operations of IOM (6,000 jobs lost), UNHCR (5,000 jobs lost), UNICEF and to a lesser extent OHCHR, OCHA and ILO. The US also withdrew from WHO and stopped funding UNRWA.

Meanwhile the UN Secretariat continues to suffer a liquidity crisis as funds are late arriving. A spending ceiling has been set in the low 80 percent of the agreed budget. A global hiring freeze has been imposed and many temporary appointments may not be renewed. Operational delivery has been reduced.

The US isn’t alone. Several European countries have announced a retreat from development spending. In some cases this is to reprioritize spending on defence. The Netherlands has cut funding for UN organizations by 50 percent. The UK will reduce spending from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of GDP, bearing in mind that a share of this is already earmarked for migrant accommodation in the UK itself. France and Switzerland have also reduced their aid spending. However, the impact of European cuts will be more gradual as the instrument of stop-work orders is not being used.

It hasn’t been easy for organizations to calculate the impact of funding cuts because, while waivers to stop-work orders were also issued, staffing cuts at USAID meant they were not always implemented. Further, negotiations may still need to take place on what costs had already been incurred at the time of the stop-work orders and could legitimately be claimed. However, the time it takes for this to happen may be too late to save certain jobs.

The US is part way through a 180-day review of development aid spending. In that time USAID has been reduced to a skeleton staff to be absorbed into the State Department, although a court order reversed some of these changes and reinstated certain staff. Early indications are that future spending will be focused on trade, commerce, energy and humanitarian.

Looking ahead, all eyes will be on negotiations for the UN regular budget for 2026, that will get underway in October. Pressure for cuts will come from many directions and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will need to spend the next few months explaining the value of the UN system to a skeptical world population that currently takes the benefits of international organizations for granted.

At the same time, staff and contractors, who have given years of service in difficult and dangerous locations, are paying a heavy price. Many organizations are not providing indemnities and it isn’t clear that there are systems to ensure fairness in downsizing. Valuable experience will be lost

Amid the sobering news, one bright spot. The ILO’s regular budget was approved earlier this month. There was no growth, so in real terms a small cut but it could have been worse.

TVET Job Available with UNRWA

Recently, I have been exchanging emails with Dr. Julia Dicum (Head of Education for UNRWA) about the development situation in its areas of operation. There are many challenges and some bright spots. One of the bright spots is that UNRWA is recruiting a P-3 (mid-level professional) TVET person with funding through KOICA (Korean development agency).

To find out more or to apply, go to the UN Careers website.

https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/254844?language=en

Palestinian flag

Please note that candidates must have a good command of English, and also preferably, Arabic and Korean language skills.

GOOD LUCK.

PS. Even if you are not applying for this post, you might want to check out how this UN website organizes its vacancy announcements, and what sort of requirements are stated.