Private Sector Development and Investment Specialist (International Position)

Background

The Government of Pakistan (GoP) has established a dedicated Governance Reforms Unit (GRU) in the Prime Minister’s Office to enhance integrated strategy, policy, and delivery support to the Government of Pakistan and senior leadership. The GRU is modelled on the best international practices, where such units have proven effective in providing evidence-based insights, rapid analytics, and focused implementation tracking at the highest levels of government.

The GRU will function as a rapid-response analytic task force for the Government of Pakistan, providing decision-ready inputs on priority economic sectors and policy questions. It will carry out rigorous analysis to stress-test proposals submitted by line ministries, regulators, provincial governments, state-owned enterprises, and development partners, and will support sectoral oversight across Pakistan's key economic priorities, including tourism, climate change, energy, agriculture, commerce, finance, and other areas identified by the Government of Pakistan.

Technical experts and Analytics Specialists embedded within the GRU will work under the direction of the Head-GRU to analyse critical issues across economic sectors, develop evidence-based assessments, collect inputs from relevant government agencies, and prepare comparative analyses in situations involving conflicting stakeholder positions. They will assist in the examination of policy and implementation options, including the assessment of respective advantages and disadvantages, with clear articulation of economic implications, implementation risks, and other relevant considerations.

Activity Context

Pakistan's economic transformation and industrial competitiveness depend upon the availability of a skilled workforce that can respond to the evolving needs of industry. While significant investments have been made in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), challenges remain in aligning skills development with labour market demand, emerging industries, technological change, and future workforce requirements.

To support sustained industrial growth, Pakistan requires a skills development system that is demand-driven, flexible, and continuously adapts to changing economic conditions. This requires stronger partnerships between government, industry, employers, and training providers, together with institutional arrangements that enable regular assessment of labour market needs, curriculum updates, quality assurance, and workforce planning.

The Government of Pakistan, through the Governance Reforms Unit (GRU), seeks international expertise to identify practical reforms that will strengthen Pakistan's technical and vocational training system and establish an institutional ecosystem capable of supporting long-term industrial development and economic competitiveness.

The assignment will focus on:

• Aligning technical and vocational training with the current and future needs of Pakistan's industrial economy.

• Identifying approaches for developing a market-responsive skills development system that continuously adapts to changing labour market demands.

• Recommending institutional arrangements that strengthen collaboration between government, industry, employers, and training providers to deliver sustainable workforce development.

The consultant will draw upon international experience and good practices to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations that can support policy reform and implementation in Pakistan.

Job Summary

The Technical and Vocational Skills Development & Industry Competitiveness Specialist will provide strategic advisory support to the Governance Reforms Unit (GRU) on developing a market-responsive technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system that supports Pakistan's industrialisation agenda, enhances workforce competitiveness, and responds to evolving labour market demands. The consultant will provide international good practice and practical recommendations on strengthening institutional arrangements, industry engagement, governance, and skills development systems to improve alignment between training provision and the needs of the economy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical and Vocational Skills Development & Industry Competitiveness Specialist will:

1. Review Pakistan's TVET System

   • Assess the alignment of technical and vocational training with current and future industrial and labour market needs and assess the delivery arrangements currently in place including the regulatory mechanisms.

2. Recommend Market-Responsive Reforms

   • Identify international best practices and recommend reforms to strengthen demand-driven, industry-led skills development.

3. Strengthen the Skills Ecosystem

   • Recommend institutional arrangements to enhance collaboration among government, industry, training providers, and employers.

4. Promote Industry Engagement

   • Identify approaches to strengthen employer participation in curriculum development, apprenticeships, workplace learning, and skills certification with specificity to match the context.

5. Develop Strategic Recommendations

   • Prepare a concise plan of action outlining priority reforms, implementation actions, and institutional responsibilities to support a responsive and sustainable skills development system with outputs and outcomes over time.

Deliverables

The consultant shall deliver the following:

1. Inception Note (2–3 pages)

• Brief workplan, methodology, and key issues to be examined.

2. Plan of Action for a Market-Responsive TVET System
The Plan of Action shall include:

• Priority policy and institutional reforms required to align technical and vocational training with the needs of an industrial economy.

• Recommended actions to establish a market-responsive and continuously adapting skills development system.

• Proposed institutional ecosystem, including the roles and coordination mechanisms of government, industry, employers, and training providers.

• Prioritised implementation actions with indicative timelines, results, outputs and outcomes.

• Estimated resource requirements and indicative implementation costs for key reform actions.

• Identification of potential financing options, including public, private sector, and development partner support.

3. Reform Roadmap

• A concise implementation roadmap identifying priority actions, responsible institutions, indicative timelines, key milestones, and expected outcomes.

4. Presentation

• Preparation and delivery of a PowerPoint presentation summarising the key findings, Plan of Action, and recommendations for the Governance Reforms Unit (GRU) and NAVTEC and relevant government stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in Economics, Economic Development, Public Policy, Business, Finance, Investment, International Development, or related discipline.

• Minimum 18 years of international experience in private sector development, economic growth, investment promotion, market systems development, competitiveness, industrial development, or related fields.

• Demonstrated experience advising governments and development partners on private sector reforms, investment promotion, and economic development.

• Extensive experience working on programmes funded by FCDO, DFID, World Bank, EU, IFC, UNDP, ADB, or other international development partners.

• Proven expertise in investment climate reforms, market systems development (M4P), value chain development, MSME growth, industrial policy, Special Economic Zones, and public-private partnerships.

• Strong analytical, strategic advisory, stakeholder engagement, and report writing skills.

• Experience working in South Asia, Africa, and emerging economies will be an advantage. This closely reflects Neil Spooner's experience leading PSD, investment, market systems, and industrial development programmes across multiple regions for DFID/FCDO, the EU, World Bank, UNDP, and other partners.

Reporting

The consultant will report to:

Head, Governance Reforms Unit (GRU), Government of Pakistan, with technical coordination through the REMIT Programme.

Duration and Level of Effort

• Duration: 2 months

• Level of Effort: 6 days

Submission for Applications

By Sunday, 23rd August 2026.