The British Council is seeking an International Consultant or Consultancy Firm for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative in Sudan, offering an important opportunity for experienced education, skills-development and policy professionals to contribute to the development of a comprehensive national framework designed to recognise skills acquired through formal, non-formal and informal pathways.

The consultancy will provide technical support for the development of a National Recognition of Prior Learning Policy Framework in Sudan, with particular attention to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Non-Formal Education (NFE), higher education, qualifications, assessment, certification, institutional governance and quality assurance.

Applications for the consultancy close on 26 August 2026.

The successful consultant or consultancy firm will be expected to provide technical leadership and work with national stakeholders and development partners to develop a comprehensive, cross-sectoral National RPL Policy Framework that is operational, implementable and ready for government endorsement.

About the British Council International RPL Consultancy in Sudan

The British Council is implementing this initiative through its Youth Skills Programme in Sudan, which is supporting system-level reforms within Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Non-Formal Education.

The broader objective is to improve young people’s access to employment and lifelong learning opportunities.

The need for a Recognition of Prior Learning system is particularly significant within the Sudanese context. Ongoing conflict and displacement mean that a considerable amount of skills acquisition takes place through informal and non-formal channels.

People may develop valuable competencies through work, community activities, informal training, apprenticeships and other experiences without necessarily receiving formal qualifications recognising what they have learned.

When such competencies remain unrecognised by formal education and training systems, individuals can face difficulties progressing into further education or securing employment that appropriately reflects their capabilities.

The British Council initiative therefore seeks to help address the gap between skills acquired outside conventional formal education and the qualifications and recognition available through established systems.

Background to the Recognition of Prior Learning Initiative

The consultancy does not begin from scratch. It builds on earlier policy work and stakeholder engagement concerning Recognition of Prior Learning in Sudan.

In March 2026, the British Council convened a national Policy Dialogue on Recognition of Prior Learning.

The dialogue brought together stakeholders including:

• Ministry of Education;
• Ministry of Higher Education;
• Ministry of Labour;
• Supreme Council for Vocational Training and Apprenticeship;
• National Centre for Curriculum and Educational Research;
• Private-sector representatives;
• Trade unions;
• Civil society organisations; and
• Development partners.

The national dialogue produced two particularly important outputs.

The first was a Policy Brief outlining key principles and system components required for Recognition of Prior Learning.

The second was a Roadmap identifying phased steps for designing and implementing an RPL system.

The Policy Brief identified critical areas such as regulatory frameworks, institutional arrangements, financing, quality assurance and stakeholder engagement. Meanwhile, the Roadmap established a phased pathway covering system design, implementation and continuous improvement.

The new consultancy is intended to build upon these foundations and move the process towards a comprehensive National RPL Policy Framework that can ultimately be considered for government endorsement.

Why the National RPL Framework Is Important for Sudan

Sudan’s political, economic and humanitarian circumstances have placed considerable pressure on the country’s skills system and labour market.

Conflict has disrupted education, contributed to widespread displacement and severely constrained or rendered non-operational parts of the education system.

At the same time, young people represent a substantial proportion of Sudan’s population, while unemployment remains high and the informal economy plays a dominant role.

These circumstances create significant challenges for young people attempting to enter skilled, sustainable employment.

Sectors with potential for economic growth require workers equipped with practical competencies and professional skills. However, disruption to education and limited access to quality learning have increased the importance of developing a skills system that is responsive, inclusive and resilient.

A well-designed Recognition of Prior Learning framework could help create mechanisms through which existing competencies can be assessed, recognised and potentially connected with qualifications, further learning and employment pathways.

Programmes Supporting the Initiative

The activity forms part of the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships (GGP) and Youth Connect programmes in Sudan.

Going Global Partnerships supports mutually beneficial higher education and TVET collaboration between the United Kingdom and other countries. The programme aims to contribute to stronger, more inclusive and globally connected tertiary systems capable of supporting economic and social growth.

Youth Connect, meanwhile, supports young people in developing the skills, confidence, inspiration and connections required to address major challenges including employability, inequality, conflict and climate change.

The RPL consultancy therefore sits within a broader effort to strengthen education, skills development and opportunities for young people.

Purpose of the British Council RPL Consultancy

The British Council intends to appoint an individual consultant or consultancy firm capable of providing technical guidance and support to Sudan’s TVET and Non-Formal Education systems.

A central responsibility will be the development of a National Recognition of Prior Learning Policy Framework aligned with Sudan’s TVET, NFE and higher education systems.

The assignment is expected to ensure that the resulting framework supports both horizontal and vertical mobility between non-formal, technical and academic pathways.

This is important because an effective RPL system should not merely acknowledge previously acquired competencies. It should also help establish pathways through which recognised learning can support progression between different parts of the education, training and qualifications system.

The consultant or firm must consequently work towards an operational and implementable framework covering areas such as:

• Governance;
• Assessment;
• Certification;
• Quality assurance;
• Institutional responsibilities;
• Policy and legal provisions;
• Qualifications;
• Mobility between learning pathways; and
• Practical implementation.

The consultant will also facilitate a co-creation process involving national stakeholders and development partners to strengthen national ownership and prepare the framework for endorsement.

Scope of Work for the International RPL Consultant

The consultancy involves an extensive scope of work covering policy design, institutional governance, assessment, certification, quality assurance, implementation, stakeholder consultation and endorsement support.

1. System Design and Policy Development

The consultant or consultancy firm will begin by reviewing and consolidating the existing RPL Policy Brief and Roadmap.

The assignment will require analysis of Sudan’s existing:

• Legal landscape;
• Institutional environment; and
• Qualifications landscape.

Using this analysis and the existing policy work, the consultant will design a comprehensive National Recognition of Prior Learning Policy Framework.

The framework is expected to address:

• Policy provisions;
• Legal provisions;
• Integration with national qualifications frameworks; and
• Cross-sectoral articulation involving TVET, Non-Formal Education and higher education.

This component is fundamental because the RPL system must be connected to Sudan’s broader education, training and qualifications architecture rather than operating as an isolated mechanism.

2. Institutional Architecture and Governance

A national RPL system requires clearly defined institutional responsibilities.

The consultant will therefore define the roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions and stakeholder groups, including:

• Ministry of Education;
• Ministry of Higher Education;
• Ministry of Labour;
• Supreme Council for Vocational Training and Apprenticeship;
• National Centre for Curriculum and Educational Research;
• Training providers;
• Employers; and
• Civil society organisations.

The consultant will also propose an appropriate national governance model.

This is expected to cover matters including:

• Coordination mechanisms;
• Oversight structures;
• Implementation responsibilities; and
• Institutional arrangements required for effective administration of the RPL system.

Recommendations may also involve establishing new RPL units or mechanisms or strengthening existing institutional structures where appropriate.

3. Competency-Based Assessment and Certification Model

Another major component of the consultancy concerns the way people’s existing competencies will actually be assessed and formally recognised.

The consultant will develop a competency-based RPL assessment framework.

Potential assessment methodologies specifically identified within the assignment include:

• Portfolios;
• Practical tests; and
• Interviews.

The framework must also address certification pathways and equivalency mechanisms.

Additionally, the consultant will consider credit transfer and articulation systems, helping establish how recognised competencies could contribute towards qualifications or progression between different education and training pathways.

4. National RPL Quality Assurance Framework

Recognition will only have meaningful long-term value if institutions, employers, learners and other stakeholders can have confidence in the quality and consistency of the system.

The consultant will therefore design a national quality assurance system for RPL.

This will include:

• National standards;
• Guidelines;
• Accreditation mechanisms;
• Monitoring arrangements;
• Evaluation processes; and
• Continuous improvement mechanisms.

The quality assurance framework will be important in supporting consistency, credibility and sustainability across the wider RPL system.

5. RPL Implementation Guidelines and Operational Manual

The assignment extends beyond high-level policy development.

The British Council requires a framework capable of being implemented in practice. The consultant will therefore develop a detailed Operational Manual.

The manual is expected to provide guidance concerning:

1. Step-by-step implementation processes;
2. Institutional workflows;
3. Roles and responsibilities of assessors;
4. Roles and responsibilities of institutions; and
5. Learner support mechanisms.

Learner support is expected to include areas such as:

• Guidance;
• Counselling; and
• Bridging mechanisms.

This operational dimension is particularly important because it translates national policy into procedures that institutions and practitioners can actually follow.

6. Stakeholder Engagement and Co-Creation

Stakeholder participation is a central component of the assignment.

The consultant or consultancy firm will facilitate a structured consultation process involving a broad range of stakeholders.

Government stakeholders are expected to include the relevant bodies responsible for education, higher education, labour, vocational training and curriculum development.

Consultations will also involve:

• Private-sector organisations;
• Employers;
• Civil society organisations;
• Training providers; and
• Development partners.

Development partners specifically identified in the Terms of Reference include organisations such as:

• International Labour Organization;
• UNESCO;
• Norwegian Refugee Council; and
• International Organization for Migration.

Workshops will be conducted using in-person and/or hybrid formats to validate key elements of the proposed framework.

This collaborative approach is intended to ensure that the resulting RPL framework reflects national realities, incorporates stakeholder expertise and develops sufficient ownership to support implementation and endorsement.

7. Finalisation and Government Endorsement Support

After consultation, the consultant will incorporate relevant stakeholder feedback into the final framework.

The consultant will also support the preparation of documentation suitable for endorsement and provide technical input for high-level validation or endorsement meetings.

Consequently, the assignment covers the development process from policy analysis and system design through stakeholder consultation and final preparation for potential government endorsement.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant or consultancy firm will be responsible for producing a substantial set of deliverables.

These include:

1. Inception Report covering the methodology, workplan and stakeholder engagement plan.
2. Draft National RPL Policy Framework.
3. Institutional Architecture and Governance Model.
4. Assessment and Certification Framework.
5. Quality Assurance Framework.
6. RPL Implementation Guidelines / Operational Manual.
7. Consultation Reports summarising stakeholder contributions and inputs.
8. Final National RPL Policy Framework, prepared in an endorsement-ready format.

These deliverables demonstrate that the assignment requires expertise spanning policy development, technical design, institutional analysis, stakeholder engagement and practical implementation planning.

Duration of the Consultancy

The consultancy will run from contract signature until 31 March 2027.

Rather than being completed as a single continuous exercise, the work is expected to be organised around phased milestones aligned with stakeholder consultation and validation processes.

The assignment has an estimated level of effort of up to 42 working days, distributed throughout the contract period.

Those working days are intended to cover major deliverables, consultation activities and reporting responsibilities.

Travel, Workshops and Operational Support

Additional operational budget is allocated for workshops, consultations and stakeholder engagement.

Approved consultant travel costs to Sudan, where travel is required and approved, will be handled separately through the operational provision.

Importantly, travel to Sudan is subject to security assessments.

The methodology also anticipates hybrid engagement arrangements combining remote and in-person consultations, reflecting the prevailing security context.

Methodology Expected from the Consultant

The successful consultant or firm is expected to use a methodology appropriate for complex policy and institutional reform.

The British Council specifically expects:

• A co-creation and participatory approach;
• A systems approach linking policy, institutions and implementation;
• Use of international best practices, including relevant ILO and UNESCO approaches and comparative RPL models; and
• Hybrid engagement modalities, incorporating remote and in-person consultation where appropriate.

Applicants preparing their technical proposals should therefore pay close attention to these methodological expectations.

The proposal should demonstrate not only what the applicant intends to deliver but also how the consultant or team will engage stakeholders, translate international experience into the Sudanese context and develop an implementable national framework.

Reporting and Management Arrangements

The selected consultant or consultancy firm will report to the Youth Skills Programme Manager, British Council Sudan.

Technical coordination will also be maintained with relevant government stakeholders.

The British Council will be responsible for overall contract management and logistical support associated with consultations.

This arrangement means the consultant will need to operate effectively across technical, governmental and programme-management environments.

Required Expertise and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate strong and directly relevant expertise.

The British Council requires proven experience in designing and implementing Recognition of Prior Learning systems or frameworks.

Applicants should also demonstrate strong expertise in:

• Technical and Vocational Education and Training systems reform;
• Qualifications frameworks;
• Skills recognition;
• Non-formal education systems; and
• Related policy and institutional development.

Experience working in fragile or conflict-affected contexts is another important requirement.

Applicants should be capable of facilitating complex multi-stakeholder policy processes, given the significant consultation and co-creation responsibilities involved in the assignment.

Familiarity with ILO, UNESCO or other international RPL standards is described as highly desirable.

Additional Considerations for Consultancy Firms

Consultancy firms interested in applying should consider the multidisciplinary nature of the assignment.

For firms, a multidisciplinary team covering policy, assessment and institutional design is preferred.

A strong team proposal should therefore demonstrate how the combined expertise of key personnel addresses the different technical components of the assignment.

Application Requirements

Interested individual consultants and consultancy firms are expected to submit several important documents.

Applicants should prepare:

1. Technical Proposal – explaining the proposed methodology and approach for undertaking the assignment.
2. Financial Proposal – providing the financial proposal for delivering the consultancy.
3. Relevant Experience and References – demonstrating previous experience related to the requirements of the assignment.
4. CV(s) of Key Personnel – outlining the qualifications and professional experience of the consultant or proposed team members.

The vacancy notice particularly emphasises that applicants should attach the technical proposal for developing the RPL Policy Framework together with their CV.

Applicants should therefore carefully review the Terms of Reference and ensure their technical proposal addresses the assignment’s expected methodology, scope, stakeholder engagement requirements, deliverables and implementation considerations.

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Ethical Requirements

The selected consultant or consultancy firm must comply with important ethical principles throughout the assignment.

These include adherence to:

• Do no harm principles; and
• Data protection and confidentiality standards.

These requirements are especially significant considering the sensitive operating environment and the range of government, civil society, education-sector and development stakeholders expected to participate in the process.

British Council RPL Consultant Application Deadline

The closing date for applications is 26 August 2026.

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are prepared and submitted through the British Council recruitment system before the closing date.

Application Deadline: 26 August 2026

Because the application requires more than a CV, prospective applicants should allow sufficient time to prepare a strong technical proposal, financial proposal, evidence of relevant experience, references and CVs for relevant personnel.

Important Points Applicants Should Remember

Before applying for the British Council International Consultant – Recognition of Prior Learning opportunity, prospective applicants should take note of the following:

• The consultancy focuses on developing a National Recognition of Prior Learning Policy Framework for Sudan.
• The assignment requires substantial expertise in RPL systems and frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of TVET reform, qualifications frameworks, skills recognition and non-formal education is required.
• Experience in fragile or conflict-affected environments is expected.
• Applicants must be able to facilitate multi-stakeholder policy processes.
• Familiarity with ILO, UNESCO or international RPL standards is highly desirable.
• Consultancy firms preferably should propose multidisciplinary expertise covering policy, assessment and institutional design.
• The work involves policy development as well as practical implementation guidance.
• Stakeholder engagement and co-creation are central components of the assignment.
• The contract is expected to continue until 31 March 2027.
• The estimated level of effort is up to 42 working days across the contract period.
• Engagement may involve both remote and in-person activities.
• Travel to Sudan, where approved, is subject to security assessments.
• Applicants must submit a technical proposal.
• A financial proposal is required.
• Relevant experience and references must be provided.
• CVs of key personnel must be submitted.
• The application deadline is 26 August 2026.

Conclusion

The British Council International Consultant – Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) opportunity in Sudan provides experienced education, TVET, qualifications and policy specialists with an opportunity to contribute to an important national skills-system initiative.

At the centre of the consultancy is the challenge of developing a Recognition of Prior Learning system capable of acknowledging competencies acquired through non-formal and informal pathways and connecting those competencies more effectively with recognised qualifications, education and employment opportunities.

The assignment is particularly significant within Sudan’s current context, where conflict, displacement, disrupted education and the dominance of informal economic activity have increased the importance of flexible and inclusive approaches to skills recognition.

The successful consultant or consultancy firm will be expected to move beyond producing a high-level policy document. The work encompasses policy and legal considerations, institutional architecture, governance, competency assessment, certification, quality assurance, implementation guidance, stakeholder co-creation and support for final validation and endorsement.

Professionals and consultancy firms with substantial experience in RPL systems, TVET reform, qualifications frameworks, non-formal education and multi-stakeholder policy development should carefully review the requirements and prepare comprehensive technical and financial proposals.

Applications close on 26 August 2026.

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