Somalia: Developing NQF-RPL-CATS Policies. Policy dialogue and capacity development workshop

Cooperation Somalia-ACQF-II on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (CATS).

1 Context

The Government of Somalia and key stakeholders are committed to developing a contextualized and relevant, comprehensive and inclusive National Qualifications Framework (NQF) of all levels and types of qualifications, complemented by the two important related policies: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (CATS).

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MoECHE) coordinates and leads the activities concerning the development of the NQF and related policies, and works with ministries, and national and international partners to stimulate a collaborative, holistic and synergistic approach.

In July 2024 MoECHE presented its roadmap for development, consultation and implementation of the NQF, RPL, CATS and register of qualifications. This roadmap is the reference for planning of relevant activities for the ACQF-II and is also oriented to guide GIZ’s plans and activities in this policy area.

In recent years, Somalia has supported and implemented activities related to the reform of the education and training system, aimed at strengthening the quality and adaptability of the country's human resources, contributing to socio-economic development, employability, equity, social inclusion, and digital and green transformations.

The MoECHE established a cross-sectoral working group to contribute to the development of the NQF. This working group will reflect the aspirations, needs and specificities of the different sub-sectors, while aiming to achieve the main objectives, such as: a) an integrated and flexible ecosystem conducive to lifelong learning; (b) mobility and recognition of skills and qualifications for inclusion and social justice, access to decent work and the realization of people's aspirations; c) adaptation to national and global trends in the labour markets, and innovation for the adaptation of skills and qualifications to major changes and the green and digital transition; (d) quality, transparency and comparability with other qualifications frameworks in Africa and other global regions.

National institutions recognise the importance of capacity building on the major topics of the NQF as a prerequisite for national ownership and leadership of the NQF development process.

Cooperation and exchange Somalia-ACQF was built through a series of activities, starting with the ACQF training week in September 2022 in Johannesburg. With the launch of the ACQF-II project in April 2023, exchanges with Somalia have been strengthened, in particular by the participation of two representatives of MoECHE in the ACQF Conference in Addis Ababa which validated the ACQF policy document (11-13/07/2023). In 2023, Somalia participated in the ACQF-II training workshops, in Nairobi (9-11 October 2023), Accra (7-8/November 2023) and Maputo (5-6 December 2023). In 2024 the representative of MoECHE attended the 2^nd NQF Forum in Luanda (5-6/09/2024) and the ACQF Forum on RPL in Nairobi (1-4/Oct). This cooperation laid the foundation for mutual trust towards a contextualized work plan for the period up to the end of 2026, encompassing the comprehensive NQF, RPL and CATS policies, and the participation in the Qualifications and Credentials Platform (QCP).

The organisation of this capacity-building workshop, focused on specific objectives for Somalia, is the result of this growing collaboration. This national workshop is complemented by the multi-country workshops and webinars organised annually by the ACQF-II project.

The workshop is designed according to a partnership and cost-sharing approach, which highlights the national desire to own and lead the NQF development process. Thus, ACQF-II contributes with: a) expertise (trainers and experts); b) specialised knowledge base (ACQF training modules, technical notes and thematic briefs); c) networking with other countries and institutions. GIZ takes responsibility for the organisation and logistics of the workshop.

Follow-up activities, such as drafting and consultation process of the agreed policies, capacity development, inventory of existing qualifications, guidelines and other technical tasks will be agreed during this 1^st NQF development workshop.

Refer to the Agenda for all details on objectives, modules, reference documents, workflow and methodology.

When Nov 08, 2024 06:00 AM to Nov 10, 2024 02:00 PM (UTC / UTC0)
Where Nairobi
Contact Name Eduarda Castel-Branco
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1. Workshop Objectives and modules

Module 1: Introduction and deepening of the knowledge and skills of the members of the NQF Working Group and other partners on the three policy domains: NQF, CATS and RPL.
Module 2: National Dialogue and Engineering of the Somalia NQF and CATS
Synergistic Module 3: Complementarities and linkages between the three policies.

Module 1: training, knowledge building (08 November) – focus on NQF and CATS

Thematic scope: NQF – rationale, objectives, governance, instruments; RPL, CATS; roadmap.

ACQF: continental reference qualifications framework. Objectives, Policy, Actions, New perspectives.
NQF – from A to Z: concepts, objectives, principles, types, trends, examples.
NQF Pillars and Tools: Learning Outcomes; levels and level descriptors; quality assurance of qualifications and the NQF; registers of qualifications
Governance of the NQF: models, legislation, institutions, stakeholder involvement. Monitoring and evaluation.
CATS: concepts, objectives, scope, application. Examples

Module 2: Dialogue and NQF Engineering (09 November) – focus on NQF and CATS

Debate 1: NQF - Vision, Objectives, Scope, Principles, Functions, Visibility
Debate 2: NQF Level structure, descriptors, types of qualifications
Debate 3: NQF tools; quality assurance; Governance, stakeholders, legislation
Debate 4: CATS: vision, objectives, target groups, organisation and application methods and tools

Module 1 and 2: Focus on RPL (10 November morning)

Module 1 – RPL (09.00-10.30)

RPL: concepts, target population, scope, objectives, process, requirements, application, synergy with NQF and CATS. Examples

Module 2 – RPL (11.00-13.00)

Debate 5: RPL: vision, objectives, target groups, organisation, roles and responsibilities

Synergistic Module 3: Assessment, and complementarities of the 3 policies (10 November afternoon)

Debate 6: Self-assessment of the existing policies, tools, practices - relevant for the NQF, RPL and CATS
Debate 7: Roadmap for the development, consultation and adoption of the NQF, RPL, CATS. Discussion and agreement of the annotated outlines of the 3 policy documents.
Debate 8: Conclusions. Next steps.

2. Sources and references: ACQF Training modules and documentation

Available to view and download on the ACQF website on the following pages:

10 ACQF training modules and manuals
Thematic Briefs
Capacity Development Program: All documents, videos, case studies.
Other useful resources: International literature

To be printed for distribution at the workshop:

Brief ACQF Handbook
ACQF Training Modules: TM 1, TM 4, TM 5, TM 10
ACQF Thematic Brief 13 on micro-credentials
ACQF Handbook on RPL for Practitioners

3. ACQF-II Team of Trainers and Experts

ACQF Project Coordinator and NQF Expert: Ms Eduarda Castel-Branco
CATS Expert: Mr. James Mwewa
RPL Expert: Mr. Patrick Werquin

4. Agenda of the workshop

Day 1: 8 November 2024

Schedule	Theme and activity	Facilitation and Stakeholders
09.00-09.30	Opening. Introduction of participants Objectives of the workshop	MoECHE – DG TVET ACQF-II – coordination
09.30-09.50 Session 1	Somalia's education and training system: an overview of policies, reforms and structure.	NQF Working Group
09.50-10.15 Session 2	ACQF – African policy and instrument to strengthen the comparability and transparency of qualifications, mutual trust between NQFs and lifelong learning.	ACQF-II - coordination
10.15-11.15 Session 3	NQF: Holistic Overview. Trends, components, tools.	ACQF-II: Coordination
11.15-11.30	Coffee break
11.30 – 12.45 Session 4	NQF Pillars and Tools: Learning Outcomes; levels and level descriptors; quality assurance of qualifications and the NQF; qualification registers. Micro-credentials	ACQF-II: Coordination
12.45-13.15 Session 5	Questions, discussion.
13.15-14.15	Lunch break
14.15-15.00 Session 6	Governance of the NQF: Building the NQF. Models, legislation, institutions, stakeholder involvement. Monitoring and evaluation	ACQF-II: Coordination
15.00-16.15 Session 7	CATS: Part II - concepts, objectives, benefits, application rules.	ACQF-II: J. Mwewa
16.15-16.45	Questions, discussion. Poll

Day 2: 9 November, 2024

Schedule	Theme and activity	Facilitation and Stakeholders
09.00-09.15	Recapitulation. Themes and activities of the day.	NQF Working Group ACQF-II
09.15-10.00 Session 8	CATS: Models of CATS. Comparison. Cases and examples.	ACQF-II: J. Mwewa
	Module 2: NQF, CATS Dialogue and Engineering
10.00-11.45 Session 9 Coffee, tea, cookies - available in the room – without formal break	Debate 1: NQF Vision, objectives, scope, principles, functions, communication Guiding Questions 1: a) Challenges and issues that the NQF will help to resolve; b) Vision and aspirations of the NQF; c) Specific objectives; d) Scope: which sectors, levels, types of qualifications; formal, non-formal, informal learning, micro-credentials; e) Functions of the NQF; f) Making the NQF accessible, visible and understood.	Discussion in 2 debate groups. Plenary Presentations
11.45-13.00 Session 10	Debate 2: level structure, descriptors of the NQF. Guiding questions 2: a) The panorama of qualifications – indicative map of levels and types; b) Domains of learning of level descriptors; c) Non-NQF qualifications	Discussion in 2 debate groups. Plenary Presentations
13.00-14.00	Lunch break
14.00-15.00 Session 11	Debate 3: NQF tools; quality assurance; governance, stakeholders, legislation Guiding Questions 3: a) Strategic and operational tools; b) Quality assurance; c) What governance model for the NQF (by phases, transition, stabilization); b) Roles and functions of the actors; c) Collaboration, interactions, complementarities; d) Role and functions of the social partners, employers; e) Legislation, regulations	Discussion in 2 debate groups. Plenary Presentations
15.00-16.30 Session 12 Coffee, tea, cookies - available in the room – without formal break	Debate 4: CATS: vision, objectives, target groups, organisation Guiding Questions 4: a) Objectives, principles and scope of CATS; b) Target groups; c) Linking CATS to quality assurance and organisation of training programmes and assessment; d) Organisation of CATS services; e) Legal and methodological framework.	Discussion in 2 debate groups. Plenary Presentations
16.45-17.00	Final discussion, clarifications. Agenda for last day.

Day 3: 10 November 2024

Schedule	Theme and activity	Facilitation and Stakeholders
09.00-09.15	Recapitulation. Themes of the day	MoECHE, ACQF-II
09.15-11.15	Module 1 – Focus on RPL Concepts, target population, scope, objectives, process, requirements, application, synergy with NQF and CATS. Examples	ACQF-II: P. Werquin
11.15-11.30	Coffee break
11.30-13.15 Session 13	Module 2 – Focus on RPL Debate 5: RPL: vision, objectives, target groups, organisation, roles and responsibilities. Guiding Questions 5: a) Rationale, objectives, principles and scope of RPL; b) Target groups; c) Technical requirements; d) Governance; e) Organisation of RPL, quality assurance, financing; f) Links to NQF and CATS.	Dialogue In 2 debate groups. Plenary Presentations
13.15-14.15	Lunch break
14.15-17.00 Session 14	Debate 6 and Debate 7 Debate 6: Self-assessment of the existing situation relevant to the NQF-RPL-CATS eco-system. Guidance questions and self-assessment grid: see section 2.6. Debate 7: Roadmap for the development, consultation and adoption of the NQF, RPL, CATS. Discussion and agreement of the annotated outlines of the 3 policy documents.	Dialogue in 2 working groups: · WG 1: Debate 6 · WG 2: Debate 7 Plenary Presentations
17.00-17.30	Final conclusions, next steps. Fence	NQF Working Group ACQF-II: Coordination

5. NQF Debates: Methodology, Guiding Questions

Each debate is organised to stimulate group reflection on the main themes of the three policies: RPL, RPL and CATS. The methodology of the debates is based on the following elements:

Each focus group develops contributions and proposals and identifies key challenges in response to the guiding questions per debate. The main guiding issues are indicated in the programme.
The results of each discussion group will be shared in plenary through short presentations.
Debates 1 – 3 serve as spaces for reflection between stakeholders on the major themes of NQF engineering: vision, objectives, scope, principles, levels, components, governance, tools.
Debate 4 – is focused on CATS: vision, objectives, scope, application model, governance.
Debate 5 – is centred on RPL: rationale, objectives, scope, benefits, organisation, governance.
Debate 6 is a self-assessment of the state of play of key relevant dimensions related to the NQF-CATS-RPL eco-system.
Debate 7 serves to configure key elements of the roadmap

For debate 6 (self-evaluation) a grid is proposed (Table 1).

Table 1: Self-Assessment Support Tool

Theme		Self-assessment: 3 levels		Monitoring and observations
	Well established	Partially Established	Not Existing
1. Relevant legislation, strategies, policies and regulations that support the NQF, CATS, RPL.
2. Standards: occupations, skills and competences, assessment, certification.
3.State of play of qualifications in Somalia (all sectors, types and levels). Qualification database(s).
4. Quality assurance: policy, tools, governance, enforcement, scope.
5. RPL: legal framework, status of implementation, monitoring, improvement.
6. CATS: legal framework, status of implementation, monitoring, improvement.
7. Recognition of qualifications, mobility: ratification of international conventions and preparation for implementation. Information-sharing among relevant institutions.
8. Labour Market Information System and Skills Needs; qualifications’ statistics
9. Sustainable society, green growth and green skills: policies, tools, good practices
10. Cooperation with Qualifications Frameworks of Other Countries, Regions
11. Social partnership, cooperation with employers, professional organisations, sector bodies, unions.
12. Other issues (identified by the Working Group)