REQUEST FOR AN ACADEMIC SPECIALIST ON "CAREER

UNCLAS AMMAN 001023

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/NEA, IIP/G/NEA-SA TERRY SCOTT
STATE INFO NEA/PPD (DBENZE, MQUINN, LHOLLAND, JDAVIS),
NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP OEXC KPAO SCUL JO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AN ACADEMIC SPECIALIST ON "CAREER
DEVELOPMENT AND COUNSELING OFFICES" FOR THE KING ABDULLAH II
FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT


1. THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION REQUESTS AN ACADEMIC
SPECIALIST TO WORK WITH A LEADING NGO, THE KING ABDULLAH II
FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT (KAFD),ON STAFF DEVELOPMENT FOR
JORDAN'S FIRST "CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND COUNSELING
OFFICES" (CDCO) AT JORDANIAN UNIVERSITIES. THE KAFD IS
FORMALLY HEADED BY HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH II. POST
CONSIDERS THIS REQUEST AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO
STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS IN
JORDAN. POST WOULD PREFER A SPECIALIST WITH A GOOD
KNOWLEDGE OF MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE. SPECIALIST IS REQUESTED
FOR A PERIOD OF TEN WORKING DAYS IN MID JUNE 2004. THE
PROGRAM SUPPORTS MPP OBJECTIVES ON "DEMOCRACY AND BUILDING
CIVIL SOCIETY."


2. TIME FRAME: SPECIALIST IS REQUESTED FOR A PERIOD OF TEN
DAYS ANY TIME BETWEEN MID JUNE - LATE AUGUST 2004.


3. JUSTIFICATION: THE KING ABDULLAH II FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT
(KAFD) STARTED A NATIONAL COMPAIGN TO PROVIDE CAREER
COUNSELING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO JORDANIAN UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS. THIS PROJECT REQUIRES THE COOPERATION OF KAFD,
THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITIES OF
JORDAN.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICES IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES
TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND ALUMNI IN DEVELOPING AND FULFILLING
THEIR CAREER OBJECTIVES THROUGH A NETWORK OF ON-CAMPUS
OFFICES. THESE OFFICES WILL HELP STUDENTS IN FINDING JOBS
BEFORE OR AFTER GRADUATING; BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN
COMMUNICATION SKILLS TAUGHT AND THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
NEEDED IN THE REAL MARKETPLACE; PROVIDE A DATABASE OF THE
MARKET'S HUMAN RESOURCE NEEDS; HIGHLIGHT WORK ETHICS AND JOB
LOYALTY; AND ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION CHANNELS BETWEEN
STUDENT BODIES AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING PRIVATE SECTORS.


4. THE SPECIALIST WILL BE CONSULTING WITH THE KAFD'S
DIRECTOR AND TECHNICAL STAFF TO REVIEW THE CDCO'S TRAINING
PROGRAMS, PROCEDURES AND MECHANISMS IN HANDLING CAREER
COUNSELING SERVICES. TRAINING IS REQUESTED TO COVER THE
FOLLOWING FIELDS:
--`HELPING SKILLS' TO INCLUDE COUNSELING TECHNIQUES RELATED
TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND JOB FINDING
--ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES
--TRAINING CLIENTS AND PEERS
--EMPLOYABILTY SKILLS TO INCLUDE JOB SEARCHES, RESUME
WRITING, ITNERVIWING SKILLS, JOB RETENTION AND JOB
ADVANCEMENT AND SALARY NEGOTIATION.
--PROMOTION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. THIS SECTION WILL INCLUDE
A COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGY TO
PARTNER WITH EMPLOYERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.


5. AUDIENCES: 25 - 30 CAREER COUNSELORS SERVING SIXTEEN
CENTERS AT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN JORDAN.


6. COST SHARING: KAFD WILL PROVIDE LODGING, MEALS AND
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION WHILE IN JORDAN. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,
INCIDENTALS AND HONORARIUM WILL BE COVERED FROM POST'S I-
BUCKS ACCOUNT.


7. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON KAFD

THE KING ABDULLAH II FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT (KAFD) WAS
ESTABLISHED BY A ROYAL DECREE IN 2001 AS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATION SEEKING TO PROVIDE ALL SEGMENTS OF THE
JORDANIAN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE LESS DEVELOPED AND
PRIVILEGED, WITH NEW AND INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
AIMED AT ALLEVIATING THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC BURDENS. HIS
MAJESTY'S RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING A
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT MAY ADEQUATELY ASSUME A
COMPREHENSIVE AND TARGETED ROLE IN SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENTAL
AND PRODUCTIVE PROJECTS ACROSS THE KINGDOM WAS THE MAIN
DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE PROMPT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FUND.


8. CONTROL OFFICER IS CAO DONNA WINTON. CONTACT NUMBERS FOR
MS. WINTON ARE AS FOLLOWS: OFFICE 962-6-592-0101, EXT.
2579; HOME: 962-6-592-8932; FAX 962-6-592-021, E-MAIL:
DWINTON@PD.STATE.GOV. CO-PROGRAM OFFICER IS BASMA AMAWI,
CULTURAL AFFAIRS SPECIALIST: TEL: (962-6) 592-0101 EXT.
2574; CELL PHONE: (962) 79-5533474; FAX: (962-6) 592-0121;E-
MAIL: BAMAWI@PD.STATE.GOV.

GHENM