In February 2026, the Republic of Suriname issued a Social Bond to finance eligible social expenditures and priority social projects.

The Ministry of Finance and Planning (Employer), for the benefit of the Ministry of Youth Development & Sports, intends to engage a qualified consulting firm to implement the Youth & Adult Re-Engagement Program – Dropout Support for Jobs, Skills and Entrepreneurship (Street2Success – From Survival to Success).

The program seeks to address the challenges faced by vulnerable and at-risk youth aged 16–30, including unemployment, school dropout, social exclusion, limited access to vocational opportunities, psychosocial challenges, and reduced participation in economic and community life.

Street2Success combines psychosocial support, mentoring, vocational skills development, entrepreneurship support, job readiness training, and employment pathways into one integrated youth empowerment program.

The program is expected to directly support approximately 1,000 youth across multiple districts of Suriname through a hub-based implementation model.

Scope of Services

Consultant shall provide professional services including:

• Recruitment, registration, intake, and selection of vulnerable and at-risk youth participants.
• Delivery of youth empowerment sessions focusing on self-confidence, mental resilience, communication skills, life skills, leadership, recreation, and positive identity formation.
• Provision of individual and group coaching, mentoring, and psychosocial support referrals.
• Organization of employment readiness programs, including CV writing, interview preparation, career orientation, and labor market integration.
• Organization of job fairs, employer engagement activities, internship matching, and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Delivery of entrepreneurship guidance, business coaching, and financial literacy training.
• Delivery of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) sessions.
• Management of participant welfare and logistics, including participant registration, meals, refreshments, transportation support where applicable, and training facilities.
• Development and implementation of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework.
• Conduct of baseline, midline, endline, and aftercare assessments.
• Preparation and submission of quarterly progress reports, evaluation reports, and final project reports.
• Provision of participant follow-up and aftercare support after project completion.
• Delivery of district-specific vocational skills training (lot 1-5) through specialized Technical Mentors.

Vocational Training Lots

Lot 1 – Para: Welding / Operator Training / Construction and Infrastructure Skills

Lot 2 – Marowijne: Welding / Operator Training / ICT & Administration

Lot 3 – Coronie: Beekeeping & Honey Production / Sustainable Agriculture / Beauty & Wellness Product Development

Lot 4 – Saramacca: Agricultural Processing / Fruit & Vegetable Processing / Oilfield Operator & Maintenance Training

Lot 5 – Paramaribo & Wanica: Web Design & Development / Digital Media & ICT / Hospitality and Food Services

Duration

The assignment covers 18 months (November 2026 – January 2028), structured into phases with aftercare support extending beyond project completion.

Consultant Qualifications

Interested consulting firms must demonstrate:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in youth development, social inclusion programs, community development, workforce development, or related fields.
• Proven expertise in designing and implementing youth empowerment programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable youth, NEET youth, school dropouts, and socially excluded populations.
• Experience delivering psychosocial support programs, mentoring, coaching, and peer-to-peer interventions.
• Experience implementing vocational training, employability, entrepreneurship, and workforce development initiatives.
• Proven experience coordinating multi-district and multi-stakeholder programs.
• Experience collaborating with government institutions, NGOs, educational institutions, community organizations, and private sector partners.
• Experience organizing job fairs, employment matching programs, internships, apprenticeships, and workforce integration initiatives.
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of social development programs.
• Strong administrative, operational, financial, and reporting capacity.
• Familiarity with the Surinamese socio-economic environment and youth development landscape.
• Experience with donor-funded programs and international development organizations is considered an advantage.

The Consultant shall demonstrate the availability of qualified key personnel, including:

• Project Coordinator / Manager
• Technical Mentors (per vocational Lot)
• Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist
• Trainers – Personal Development, Life Skills & Entrepreneurship
• Trainers – Ready 4 Work / Employment Readiness
• Trainers – Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
• The Consultant must demonstrate the capacity to provide services in Dutch and English and ensure that reporting requirements can be fulfilled in English. Knowledge of Sranan Tongo is considered an advantage.

Selection Method

Consultants will be selected using the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method, in accordance with international procurement policies and practices.

Submission Requirements

• Interested firms must submit:
• Letter of Interest (LOI).
• Proof of legal status (Chamber of Commerce registration).
• Company profile and evidence of similar assignments in the past 10 years.
• Description of organizational capacity and areas of specialization.
• Evidence of relevant experience in Suriname or comparable environments.

All documentation must be submitted in English.

Deadline and Contact

Expressions of Interest must be delivered by 16 October 2026 via email to:

Ministry of Finance and Planning

Attn: Procurement Lead – Priority Social Projects Paramaribo, Suriname

Email: [email protected]