Short term Skills dev. youth/women Ph.1

Project completed

The project addresses the needs of youth who already graduated from their formal education, but still miss adequate skills for employment. These needs should be matched by demand of private sector. There will be established and institutionalized an effective up/reskilling mechanism nation-wide non-formal Vocational Education Training system in the country. Thus, skilled workforce will successfully support both (future) workers and Micro-, Small- and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Kyrgyzstan
Vocational training
Vocational training
Advanced professional training
01.11.2022 - 31.10.2023
CHF  5’000’000
Background About one third of the population of Kyrgyzstan are youth (18-35 years old). As this proportion continues to grow, and the job market is unable to absorb these numbers, skills make the difference for employability. Due to the absence of educational reforms, youth faces three main constraints: i) the quality of formal education is extremely low1 ; ii) both higher and professional Vocational Education Training (VET) systems are disconnected from market needs; and iii) there is a lack of short-term courses that could address this mismatch. As a result, youth tend to enter the non-formal labour market in very basic positions - with very low wages, often without contracts and therefore at high risk of exploitation by employers. Women are particularly affected as evidenced by the decline of their participation in the labour market (from 53% in 2013 to 42% in 2020), mostly in low-wage sectors. 
Objectives Up-/reskilling training system is inclusive and ensures more employment opportunities as well as more skilled labour force for the private sector
Target groups
  • Government partners: relevant line-ministries and rest state agencies in-charge of up/re-skilling; 
  • Business/Employers Associations, public, private training providers and companies (MSMEs); and 
  • Youth (18-35 years old), young (vulnerable) women and men from the rural areas of the country; employed (but willing to change profession), under-employed and unemployed youth, incl. women. 
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Environment is inclusive and conducive for private sector-led up-/re-skilling training provision

Outcome 2: Non-formal VSD led by private sector actors enhances labour market development and employability of young women and men 

Results

Expected results:  

  • Enabling regulatory and institutional eco-system for non-formal VSD is strengthened 
  • Young women and men benefit from inclusive up-/reskilling training services, based on a functioning sustainable business model 


Results from previous phases:   The inception phase of the project proved (through series of meetings, interviews and workshops conducted by implementing team) the relevance of the planned interventions as both central and local government as well as business voiced the lack of skilled labour as one of the main obstacles for the country’s private sector to grow and develop further. 


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Coordination with other projects and actors Swiss-financed GTEX, SBI, WTK, GE-SPSD, BAP, ‘Araket’, IOM ‘Facilitating Safe and Skilled Migration on the Central Asia – Kazakhstan Corridor’; and USAID/AKF Impact for Youth 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    5’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    0 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   300’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   15’300’000
Project phases

Phase 2 01.11.2022 - 31.10.2023   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.11.2022 - 31.10.2027   (Current phase)