Despite impressive economic growth rates (12.3% in 2012), Mongolia is still marked by high poverty and deepening disparities in living standards between rich and poor, and between urban and rural areas. Although employment opportunities are increasing, unofficial unemployment remains high at around 20%. The skills development sector is lacking the quantitative and qualitative capacities to effectively respond to current and future needs and to offer labour market oriented short term training. By complementing the formal TVET system through short-term skills development training (STST), vocational counselling and career guidance (VCCG), the proposed Vocational Skills Development (VSD) intervention will contribute to reducing the skills mismatch in the labour market and improving employability. The VSD intervention will be integrated into the already existing Cooperative Vocational Training (CVT) Project, funded by the German Government and implemented by GIZ. The new, integrated project will work with the TVET schools in the six poor rural western aimags where SDC’s “VET Project” is already being implemented (Uvs, Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Zavkhan, Bayan-Ulgii, Bayankhongor), and with the more advanced TVET centres in Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan and Choir where the CVT Project is already operating. Significant synergies will be leveraged from incorporating elements of the dual TVET system, which are historically rooted in both Switzerland and Germany.

Increased employability of rural women and men

The first target group consist of rural and urban women and men who are unable to enrol in the formal TVET system and who do not possess the skills required to be successfully employed or self-employed in Mongolia’s booming economy. This group includes the “lost generation” of citizens between 25 and 40 years or older, often ex-herders who lost their herds or herders with such small herds that they hardly can survive economically. They are among the most marginalised group in Mongolia, threatened by poverty or already living in poverty. The second target group consists of male and female students in TVET schools and regular education centres (in particular secondary schools) in the project’s target regions that will benefit from VCCG services. The third group involves teachers and trainers in 9 TVET institutions and in-company instructors in cooperating companies, as well as local companies engaged in selected trades. The total number of people which are part of the target groups is estimated to be a minimum 248’000, out of which 93’000 persons are considered as being among the most vulnerable. Most likely, the real figures are larger.

• Target groups (m/f) make use of short-term skills training courses which enhance their marketable skills;
• Target groups (m/f) make use of improved career guidance services based on labour market needs and individual capabilities

Results from previous phases:  

During the opening phase, a joint SDC, GIZ, Ministry of Labour (MoL), and Mongolian National Employers’ Federation (MONEF) planning mission gained commitment for the project from governmental partners, the TVET schools, employers and other stakholders. The project theory of change and logframe – goal, outcomes, outputs and activities – were agreed in a participatory manner with the implementer GIZ, the MoL, the VET schools and private sector representatives from the target regions. Likewise, the project’s implementation strategy, including GIZ instruments, were identifed and agreed in a participatory manner with all stakeholders.

Phase 1 01.05.2013 - 29.02.2016   (Completed)