Vocational skills development – the gateway to the world of work

Quality vocational skills development that enables trainees to gain a foothold in the labour market and to find and keep jobs with decent working conditions can contribute to poverty reduction. The goal is economic development that benefits all. The SDC works with the public authorities and the private sector to develop training programmes tailored to the needs of the market.

Focus of the SDC's activities

The SDC supports a vocational skills development approach that can provide trainees with the skills they need to take part in the labour market and which gives them access to reasonably paid work. The idea is to enable them to acquire the professional skills to take part in the formal or informal labour market either as employees or self-employed workers.

The SDC wants to ensure that young trainees, once trained, can go on to find employment and contribute to productivity growth. The aim is to increase training opportunities and to ensure that all sections of the population – the poor and not so poor, women and men, and urban and rural residents – can benefit from them.

In order to ensure that training programmes are optimally tailored to the needs of trainees and the economy, the SDC makes every effort to involve both the public authorities and the private sector in the planning and implementation stages. The most promising training programmes comprise theoretical and practical instruction – like Switzerland’s dual vocational education and training system.

The SDC is working to improve vocational skills development opportunities, but also encourages the recognition of informal work experience and learning, including self-taught skills, which many professionals can bring to the table.

Depending on the circumstances and contexts, the SDC recommends including introductory modules for certain trades in compulsory school curricula. Career counselling services have proved useful in secondary schools. Ideally, vocational skills development should provide a bridge between basic education and the world of work. With this in mind, the SDC complements vocational skills development programmes with activities to strengthen the private sector and create jobs.

Background

In 2017, some 71 million young people of working age are unemployed. Nearly twice this number are living in poverty, often because they lack education and training and cannot find a decent job. Only 11% of young people in secondary education around the world are enrolled in vocational programmes.

There is a clear need to increase training opportunities to enable young people to prove their potential on the labour market. Vocational skills development, like basic education, is a fundamental condition for economic and social development. It is critically important for vocational skills development to build on high-quality basic education and, if necessary, to close existing knowledge gaps.

Quality vocational skills development only makes sense, however, if those who graduate from vocational skills development programmes find employment opportunities. According to the World Bank, 40 million new jobs are expected to be created annually to absorb the growing number of young people entering the labour market, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Providing a skilled workforce can boost business productivity and competitiveness, which has a positive effect on economic growth and job creation. Offering prospects to the vulnerable and meeting the aspirations of young people is essential to avoid wasting human and economic potential.

Testimonials from beneficiaries

People who have benefited from vocational training talk about their experiences.

Gender and skills development

The SDC integrates respect for gender equality in its projects and ensures that women have access to the job market.

Current Projects

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Women and Girls First

01.05.2023 - 30.04.2026

In Myanmar, the pandemic and military coup have increased the risks for gender-based violence (GBV) and deep-rooted gender inequality. Through the Women and Girls First programme, Switzerland supports women, girls and young people to realise their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and fulfil their potential. It does so by strengthening community-based and ethnic systems to be more responsive to needs related to GBV, SRHR and mental health.


VSDP - Vocational Skills Development Programme

01.04.2023 - 31.07.2028

COVID-19 and the military coup had a negative impact on the availability of jobs, economic resilience and access to training in Myanmar. This last phase of the VSDP project aims to provide an alternative for women and youth to get relevant training and (self-) employment while supporting micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises to improve their income, contribute to learning and create jobs. The project builds on Switzerland’s strategic position and experience in the vocational training sector.


Mercy Corps: Strengthening Resilience in Agriculture, Livelihoods and Markets through Local Institutions in Greater Mundri

01.02.2023 - 31.01.2026

To sustainably move households out of chronic vulnerability, poverty and food insecurity by facilitating economic recovery and support for smallholder farmers and non-farm microenterprises. The support will consist of market system development (MSD), value chain development, vocational skills development and improved methods of agriculture, such as agro-ecology and conservation. The intervention will focus on women and youth and is highly relevant in a post-conflict context like Mundri (South Sudan).


STAF - Skills for Tourism and Agriculture and Forestry

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2027

Switzerland, Luxembourg and the European Union are joining hands to reform the TVET sector together with the Government of Laos to increase the employability and income of the Lao people. Switzerland’s long-term experience in poverty reduction, vocational training and private sector engagement will support youth to access improved vocational skills development and reach employment through stronger employment service delivery.


Swiss contribution to KfW Regional Challenge Fund for the Western Balkans

15.11.2022 - 31.12.2027

Switzerland is investing in vocational education and training as well as in labour-market insertion of unemployed youth through all of its bilateral cooperation programs in the Western Balkans. This contribution will allow Switzerland to join forces with Germany in efficiently raising the quality and labor-market orientation of VET offers across the region, while at the same time fostering sustainable partnerships between VET providers and companies for work-based learning.  


Increase Cabo Delgado

01.11.2022 - 31.10.2024

Applying the triple nexus approach, the project aims at creating an enabling environment to build resilience, foster economic development and social cohesion among the conflict affected communities of Cabo Delgado province through the improvement of essential services (energy, water); support of economic development (capacity building, income generation); peacebuilding and conflict mitigation through social cohesion activities between internally displaced population and Host Communities. 


Sri Lanka: Skills for Sustainable Growth

01.11.2022 - 31.12.2025

The current crisis in Sri Lanka is strongly affecting the country’s population. Switzerland and Sri Lanka have a migration partnership. Therefore, Switzerland has a strong interest in supporting skills development in the country. This project will train the Sri Lankan Vocational Training Authority to deliver an international standard curriculum in the hospitality sector to its students, combined with practical learning in hotels. Hence, the students will have better access to employment opportunities.


Modernization of Vocational Education and Training related to Agriculture in Georgia

01.09.2022 - 31.08.2025

Agricultural productivity and incomes are low in Georgia, which is largely due to obsolete knowledge and skills. The project contributes to introducing systemic changes in agriculture-related vocational education and extension services, increasing the role of private sector actors in planning and delivering vocational training. Rural youth, women and men, will thus be better trained and acquire more relevant skills; this will contribute to increasing their incomes and employment opportunities.


Skills for Employment Tanzania (SET)

Beekeeping training in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region.

01.07.2022 - 30.06.2026

The project enhances youth (self-) employment by improving the Vocational Skills Development system. It supports the government and private stakeholders to expand access to quality training that matches the demand from both the economy and youth. Building on Swiss expertise, the project improves relevance of labour market data for curricula development, enhances the quality of vocational teachers, and provides access to tailored practical vocational trainings for youth, in particular women, including young mothers.


Education for Employment

01.07.2022 - 30.06.2026

The project addresses the high youth unemployment rate in North Macedonia (33%), caused by the mismatch of the skills provided by the education system and those required by the economy. The project will support the Ministry of Education and Science and the private sector to strengthen the newly established dual school- and company-based vocational education and training system.


UNHCR – Solution Strategies for Education and Livelihood of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan

01.06.2022 - 31.05.2026

As part of Switzerland’s commitment to financing sustainable solutions for Afghan refugees, the contribution to UNHCR in Pakistan aims at improving the education and livelihoods prospects of around 60’000 Afghan refugee youths in three provinces of Pakistan. It strengthens Switzerland’s pledge at the Global Refugee Forum 2019 scaling up its support to the inclusion of refugee children in education in line with “SDC’s Education Strategy.


Market Alliances for Rural Development

01.05.2022 - 30.04.2026

A majority of rural inhabitants in Georgia rely on incomes from agriculture and the use of natural resources. The project where Switzerland contributes will strengthen their access to markets (sale, inputs). It will enable rural producers to enhance the quality and scale of production, improve resilience to changing climate, and access domestic and export markets, which will contribute to raising incomes, increasing inclusion and the quality of the living environment in rural areas.

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