Expanding Equitable Access and Improving Workforce Development Programs
IDG assists with modernizing vocational education and training (VET) systems in countries by working closely with employers and with VET institutions, by choosing for training in job categories where there is demand, by strengthening VET institutions and by developing VET curricula. IDG provides the following services:
- Building linkages between the private sector and VET institutions so that VET institutions have mechanisms for understanding the skills in demand by the private sector.
- Capacity building for VET institutions.
- VET curriculum reform.
- Training for workers and managers on a pilot basis, followed by scaling up nationally or for a specific industry.
- Introducing “Quick-Start”
- Strengthening public employment services agencies.
- Strengthening private employment service providers
- Improving national workforce policy, and reducing labor-market legal and regulatory barriers.
- Reforming labor taxes and social contributions, and associated government programs, to reduce the costs of hiring workers and increasing labor competitiveness.
- Improving labor market data collection and analysis.
- Improving job-matching programs and internet services.
Project Experience
Workforce Assessment in Djibouti Project: IDG conducted a comprehensive assessment of the workforce of Djibouti and of the country’s technical and vocational education and training institutions, evolving labor market, the skill sets it demands from workers, and the extent to which the basic and vocational education systems and labor regime are providing workers prepared for this new economy. As a result, the team arrived at recommendations for basic education, vocational training, gender inclusion and labor regulation. In response to discussions on the possibility of creating some kind of jobs training center, the team suggested how the proposed recommendations could be implemented through such an institution.
Tunisia EG ICT Competitiveness Project: In Tunisia, IDG promoted the development of the Tunisian ICT sector to enhance its role as a catalyst for accelerated private sector growth and job creation for Youth. In Tunisia, university graduates are affected by unemployment most severely, while the economy produces fewer new jobs than graduates. The Tunisia EG ICT Competitiveness Program focused both on increasing the number of jobs by promoting the competitiveness of ICT and ICT-enabled sectors and on improving the preparedness of young Tunisian workers for those jobs through training. IDG worked closely with private companies in the ICT and ICT-enabled sectors, training providers, professional associations, and government counterparts to identify and address shortfalls in the labor market. Our work spans the full spectrum of activities defined by two mutually reinforcing goals: equipping aspiring Tunisian workers with skills critical for further career growth, while helping employers create new jobs and fill them with the best qualified candidates.
Enterprise Development and Market Competitiveness Project: This project, based in Armenia, is aimed at identifying and strengthening high potential value chains and placing them on a job creating long-run growth trajectory. IDG is leading the Workforce Development Component, and working with existing local institutions; improving curricula, policy, and information distribution at the national level through the Ministry of Education and the National Center for VET Development; arranging for VET services to be provided directly within value chains; improving labor market data and analysis; improving job-matching websites; and assisting private for- and non-profit employment services providers.
World Bank Franchising and Employment Opportunity for Jordanian Femal Graduates Program: The World Bank and IDG, in partnership with the Jordanian National Commission for Women, collaborated on interventions to create employment opportunities for young female graduates. The project objective was to analyze the demand for labor and match it with potential franchising opportunities as a means of increasing small scale female employment and/or entrepreneurship. Activities included strengthening women’s access to job markets, skills, and benefits. IDG worked closely with the authorities to design and introduce specific interventions to increase young women’s participation in the labor force.
Technical Assistance to the Black Integrated Commercial Support Network: USAID South Africa succeeded in creating several hundred SME opportunities for formerly disadvantaged black entrepreneurs through a franchise development program managed by IDG. Pilot programs operated in a range of sectors, including telecommunications, personal services, automotive services, construction, and entertainment firms. The project established over 200 franchise businesses and trained hundreds of local small entrepreneurs in all aspects of franchise development including contracting, operations, training, expansion, marketing, franchisee relations and accounting.