Event

On 14 March 2023, we explored how investments, accompanied by skills development, can increase local job opportunities! 

In this webinar hosted by VET Toolbox and DC dVET, we gathered Vocational Education and Training (VET) experts, private sector representatives, and VET stakeholders. Together, we:

• Explored how the opportunity-driven approach to VET connects skills development with investments.
• Analysed strategies to ensure quality training and the transition to employment through dual VET.
• Discussed the importance of private sector involvement in VET – from a private sector perspective.
• Spotlighted the practical example of a VET Toolbox project implemented by Expertise France in the industrial maintenance, woodwork and forestry sectors in Congo.

On the 16th of November 2023, GIZ-E4D marked the conclusion of its programme Enabling Youth Employment in Solar Energy in Tanzania project. This initiative, spanning from 2021 to 2023, aimed to empower 200 Tanzanians aged 18-24, including 40% women, as solar artisans. The project culminated with a ceremonial handover of renewable energy equipment worth 9,000.00 euros to Arusha Technical College (ATC), a sustainable measure to enable ATC to continue fostering employment in the Solar Photovoltaic sector by imparting technical and entrepreneurial skills.

Throughout the project, 198 graduates underwent a comprehensive two-week training programme at ATC, followed by an 8-week practical training period in reputable solar companies. Successful trainees received a toolbox containing electrical tools valued at 168.00 Euro, aiding their entry into the labour market as entrepreneurs. Additionally, a Solar PV course curriculum was developed and implemented, and 18 teachers from 13 TVET institutions were trained in relevant skills.

Impact of the project in Tanzania:

• Successful training of 198 youths (40% women) in Solar PV Systems
• Development and implementation of Solar PV curricula
• Enhanced capacity of 18 teachers from 13 TVET institutions
• Establishment of a Public-Private Partnership platform for the renewable energy sector

The event was attended by private sector companies such as ZOLA Electric, Engie Energy Access Tanzania, Photons Energy Ltd., and representatives from various training institutions. GIZ-E4D also extended invitations to members of the Technical Committee from the Prime Minister’s Office of Labour, Youth, Employment, and Persons with Disability, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Energy.

The closing event of the VET Toolbox Uganda project, held on the 23rd of November at UTC Lira, was attended by 129 participants from various organisations, including development and implementing partners, partner ministries, leaders from Lira City, solar companies, principals, and trainers from 6 VTIS & Technical colleges, as well as beneficiaries.

The agenda included remarks from GIZ’s WE4D Head of Programme and the Mayor of Lira City, a project overview and achievements presentation, sharing of beneficiary testimonials, showcasing of skills acquired from the training by the beneficiaries, visiting market booths for solar companies, presentation of lessons learned and policy recommendations, as well as a panel discussion on the same.

Key project milestones include:

• 101 beneficiaries trained in Solar PV and Advanced Operation and Maintenance of minigrids, all provided with toolkits (38% Female, 47% Youth). 64% of these individuals were placed into internships.
• 346 beneficiaries (42% Female) trained in both business and technical skills on the Productive Use of Electricity (PUE). Fifty-nine of these were further supported to acquire appliances through the matching grant.
• 31 VET Trainers (38% Female) were trained.
• 6 VET centres were supported with the required training equipment.
• Public Private Dialogue through the Sustainable Business for Uganda Platform (SB4U).
• Curriculum for Advanced Operation and Maintenance of solar minigrids developed and currently being reviewed by DIT – Directorate of Industrial Training for approval.

On the 9th of November, VET Toolbox’s Skills for Transport project celebrated its 17-month journey, highlighting successes and sharing stories of achievement. The event, attended by 50 participants, featured key partners, and project beneficiaries, including GIZ, ESSOR, ACB, government officials, private sector representatives (transport companies), VET centres, and young individuals and transport SMEs directly impacted by the project.

Key results celebrated include:

• Increased visibility of VET centres in the transport industry and the establishment of partnerships between VET centres and transport companies.
• Strengthened capacity of VET centres’ employment departments, enhancing their ability to negotiate partnerships and secure more internships and entry-level jobs for graduates.
• A total of 319 young people received training in employability skills for the transport and logistics sectors, incorporating soft skills, work readiness, digital skills, and sector-specific knowledge, including health and safety.
• 242 youths gained internship opportunities, aiding final-year trainees in obtaining official certification and providing work experience for already graduated individuals, thereby increasing their chances of securing employment.
• 121 transport SMEs are now better equipped to compete for business opportunities after completing training on bidding for open competitions launched by lead companies.
• The creation and execution of a sector-specific Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) facilitated collaboration between local businesses and VET centres, promoting demand-oriented training, sharing opportunities, and fostering partnerships.

The closing event concluded with a sustainability session involving a group of project partners, aiming to plan for the future and express commitment to continuing the initiated actions. Partners discussed capacity building, relationship building, and the positive changes observed during the project, sharing intentions for ongoing efforts.

Investments show potential for generating job opportunities, but aligning them with decent work standards remains complex.

This webinar organised by VET Toolbox on 14 November from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. as part of Educaid.be’s International Conference 2023 explored how Vocational Education and Training (VET) can contribute to local decent job creation while catering for investments’ needs.

VET Toolbox’s project “Skills4Riders”, operating in the gig economy in Nigeria, shared its challenging journey towards decent work, linking investments and skills development.

➡️ Watch the recording!

At the Mövenpick Hotel in Nairobi on October 17, 2023, the VET Toolbox project’s Closing Workshop in Kenya marked a significant step towards sustainable e-waste management in the country. With approximately 30 participants including public and private sector partners (such as Computers For Schools Kenya, E-Waste Initiative Kenya (EWIK), the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), Mathenge Technical Training), the workshop was a platform for reflection and planning.

About the project:

This VET Toolbox initiative implemented by GIZ aimed to strengthen e-waste management in Kenya, successfully developing National Occupational Standards and a comprehensive curriculum for e-waste processing technicians, ensuring high-quality standardised education. Collaboration with the National E-waste Steering Committee established robust public-private partnerships. Over 400 beneficiaries have been trained, with more than 100 ready for employment.

Workshop insights:

The workshop addressed sector challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the need for robust recycling regulations, community mobilisation, extended producer responsibility, and research into e-waste distribution. The curriculum needs further enhancement beyond the project’s scope through continuous stakeholder involvement and trainer development. Empowering trainees for entrepreneurship is key to sector growth and sustainability. Gender inclusivity is also a priority, with strategies like enrollment quotas, gender policies, and adapted training infrastructure to promote equality.

On 6 and 7 September 2023, VET Toolbox’s partner agency GIZ successfully organised the Closing Workshops of their two VET Toolbox projects implemented in Nigeria. These projects aimed at:

• Empowering the cashew industry: enhanced private sector training for cashew farmers and factory workers.
• Supporting riders in the gig economy: launched an e-learning platform for skilling gig economy delivery riders.

Both projects stemmed from concrete investment opportunities, aiming to foster decent employment and bring about positive change for the local population. We worked closely with the private sector, especially Julius Berger Nigeria PLC (Cashew Nut project) and Glovo (Skills4Riders) to create tailored solutions aligned with EU investment needs.

Key achievements:

• Trained 444 in cashew farming and processing.
• Currently training 200 delivery riders until October 2023.
• Strengthened 8 companies in total.
• Gathered insights for future initiatives and policies.
• Forged lasting connections and partnerships between public and private actors such as the Gig Economy Partners Forum, which will drive the standardization of rider training and policies to support the sector, and SKYE (Skills Development for Youth Employment), which is committed to VET reform in the next three years as a continuation of the Cashew Nut project.

On 6 July, VET Toolbox collaborated with GRETA, the green VET initiative of the European Training Foundation, to co-organise a webinar on greening the energy and construction sectors. Over 180 participants took part in the webinar, during which VET Toolbox presented its “Skills for the Green Transformation” tool developed by GIZ. Our private sector partner Elementerre showcased its ecological approach to construction and the VET Toolbox project led by LuxDev in Senegal.

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From 22 to 26 May, the VET Toolbox teams met for a pilot Peer Learning workshop in Dakar, Senegal, hosted by our partner agency LuxDev and facilitated by the NGO and social enterprise Paeradigms. VET Toolbox gained valuable insights through extensive knowledge exchange sessions and field visits. Participants from 11 countries reflected on private-public partnerships, gender and inclusion, project sustainability, interagency collaboration, and VET Toolbox’s opportunity-driven approach. They shared lessons learned and success factors and jointly developed recommendations for their projects and future programmes.

From 27 February to 3rd March 2023, the GIZ VET Toolbox Team gathered in Kampala, Uganda, for an internal learning workshop with colleagues from Germany, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

Besides an exchange with Lennart Deridder (Team Leader, Economic Growth and Inclusive Green Economy – Delegation of the European Union to Uganda) and James Macbeth Forbes (Country Director GIZ Uganda) on opportunity-driven skills development and VET in the context of European investments, the Team jointly discussed learnings from implementation, shared best practices and planned ahead for the upcoming activities in 2023.

Furthermore, the participants had the opportunity to visit and learn more about the activities of VET Toolbox Uganda, which are supporting efforts of rural electrification through solar-powered mini-grids. The action developed demand-driven innovative training solutions in close partnership with its partners Sendea & AVSI and implements trainings in the field of Operation & Maintenance of solar systems (O&M) and Productive Use of Electricity (PUE) to foster rural electrification and tap employment and income opportunities resulting from increasing investments in the renewable energy sector in Uganda.