Enhancing partnership based-demand led technical skills

Project Name: Enhancing partnership based-demand led technical skills (Grant Ref. No. GR-10-UCEP-T1)

Implementing Organizations:

• Unprivileged Children’s Education Program (UCEP) Nepal
• World Vision Advocacy Forum (WVAF)

Funding Support:

• Managed by British Council through Dakchyata
• Funded by the European Union (EU)

Project Duration: 15 months (September 01, 2020 - [end date])

Project Location: Bardiya and Bajhang districts, Nepal

Overall Objective: Enhance employability and income generation of unemployed youths in agriculture and construction sectors through demand-driven, market-oriented, and practical public-private partnership-based Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs.

Major Activities:

• Two days team-building meeting
• District-level consultation meetings
• Consultation workshops with employers
• Project inception meetings in Bardiya and Bajhang
• Field visits for supervision, internal monitoring, and backstopping
• Selection of District Coordinators and Trainers
• Selection of trainees
• Skills development trainings in agriculture and construction sectors
• Integration of Soft Skill Training
• Facilitation of trainees for Skills Test Examinations
• Conducting Tracer Study
• Post-training interaction programs
• Capacity-building workshops
• Documentation and dissemination of project results
• Project exit workshops

Training Details:

District: Bajhang; Sector: Agriculture

• Offseason Vegetable Producer: 80 trainees, 4 events
• Community Livestock Assistant: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Mushroom Producer: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Total: 160 trainees, 8 events

District: Bardiya; Sector: Construction

• Building Electrician: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Junior Plumber: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Building Painter: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Brick Layer/ Mason: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Shuttering Carpentry: 40 trainees, 2 events
• Excavator Operator: 20 trainees, 1 event
• Bar Bender: 20 trainees, 1 event
• Total: 240 trainees, 12 events

Major Achievements:

• Practical partnership between public and private stakeholders.
• Technical skills enhancement for 400 local youths in agriculture and construction trades.
• Identified income and employment opportunities through Tracer Study.
• Systematic documentation and sharing of success cases and lessons learned.

Expected Results:

The following results are expected to be achieved during the course of implementation and accomplishment of the Project:

• Implementation plan (review of work plan, action plan) and roles and responsibilities of each partner are developed.
• Linkages are established with local government and number of participants are identified from each municipality.
• Potential employers are identified and MOU is signed for conducting project activities.
• Local stakeholders are aware about the intervention of the project.
• Project activities are implemented according to the plan.
• Suitable Human Resource are recruited for the project.
• Targeted Beneficiaries are selected.
• 400 marginalized youths from Bardiya and Bajhang are enhanced skill/employability through standard vocational training courses on Construction and Agricultural related occupations.
• 400 marginalized youths from Bardiya and Bajhang are enhanced with essential soft/life skills.
• Training Graduates are accredited by National Skill Testing Board of CTEVT.
• Employment status of training graduates are identified and documented for publishing success stories.
• Graduates opting self-employment are linked with micro finance institutes.
• UCEP Nepal staff are capacitate regarding the essence of Dakchyata project.
• Stakeholders have the guiding TVET project document helpful for the similar interventions in the future.

Lessons Learned:

• Collaboration with the private sector facilitated market-based skill training.
• Innovative training models (SAE and FBA) were effective in meeting market demands.
• The incorporation of life skills sessions improved trainees' understanding of the market.
• The promotion of organic fertilizers provided practical knowledge about green economy.
• Identification of local needs in training curricula facilitated local employment.
• Coordination with local government, private employers, and stakeholders is vital for sustainability.