Vocational Training for Afghan Women Project (VTAWP) (ENG)

Vocational Training for Afghan Women Project

(VTAWP)

By Michel Tapiero

Education Changes the World

VTAWP AFGHANISTAN

GOAL: To assist the GoA to implement its social protection strategy particularly as it pertains to support vulnerable women

PURPOSE: to increase self-sufficiency of vulnerable women and their families including widows and female-headed households in Kabul


VTAWP AFGHANISTAN3 components in the project:

Technical and vocational training for widows in Kabul: acquired skills, literacy and self-confidence

Family and Community acceptance of women in vocational and technical trades: Awareness and gender equality, Community and family support

Institutional Capacity building: Partnerships, capacity building Voc Tech local Partners


Vocational Training Cycle

Holistic Vocational Training

CycleVocational Training Course Delivery,

National Testing & Certification

Tracer Studies

Credit

Employment and Self-Employment

Career Support

Tools of the Trade (TOT)

Industrial Training / On the-Job Training

(OJT)

Employment Skills Including Personal Empowerment, Life skills, Gender, Workers’ Rights

and Responsibilities & Entrepreneurship Training

Institutional Capacity BuildingSupport and Training:

NVQ and VT Sector Reform requirements, Management, Administration, Finance,

Gender and Teaching Techniques

Vocational Training PreparationIncludes Soft Skills such as Career

Orientation, Gender, Health (Safety, First Aid, HIV and AIDS, Nutrition) & Life Skills

Planning and Preparation Process Based on Labour Market Assessment &

Employment Results; Preparation Includes Selecting Staff, Purchasing

Equipment, Selecting Trainees, & Constructing/Renovating Facilities


Tool Kits, Productive Assets & Links to micro-

credit

Networking Introduction of

trainee to Employer, forums, VT provider,

forming women’s associations

Community & Family Acceptance

of women and employment

Research/M&ETracer studies (6

months & 2 years), Lessons learned,

Graduates meetings, Case studies,IPO meetings

Employment and Self

Employment assistance

Post-Course Training

Workers rights & ResponsibilitiesFamily meetings

Vocational Training•Trades training•Crèche•Safety equipment•Travel •Examinations

Additional Skill Training Integrated in

VTEmpowerment, literacy,

career orientation, safety & first aid, reproductive health & nutrition, leadership, life skills/ counseling, family

awareness on gender, MED, savings and credit.

Institutional Capacity Building

VT, organizational & business management, teacher training,

syllabus & material development, gender/WEE

training, infrastructure for VT & businesses.

Establish small businesses,

producer groups & provide business

counseling

Trade specific marketing &

financial skills training

Monitoring

On-the-job training

Project Preparation•Equipment , purchase, renovation, select trainees, food and transportation for trainees.

Planning ProcessLabour market survey,

business feasibility, project and partner review, nationally

recognized syllabus, LOA with IPO, instructor selection, mobilization of women for employment, Coordination wil local

gvment authorities

VTAWP Project Cycle


VTAWP AFGHANISTAN

Context and existing conditions Strong cultural, religious, societal

traditions Low literacy levels Limited access to sustainable

employment Child labour to supplement income Low income and large family size Increased rent prices and levels of

debt Limited access to credit Mobility challenges Inadequate nutrition


VTAWP AFGHANISTAN

Labour Market Situation

Crafts and trades are the major category of business

Service/shop category is the second most prevalent

Lack of access to credit for SMEs


VTAWP AFGHANISTANCross-Cutting Themes

Integrates a gender strategy to empower women

Inclusive participation of all groups (women, families, community)

Capacity development (skills training and increase their income-earning capacity).

Enhance planning and management capacity of government, NGO and private sector partners

Establish strong partnerships (local civil society organizations, private sector and government ministries.)

Coordination and sharing best practices and lessons learned with all stakeholders

Application of RBM


Results as of March 31 , 2009

Out of 1025 trainees:• 65% are women (widows/mothers 33%,

daughters 32%)• 35% male youths (sons)

463 successfully graduated, the remaining trainees still in courses

10 trainees accessed On the Job Training (OJT) 100% of graduates received tool kits 100% of graduates received additional skill

training 41% of graduates employed or self-employed 6

months after training

Project Goal : 1700 individuals successfully complete VT training courses

Target Group: Unemployed widows and their families


VTAWP AFGHANISTAN

No TradesTotal number of

classes

1 Bag Making 2

2 Bakery 3

3 Beautician 3

4 Carpentry 2

5 Charma / Dozy 4

6 Computer 4

7 Embroidery 11

8 Food Processing 2

9 House Wiring 4

10 Mobile Phone Repair 5

11 Plumbing 1

Total 41

Trades classes offered


VTAWP AFGHANISTANAdditional skills training modules

1 Female Trainee Empowerment

2 Career Orientation

3 Life Skills/Counselling

4 Reproductive Health (including HIV/AIDS)

5 Nutrition

6 Occupational Health & Safety

7 First Aid

8 Gender

9 Savings & Credit

10 Leadership

11 Cooperatives

12 Career Skills

13 Worker Rights & Responsibilities

14Business Development Skills and how to set-up a Business Unit – throughout VT

15 Literacy - throughout VT


VTAWP AFGHANISTANThe project also provides capacity building initiatives with the local training partners Agreement with eight partners (providing 41

training classes in total) Twenty training classes (average 20-25

trainees/course) completed (22 on-going) Two training of trainers courses for fifty VT

instructors employed by local training partners


VTAWP AFGHANISTANLessons learned from Sustainable Livelihood Projects The project must maintain a high

degree of adaptability to respond to market demands

An employment-oriented approach is critical, as is up-front and follow-up research on labour and employment markets

Without providing ongoing support and follow up assistance to employment and self-employment, the risk of not continuing in the trained trade is very high

Business training and emphasis on quality control must be provided along with VT in order to lead to employment


Lessons learned from Sustainable Livelihood Projects continued Businesses should be linked to locally available

resources and markets In traditional activities such as tailoring and

embroidery, the market is highly competitive, therefore there must be emphasis on producing high quality products

Technological improvements can lead to higher quality and higher income earning

The ages of the widows may determine which training is more suitable; therefore a mix of traditional and non-traditional trades is recommended to have more scope for involving widows of all ages


Thank you

Questions?