Innova:
Preparing the Guatemalan workforce for the future

The project seeks to increase the income and improve the employability for young women and men with some existing technical skills through access to high quality and relevant continuous training. 
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Guatemala Department, Guatemala
14.5649401
-90.52578229999999
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Quetzaltenango Department, Guatemala
14.792433
-91.714958
Project duration
2024 - 2028

Guatemala, despite ongoing moderate growth and political and macroeconomic stability over the last decade, has been unable to overcome some of the economic and social challenges that have been troubling the country for the past 30 years. Young people especially lack access to quality education or jobs. Furthermore, the quality and relevance of training and education rarely corresponds to private sector requirements. This lack of suitable training hinders access to employment and limits workforce mobility on an individual level – and ultimately deters companies from increasing their competitiveness and access to new markets.

The project

The project tackles this disconnect by working towards improved, relevant training processes, allowing young employed and unemployed women and men to increase and strengthen their skills in order to either find a new job, obtain a promotion and/or increase their income. This will be achieved through supporting sector specific, quality, and relevant vocational training pilot models driven by the private sector, which are designed and implemented in partnership with vocational education institutions and government authorities.

The project works in two complementary areas of intervention. On the one hand, Swisscontact supports the development and improvement of upskilling and reskilling programs – both inside and outside the private sector companies. On the other hand, Swisscontact supports the private sector companies and associations to play the leading role in the discussion around the design of vocational education in their sectors in Guatemala.

Close coordination not only between the companies of the specific sectors, but also with private and public training institutes, universities and governmental entities is crucial to achieve the alignment between training offer and demand. Therefore, the project established intersectoral working groups/roundtables to allow for a regular dialogue. These roundtables also serve to agree on common norms and standards for the sector.

Lastly, the project will also support the roundtables to communicate and promote their coordination work, the agreements they achieve and the benefits for the sector overall.

The design and implementation of relevant continuous vocational education processes is improved and trainings become recognized and certified by the private sector, allowing employed and unemployed young men and women to increase their income and labour market mobility.

Results Phase I, 2021 - 2024

  • 40 vocational training institutions and private sector companies adapted their vocational education offer to the needs of the private sector.
  • 184 instructors (53% women) acquired competencies that comply with the continuous vocational education needs of the private sector.
  • 1593 young adults (44% women) accessed improved  continuous vocational education services.
  • 570 young adults (41% women) increased their income by 2024.
  • 327 unemployed young adults (43% women) found a job.

Expected Results Phase II, 2025 - 2028

  • 20 vocational training institutions and private sector companies adapt their training offer to the needs of the private sector and offer a green training plan.
  • 100 instructors acquire competencies that comply with the needs of the private sector.
  • 1000 young adults (60% women) graduate from improved continued vocational trainings.
  • 522 young adults (60% women) increase their income.

Financing partners

Phase II of the project is financed by the Gebauer Foundation, among other donor. The project is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. 

Project links

News

Guatemala
Labour market insertion
23.09.2024
More opportunities on the job market thanks to practical training and certification
As part of its Innova project, Swisscontact established two standards for vocational training in the field of software development in Guatemala. These form the basis for practical training and market-oriented certification of work skills and thus for successful labour market integration. The entire training and certification process takes place online.
Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala
Sustainable agriculture, Green cities, Initial vocational education and training, Labour market insertion
07.03.2024
Investing in women drives progress
This Women's Day, Swisscontact joins the UN's theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” because we believe that on the road to progress and equality, investment in women plays a fundamental role: it can generate economic growth, innovation and creativity, develops communities, and it promotes sustainability and equality.
Switzerland, Kenya, Bangladesh, Guatemala
Initial vocational education and training, Upskilling and Reskilling, Labour market insertion
12.06.2023
Promoting vocational education and training together with the private sector
At an event in Zurich on June 8, 2023, Swisscontact presented three vocational education projects that underscore the importance of involving the private sector in development cooperation. These projects also highlight how companies in Kenya, Bangladesh, and Guatemala are moving vocational education forward in order to create jobs and a better future for their people. The event was titled "Shifting Power - How the Private Sector Drives Change in State-led Education Systems".