Skills Development Programme to Increase Employability of Youth

The project 'Competencias para Ganar' (Competencies to Win) reinforces the employability of young Nicaraguans by including and developing soft and entrepreneurial skills in technical education and professional technical training courses that are relevant to the occupational demands of the labor market. 
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Centro Norte, Nicaragua
12.865416
-85.207229
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zona pacifico, Nicaragua
12.865416
-85.207229
Project duration
2020 - 2023
Financed by
  • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC

The project

The Nicaraguan population is young: 34.8 percent are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old. To take full advantage of the opportunities created by this demographic dividend, investments in technical education and vocational training are essential.

Through technical education and quality professional training, Nicaraguan youth will acquire the soft skills necessary to access and maintain formal jobs and the income will contribute to improve their socioeconomic situation.

Nicaragua is going through a challenging economic context and with less favorable prospects than those projected in the last five years. For this reason, it is important to continue strengthening technical education and professional training, along with a continuous dialogue with the productive sector so as to adapt the training offer to the demands of the labor market.  

The program strengthens the employability of young Nicaraguans through the inclusion and development of soft and entrepreneurial skills in technical education and professional technical training courses that are relevant to the demands of the labor market.  

It offers better technical education and training by developing a curriculum adapted to the labor market and strengthened, including soft and entrepreneurial skills.  

The program works with private professional training centers accredited by the National Technological Institute (INATEC). Training and qualification courses are offered in areas such as welding, dressmaking, beekeeping, residential maintenance, refrigeration, renewable energy, automotive mechanics, and construction.  

In partnership with public and private universities, the program designed 12 courses to strengthen entrepreneurial skills. These courses are grouped into four areas: behavioral development, business innovation management; business creation and administration; and strategic growth management.  

Additionally, the program reinforces the methodological capacity of the National Technological Institute (INATEC) by training 250 instructors (using the CANVAS methodology and soft skills) and the adaptation of two learning environments designed to bring young people closer to the practical experience of a job. These learning environments will be built in technology centers for vocational training.  

Project objective

Increase the employability of 6 990 young Nicaraguans from urban and rural areas, through the development of soft and entrepreneurial skills relevant to the demands of the labor market.

Project partners

  • National Technological Institute (INATEC)
  • Private and business training centers
  • Organisations of the entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • Chambers of the private sector (commerce, construction, tourism)
  • Universities
  • Private sector businesses

Expected results

  1. Improved employability and income of 5690 young Nicaraguans through a strengthened educational offer that includes soft and entrepreneurial skills and is adjusted to the demands of the private sector. 
  2. Reinforced methodological and innovation capacity of the National Technological Institute through the training of 250 instructors and the adaptation of two learning environments according to the demands of the private sector. 
  3. Strengthened knowledge management, coordination and effective communication between private vocational training centers and the private sector, for greater sustainability of the vocational training and technical education subsystem. 

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