La promoción orientada al mercado Habilidades Formación y Creación de Empleo en la Región de los Great Lakes (PROMOST) (ing)

The project supports the Governments of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to improve access, quality and relevance of their respective Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems. This addresses the key development challenge of unemployment and underemployment brought about by the low quality of skills provided by the current systems.

Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, commonly referred to as the Great Lakes region, are historically and geographically linked together and share a number of challenges inherited from a troublesome colonial period. They have in the past faced situations of political instability which have accelerated armed conflicts. The three countries face common challenges albeit not to the same proportion. These range from weak private sectors, shortages in skilled workforce, weak vocational training institutions and training systems, insufficient qualification frameworks and large numbers of unemployed youth.

El proyecto

The PROMOST project is currently in its second implementation phase. It uses a systemic approach and works closely with formal and informal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sectors and the local rural population to achieve five main outcomes:

1. Improved access to more equitable and diversified training; 
2. Improved quality and relevance of the training offered;
3. Support the development of a Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPL/E) system; 
4. Support the joint management of local training systems and improved professional placement; and 
5. Improved access of target beneficiaries to financial and non-financial services.   

The main activities implemented by the project include but are not limited to Training of Trainers (ToT), capacity building of TVET managers and stakeholders, short-term training of the vulnerable rural population, apprenticeship, rehabilitation of the micro-training providers in the informal sector, linkages between the private sector and the TVET providers and proximity support to business development and entrepreneurship for training graduates.

The specific sectors of focus are: carpentry, masonry, welding, food processing, auto and motor mechanics, knitting, bamboo processing, hairdressing, leather production, electricity, photography and videography, tailoring, boat making, plumbing, photovoltaic and soap making.

The project seeks to contribute to improved employment opportunities and income generation for 5,750 youths (40% female) from the rural population in targeted areas in the Great Lakes region. This will be achieved by improving their access to quality and labor market-oriented vocational training.

Resultados

Six public TVET Schools were constructed under PROMOST in the Western province of Rwanda. These schools fully belong to the government and are being managed by their respective districts.

Development of Technical Training Guides

• Development of Technical Training Guides for modules extracted from the Level 1 and 2 curricula in selected occupations.
• CBT

  (competency-based training) curricula developed with the participation

  of the private sector and were implemented in close collaboration with

  the training authorities.

• Curricula developed/adapted for short-term training and the modernised apprenticeship.

Training

schools

A regional RPL System developed and piloted in each of the three countries.

Establishment of formal linkages between TVET and the private sector
The

establishment of sustainable, permanent links between the private

sector and TVET providers is one of the programme’s priorities. This is a

crucial aspect for ensuring that training provision is market-oriented.

Creation of stakeholder platforms at local levels

the three countries. These platforms form an important basis to ensure the sustainability of future project activities.

Due

to the establishment of new training modalities, PROMOST contributes to

the massification of vocational training. In essence, about 10 000

people in the region benefit directly or indirectly, 85% of whom will increased their incomes.

Young people become aware of the importance of being self-reliant and

qualified; women are able to strengthen their autonomy by diversifying

their activities while small entrepreneurs enhance their production and

incomes.