Support for Vocational Training Reform in Côte d'Ivoire

This project aims to enhance the participation of the private sector in the development of dual vocational training in Côte d'Ivoire. With a population growth of approximately 2.5%, improving the employment and income situation for young people is a significant challenge, as 350,000 to 400,000 youths enter the job market each year. A key issue in vocational education is the lack of alignment between training offerings and the needs of the private sector. The project focuses on establishing foundations for labor market-oriented cooperative vocational training. It aims to improve access to vocational education for all demographics and enhance the quality of training as part of the government's social program. The Ministry of Vocational Education has set two strategic orientations: 1) The Academy of Talents (ADT) focuses on sustainably strengthening the quality of the vocational education system. 2) The Second Chance School (E2C) is a mass training and employment integration program aimed at reducing the high number of unemployed youth. The project intervenes at four levels: 1) Strengthening the institutional and legal framework for coordinating and implementing cooperative vocational training, including developing legal frameworks and sustainable public-private financing concepts. 2) Enhancing institutional and personnel capacities for quality management in cooperative vocational training, including developing quality assurance systems and competency-based curricula. 3) Implementing dual training offerings in vocational institutions in collaboration with the private sector, focusing on sectors like automotive mechanics and hospitality. 4) Strengthening private sector involvement in planning and executing cooperative vocational training, including capacity building for business associations and chambers.