ILO announces the winners of the 3rd ILO Skills Innovation Call on Preventing forced labour in Africa
English
ILO
The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org
Lifelong learning
There is a critical need for a greater overall investment in education and training, particularly in developing countries. Education and training investments should be closely linked to economic and employment growth strategies and programmes. Responsibility should be shared between the government (primary responsibility), enterprises, the social partners, and the individual. To make lifelong learning for all a reality, countries will need to make major reforms of their vocational and education and training systems. School-to-work schemes for young people should integrate education with workplace learning. Training systems need to become more flexible and responsive to rapidly changing skill requirements. Reforms should also focus on how learning can be facilitated, not just on training for specific occupational categories.
Promotional material
Presentations, discussion papers, meeting reports, promotional materials, videos, fact sheets, brochures and newsletters on skills development for employment.
The winner will receive a USD 30,000 grant and six months membership of an ‘innovation lab’ that aims to provide technical support and mentoring to help implement the project.
The announcement was made by the ILO Regional Director Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon: “Skills development actors and stakeholders have a key role to play in the global fight against forced labour. They can be a force for prevention by supporting the social and economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, raising awareness about the forms and risks of forced labour and contributing to sustainable change in the way some sectors and markets operate. To meet these challenges in Africa, we need concrete action and we also need innovations. That is why I wish to congratulate the winner of the 3rd Skills Challenge Innovation Call, which was organized in partnership with Alliance 8.7.”
The Youth Entrepreneurship Network in Comoros is a national platform designed to promote entrepreneurship among young people and women through awareness-raising, training and socioeconomic integration activities. The network will provide skills training to help develop small and medium enterprises in the blue and green economies for women and young people vulnerable to forced labour, giving them the chance to feel empowered by taking charge of themselves, supporting their family needs, working in peace and contributing sustainably to the Comorian economy.
As well as the winning project, the three projects that made it to the final will be offered membership of the ILO Skills Innovators Network , which brings together innovators, governments, employers and workers organizations, TVET institutions, academics, and development practitioners, to share ideas and experiences and encourage innovation in skills development.
Entrepreneurship
Lifelong learning
Africa
