Skill Standards

IDEJEN is an EQUIP3 Associate Award which was launched in 2003 to provide education and job training for youth ages 15–24 with little to no formal education. IDEJEN provides program participants support in the areas of employability and skills training, basic and vocational education, job placement and small business development. In addition to working directly with youth, IDEJEN provides technical support to different government ministries and is assisting in the development of the National Youth Policy and the Policy on Nonformal Basic Education.

Through the cross-sectoral Global Workforce in Transition (GWIT) initiative, EDC provides technical assistance to developing countries in linking workforce and economic development strategies to promote job creation and a more skilled workforce. It helps countries increase the relevance and responsiveness of their education and training systems to immediate and longer-term economic needs. Since its start in July 2002, GWIT has conducted labor market and competitiveness assessments, devised local workforce development plans, and evaluated workforce programs.

The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program is designed to increase opportunities for students and teachers to learn about and use information technologies within the contexts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program supports both youth-based projects with strong emphases on career and educational paths, and comprehensive projects for students and teachers.

EQuALLS2 is an EQUIP3 associate award that aims to increase access to quality education and livelihood skills in areas affected by conflict and poverty in the Philippines. With specific emphasis on the Muslim areas of Mindanao, the EQuALLS2 project targets schools, barangays (barrios), and municipalities to strengthen formal and alternative education and reintegrate out-of-school youth into the economy.

The Cross-Sectoral Youth (CSY) Project is a multi-country EQUIP3 Associate Award that fosters collaboration across sectors (health, democracy & governance, education, environment, and economic growth) in order to meet the holistic needs of youth in developing countries. As a USAID intra-agency initiative, the project is designed to incorporate youth as a strategic priority within the U.S. Government foreign assistance framework while advancing USAID objectives.

The Social Legacy Program (SLP) reaches out to youth and other vulnerable groups in the Europe and Eurasia region, giving them the tools they need to become local leaders and promote social change. Due to widespread socio-economic insecurity and a dramatic collapse in basic social services, these groups face great barriers to finding work and gaining viable skills, while the region on the whole struggles to make the transition towards market-oriented, democratic societies.

dot-EDU was an information and communication technology (ICT) intervention mechanism for USAID Missions seeking to improve education systems in their respective countries. dot-EDU sought to assist developing countries in strengthening learning systems that improve quality, expand access, and enhance equity through carefully planned applications of digital and broadcast technologies. The dot-EDU mission had two foci. First, dot-EDU provided training and technical assistance to support USAID Missions in developing and implementing technology-assisted applications.

EDC contributes to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic growth by identifying “high impact” information and communication technologies (ICT) applications that will quickly and significantly improve the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in entire industries. This project is designed to be Phase 1 of an ICT for Economic Growth Project that would partner with entrepreneurs and SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop sustainable e-BIZ Enterprises, which offer fee-based high impact ICT services that create enduring, concrete, and widespread improvements in SME competitiveness.

Designed to respond to Garissan youths’ needs and assets, the Garissa Youth Project (G-Youth Project) aims to empower youth to make sound career and life decisions as they transition from high school to the next phase of their lives. The project is also building the capacity of local institutions and networks to sustain the much-needed services that G-Youth will provide.

Although green technology is one of the fastest growing industries in America, studies have shown that there is an alarming lack qualified professionals in this field. GreenFab: Sustainable Design Through Engineering and Technology will address this imbalance through activities that increase participating students’ technological and engineering fluency while providing a community and framework for them to explore “green collar” jobs. CCT is providing research and evaluation support for this initiative.