Challenge
Located in a key geographical area in northeastern Africa, Djibouti has the opportunity to shift from being a country with a limited economy to being a global trade and commerce hub. However, many job seekers do not have the required skills to enter the workforce or succeed in the business market and emerging sectors.
USAID’s Djiboutian Workforce Development (WFD) Project, in collaboration with Cardno Emerging Markets, Souktel, and TakingITGlobal, aims to prepare individuals for employment by creating stronger connections between industry needs and technical and vocational training and by strengthening youth entrepreneurship and work readiness skills.
Key Activities
WFD conducts the following activities to improve skills and competitive competencies of jobseekers according to market needs:
- Assesses local employer needs and works with partners to deliver skills-building programs that address those needs
- Builds the capacity of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools to deliver skills training and work based learning opportunities
- Supports Djibouti’s National Agency for Employment, Training, and Job Placement by improving its capacity to help job seekers and employers
- Improves public-private partnerships, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, in support of a stronger workforce development eco-system
- Increases awareness of gender equality laws and improved opportunities for women's employment
- Monitors and evaluates the work of the program
Impact
- Through June 2019, the project has trained over 1,200 youth in employability skills. The project anticipates reaching 30,000 youth and job seekers with workforce development training and 40,000 job seekers with improved employment services over five years.
- In collaboration with the national Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, 458 first year Commercial Professional Baccalaureate students have benefited from an integrated employability and entrepreneurship program through seven TVET institutions.
- 117 curriculum development specialists, administrators, teachers, and private sector representatives have benefited from gender equality and sensitivity training to promote the placement of more women in non-traditional career opportunities.
- Over 7,000 ninth graders have received career guidance support.
Learn More
PROJECT DIRECTOR
EDC Staff
DURATION
FUNDED BY
PARTNERS
Government of Djibouti, Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, National Agency for Employment, Training, and Job Placement, Djiboutian Chamber of Commerce, Cardno Emerging Markets, Souktel, and TakingITGlobal
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