Unemployment and underemployment are some of the most serious development problems facing partner countries of the SDC. Only if people have access to productive, reasonably paid employment that enables them to earn an income, can global poverty be reduced in the long term and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achieved.
01.09.2018
- 31.08.2022
Agriculture is Georgia's most important sector. However, farming remains uncompetitive as farmers' skills are out of step with the job market and technological developments. Switzerland is continuing to support vocational education and training to improve productivity, farm income and the employment situation for students of agriculture.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Georgia |
Vocational training Agriculture & food security Employment & economic development
Vocational training
Agricultural services & market
Rural development
|
01.09.2018 - 31.08.2022 |
CHF 6'352'000 |
16.11.2017
- 15.11.2021
The Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE) project is strengthening companies in the food and tourism sectors and spurring job creation in Kosovo.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kosovo |
Employment & economic development
SME development
|
16.11.2017 - 15.11.2021 |
CHF 7'320'000 |
01.01.2017
- 31.12.2020
The project « Enhancing Youth Employment » is aimed at improving job opportunities for young people in Kosovo, a population segment particularly impacted by unemployment. By connecting employers and job seekers, and by training young people in the skills in demand on the labour market, the project is helping to reduce unemployment and drive economic growth.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kosovo |
Employment & economic development Vocational training
Employment creation
Vocational training
|
01.01.2017 - 31.12.2020 |
CHF 7'570'000 |
01.01.2017
- 31.12.2021
The SDC is committed to improving the education and vocational training system in Niger. Over 1.5 million young people living in rural areas currently have no access to education or vocational training. Their future ability to enter the labour market depends on good-quality basic education and vocational training tailored to their needs.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Niger Dosso and Maradi |
Vocational training Employment & economic development Education
Vocational training
Employment creation
Primary education
|
01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021 |
CHF 14'500'000 |
01.04.2016
- 31.03.2020
The aim of the Youth Employment Project (YEP) is to help public employment bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve their offer and to introduce youth-friendly services, such as individual and group careers advice for unemployed young adults between 18 and 30 years. Together with local partners, YEP also promotes new job opportunities linked to social entrepreneurship models.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Employment & economic development Vocational training
Employment creation
Business support & economic inclusion
Vocational training
|
01.04.2016 - 31.03.2020 |
CHF 4'800'000 |
01.01.2016
- 31.12.2020
An SDC programme boosts the employability of young Tunisians entering the job market. It provides them with training in vocational skills to equip them with the practical experience and know-how required in the workplace.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tunisia |
Vocational training Employment & economic development
Vocational training
Employment creation
|
01.01.2016 - 31.12.2020 |
CHF 9'603'475 |
01.04.2015
- 31.03.2021
The textiles and construction sectors in Bangladesh are recording high rates of growth, but many poor women and men lack the necessary qualifications for skilled jobs. By 2019, a project jointly financed by Switzerland and the United Kingdom aims to give 110,000 of them better prospects through on-the-job training. The results so far are promising.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bangladesh |
Employment & economic development Vocational training
Employment creation
Vocational training
Tradepolicy & market system
|
01.04.2015 - 31.03.2021 |
CHF 5'825'000 |
01.09.2014
- 31.08.2020
In the provinces of Syunik and Vayots Dzor in southern Armenia, the agricultural sector mostly comprises subsistence farming where farmers are barely able to support their households. This project aims to help farmers increase their milk and meat production, and thus their incomes, by supporting local veterinary services (to improve animal health), facilitating access to milk and meat markets, and promoting the sharing of know-how among farmers.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Armenia |
Agriculture & food security Employment & economic development
Agriculture value-chain development (til 2016)
SME development
Agricultural development
|
01.09.2014 - 31.08.2020 |
CHF 10'000'000 |
01.01.2014
- 30.09.2020
The programme for supporting the decentralised management of literacy services in Benin (PAGEDA) aims to provide high-quality literacy programmes that will enable 30,000 people (50-50 gender split, with most aged 15-30), who are excluded from or have no access to the formal education system, to acquire life skills and fully exercise their rights. The programme also aims to address gender, age and regional disparities in relation to access to education.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Benin |
Education Vocational training Employment & economic development
Basic life skills
Vocational training
Employment creation
|
01.01.2014 - 30.09.2020 |
CHF 6'320'000 |
01.01.2011
- 30.06.2020
The SDC established the Nepal Employment Fund together with the Government of Nepal and other partners to create training opportunities for young and disadvantaged people. Training institutions fund the courses and the fund reimburses them if those receiving training find a job with a satisfactory income.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nepal |
Vocational training Employment & economic development
Vocational training
Employment creation
SME development
|
01.01.2011 - 30.06.2020 |
CHF 5'996'665 |
15.09.2024
- 14.09.2028
Millions of Tanzanian young people living in rural areas, in particular young women, are affected by vulnerable employment. Building on successful Swiss experience in youth employment, this initiative aims at increasing gainful self-employment through enhanced financial inclusion. It will support the design, market entrance and upscaling of innovative digital financial products and services tailored to rural youth, including female youth. In order to ensure scale and sustainability, a partnership with the private sector will be developed.
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2028
Cambodia is the most youthful country in South East Asia with more than 50% of the population below 25 years. The key challenge of Cambodia is to create decent and productive employment opportunities for new entrants to the labour market. With its contribution, SDC addresses the challenge by enabling young people to have access to skills and quality education and employment whilst promoting rightful and decent working conditions.
