Phasing out - Enhancing Youth Employability in the Gaza Strip –Phase II

Project completed

The project aims at supporting the development of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Gaza responding to the labour market needs and aligning to the national TVET strategy in order to improve youth employability. This second and final phase will focus on consolidating the achievements of phase one through the institutionalization of the Centre of Competence concept, enhanced involvement of the private sector and systematic technical cooperation between West Bank and Gaza and among stakeholders active in the TVET sector in Gaza. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Vocational training
Employment & economic development
nothemedefined
Vocational training
Employment creation
01.12.2016 - 31.05.2019
CHF  1’040’000
Background
  • Unemployment remains extremely high in Gaza, reaching 38% at the end of 2015, with half of the youth between 19-29 years unemployed.
  • Gaza is facing a de-development process with constant deterioration of living conditions, economic growth declined (-0.8% in 2015 according to the World Bank) and increased aid dependency (80% of the population).
  • The major obstacles to development and economic growth is the closure of Gaza and regular round of hostilities.
  • The intra-Palestinian division between West Bank and Gaza negatively affects all spheres of lives in particular access to services, public sector reforms and trade.
  • Civil servants who were hired by de facto authorities after 2007 have not received a full salary since May 2014; this not only creates difficulties/tensions within the Ministries but also badly affects the economic growth and living conditions in Gaza (consumption, investment capacities and labour market).
Objectives

To contribute to a developed, sustained, effective and efficient market-driven TVET system in Gaza, capitalizing on the results of the first phase of the project

Target groups
  • Young women and men enrolled in regular courses (360 students of which 60 females) and short term vocational training (370 trainees  of which 70 females)
  • 3 public TVET institutions
  • MoL and MoEHE in Gaza
  • Other stakeholders of the TVET system
Medium-term outcomes
  • TVET centres of competence operate efficiently, effectively and sustainably
  • Enhanced coordination and linkages amongst TVET stakeholders
  • Enhanced effectiveness and sustainability of One Stop Shop and Labor Market Information System services
Results

Expected results:  

  • Centers of Competence (CoCs) short-term financial sustainability plan (resource mobilization-based) prepared and adopted by duty-bearers in Gaza
  • CoCs’ long-term financial sustainability plan (advocacy-based) prepared and adopted by duty-bearers in Gaza and the West Bank
  • TVET diffusion program targeting youth, families and employers designed and inplemented
  • TVET working group in Gaza established and linked to the West bank TVET working group
  • Networking and partnerships between TVET CoCs, and stakeholders accomplished
  • Marketing and dissemination programs for TVET and TVET centres implemented
  • One Stop Shop (OSS) and Labour Market Information System (MIS) strategic plan developed and implemented


Results from previous phases:  

  • The national TVET strategy has been endorsed in Gaza and the TVET system between Gaza and West Bank unified.
  • The employment office of the Ministry of Labor in Gaza (MoL) has been transformed into a modern One Stop Shop (OSS) for effective career guidance and counseling, for networking with the private sector and other actors.
  • A Labor Market Information System (LMIS) has been developed to offer accessible, updated data, and information about the labor market and stakeholders.
  • Three public TVET centers of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and Ministry of Labour (MoL) in three sectors (construction, agriculture and ICT) have been transformed in terms of labor market-driven curricula, qualified trainers, qualified administrative staff, modern learning methodologies, and training materials.
  • A media campaign aimed at promoting TVET and graduates has contributed to changing the negative image of TVET within the society.
  • Relations/linkages between TVET institutions in Gaza and in the West Bank have been enhanced at policy level and project levels (GIZ and Islamic Relief Palestine - IRPAL) contributing to re-connect Gaza with National strategies and policies.
  • 118 students benefited from short term training and the majority of them were employed; 180 enrolled in regular Competence Centers (CoCs) training, 200 trainers and supervisors, 40 TVET institions manager were trained.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
  • Foreign private sector South/East


Other partners

Islamic Relief Worldwide: Islamic Relief (UK) and Islamic Relief (Belgium)

Coordination with other projects and actors

GIZ TVET project implemented in the West Bank

Agro-economic project in Gaza implemented by Oxfam Italy

Alignment, coordination and synergies with other TVET projects implemented by GIZ, UNRWA and Agence Belge de Developpement (BTC) in Gaza

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’040’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    923’157
Project phases

Phase 2 01.12.2016 - 31.05.2019   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.08.2011 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)