Vocational training and employment

The “Lao-German Technical College” in the Laotian capital, Vientiane, provides more than 1,000 students with key vocational skills. It is a model school, with a placement rate of almost 100% on the job market. It is the country’s most renowned technical vocational school, but not the only one established with KfW support. Ten vocational schools have already been built, expanded, modernised or newly equipped. Cooperation with business is set to be stepped up even further in the future.

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There is a lack of well-trained workers in Ghana and there are not enough formalised further education opportunities particularly for workers in the informal sector – or such offers are not affordable. In order to grant this target group access to further education, the Federal Government finances shorter, practice-oriented further education courses through KfW vouchers. These can be redeemed at accredited institutions. At the end of the course, participants receive a qualification that is recognised in Ghana. The project has reached a total of between 8,000 and 12,000 people.

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The more Vietnam integrates into the global economy, the higher the quality requirements its products and services must meet. A condition for this is a sufficient number of skilled workers. However, this is precisely what is lacking in the country, which is why KfW is helping the Vietnamese government to develop vocational schools throughout the country. There is particular demand for electronics/electrical engineering, metal-working/mechatronics and information technology.

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Around one-third of all youth in Togo are unemployed or underemployed. Agriculture is the most important economic sector, which is why KfW is helping the country to set up vocational training particular in the area of agriculture and related economic sectors. It invests in the renovation, expansion and fitting-out of public and private training facilities.

Youth unemployment in the Middle East is particularly high and was one of the triggers of the Arab spring. In order to create new prospects for them, KfW is helping to build a training centre for technical vocations in Northern Egypt. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Culture is also involved, providing support with the content of the programme.

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The aim of the „Skills Initiative for Africa“ is to help more young people, particularly women and the poor, to be trained in such a way that they can find a job. KfW is helping the African Union with this regional initiative by setting up a financing facility to which public and private institutions can apply to receive funding for their vocational training activities. Supporting women and girls is an important criterion when deciding whether to provide funding.

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In order to improve the opportunities available to women in vocational training, young women benefit, among other things, from scholarships, childcare facilities as well as separate living areas and sanitation facilities.

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With a fund entitled SANAD, which is Arabic for “help”, small companies receive capital that they would not normally be able to obtain from regular banks. The fund works in six countries, and has granted more than 100,000 loans and thereby created or maintained an estimated 140,000 jobs since inception.

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To help refugees to gain a foothold in the labour market in Turkey, they are given advice, short courses in languages or computer skills, for instance, or help writing CVs, as well as vocational training and job placements, via a programme called “BRIDGES”. There are also workshops on self-employment and establishing contact with manufacturers and buyers.