Programme description

Title: Programme to Promote Vocational Training and the Labour Market in the Palestinian Territories
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Palestinian territories
Lead executing agency: Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Ministry of Labour
Overall term: 2008 to 2011

Context

At present, the Palestinian vocational training system cannot provide an adequate supply of specialists for the labour market or train specialists in line with demand so that they can find work even in neighbouring countries. Neither the education nor the employment system is able to retain employable workers in periods of crisis in preparedness for a potential economic upturn. People have difficulty in developing and maintaining the skills needed for employment and positioning themselves actively in the labour market.

Objective

An integrated vocational training and labour market strategy has been implemented as part of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan. Conditions for continuous development have been created.

Approach

GIZ is promoting integrated approaches to improve vocational training and develop the labour market. The concept is based on two comprehensive strategies. The vocational training strategy addresses all areas of relevance to the labour market and employment. The labour market strategy focuses particularly on employment for young people and tries to reduce imbalances in the demand and supply of labour.

To implement both of these strategies, pilot projects are under way at up to four locations. They are using an integrated approach to put instruments of the strategies into practice. Support is given to institutions that provide services relating to vocational training and the labour market. The project is carrying out activities across the Palestinian territories using a multi-stakeholder approach. One of the instruments planned is a joint platform for all the actors involved.

Results achieved so far

Sustainable development is a core issue for GIZ. This applies equally in regions marked by conflict and political instability. The project has implemented the following measures so far:

• The implementing institutions have benefited from personnel and institutional capacity development. This has raised the competency of personnel working in vocational training and labour market services at the Ministries of Labour and Education.
• Thematic working groups developed concepts and plans for the individual issues identified in the vocational training strategy. These were then approved by the Ministries.
• Local employment and TVET councils have been set up in Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron under the management of the governors. These convene on a regular basis. Plans are currently being developed to establish another council in Gaza City.
• Systematically-structured further training concepts for teachers, trainers, vocational counsellors and employment agency staff, as well as concepts for more efficient labour market services, have been developed and are currently being implemented.
• GIZ cooperated with the Belgian Development Agency (BTC) and the Ministries of Labour and Education to establish a pooling system for technical assistance to support the TVET programme. Another partner is the Welfare Association.
• Vocational training and labour market strategies have been developed and approved by the Ministries for Labour and Education.

Further information

• Local website of the project
  Technical &Vocational Education &Training – Palestine
  www.tvet-pal.org