Fields of work

Updated ILO Approaches and Methodologies on Training for Self-Employment in the Informal Sector

The promotion of decent employment and income generation is one of the most important challenges of any sustainable development strategy, particularly in alleviating poverty in the informal sector. In response to this challenge a number of approaches have been developed for various target groups in different contexts. Such approaches try to combine skills development with support services. Among these one can cite the Community-Based Training (CBT) for (Self-) Employment and Income Generation, the Grassroot Management Training Manual and the Start and Improve Your Business  programme.

The Community-Based Training (CBT) for (Self-) Employment and Income Generation has been developed in the last two decades on the basis of the experience gained in the framework of the SDSR programme in Africa and the TRUGA programme in Asia. It has benefited from the experience accumulated by various technical cooperation projects in Africa, Asia and a number of transition economies. This programme uses a systems approach to identify employment and income generation opportunities at the local level, to design and deliver appropriate training programmes, to provide the necessary linkages with post-training services and to build the institutional capacities to sustain and expand the programme.

Time has come to update this programme to take into account heterogenous and evolving needs of informal sector workers in the context of the globalising economy, the potential of distance learning and ICT as training tools, as well as lessons learnt from research and technical cooperation projects. The Informal Sector Unit of the In-Focus Programme on Knowledge, Skills and Employability will therefore update and adapt the training package for Community-Based Training (CBT) for (Self-) Employment and Income Generation to the changing situation. This revised training package will be non-country specific and will be an enhanced tool for designers and implementers of training and employment promotion programmes. Through pilot activities the package will be adapted to suit local socio-economic requirements and conditions.

Technical cooperation activities for strengthening grassroots training delivery systems and for implementing ILO training packages will continue to be implemented.