Skills Challenge Call: FAQ

Web page | 08 January 2020

1. What is the SKILLS Challenge Call about?

The ILO is calling for individuals or organizations1  to share innovative ideas and solutions to address the skills mismatch challenge. Matching skills is a global priority that can help reduce unemployment, particularly among young people, and build a better life for individuals by improving employability, social mobility and inclusion.

The ILO SKILLS Challenge Call will award solutions aiming to improve workers knowledge, experience and exposure to the skills required today and for the future; enhance the effectiveness of vocational education and training programmes; empower business participation; and advocate for joint collaboration to address the skills mismatch challenge.

2. Who can contribute?

Individuals, Governments, UN entities, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders from all relevant sectors can contribute.

3. What can be submitted?

One or more ideas and solutions to tackle the skills mismatch challenge. We embrace innovative approaches, projects, tools, technologies and partnerships that seek to rethink and redesign the way we work to match skills and labour market needs.

We are open to all ideas and solutions at any stage of development. They can be an early-stage or more mature innovation. They can be a one person’s idea or involve a collaborative join effort from different actors, such as governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations.

4. Can you submit multiple ideas?

Yes, as long as the idea is innovative and relevant to the challenge.

5. What languages can the solutions be submitted in?

In English, French and Spanish.

6. Who will select the winners?

All applications will be examined by a dedicated international committee composed of skills experts and specialists.

7. When is the closing date for submissions?

On 13 April 2020 (midnight, Geneva time) the call will be closed.

8. When will the winners be announced?

The winner will be announced on 14 May 2020 through a press release an on the ILO’s Website.

9. What will the winners receive?

One representative of each winning entry will be invited to an award ceremony where the contest results will be announced. Moreover, winning ideas will participate in a six-month Innovation Lab to develop their solutions into prototypes ready to implementation and will join the ILO’s Global Network of skills innovators.

1 By Organizations we mean companies, governments, cooperatives, communities, partnerships, NGOs, think tanks, international organizations, research institutes, civil society organizations, academic organizations, and private sector companies.