ILO' apprenticeship training empowers Youth and women in Yemen

SANAA, Yemen (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with its implementation partner the NGO Ghadaq for development, celebrated an important achievement with the graduation of 393 youth and women apprentices who have successfully completed a comprehensive quality apprenticeship training programme. This milestone event, held in the Najjirah and Altaweelah Districts of the Hajjah and Almahweet Governorates, marks a significant step towards empowering youth and women and fostering resilient livelihoods in Yemen.

The ILO has launched in 2023 the first round of apprenticeship trainings for 795 youth and women to address the critical need for market-responsive vocational skills development and to enhance the employability of youths.
The initiative by the ILO and its implementing partners - the Social Fund for Development in the south and Ghadaq for development in the north – falls under the UN Joint Programme "Supporting Resilient Livelihood, Food Security, and Climate Change Adaptation in Yemen - ERRY III", co-funded by the European Union and Swedish Government.

Among the 795 youths trained in the first round, an impressive 48 per cent were women, demonstrating a commitment to gender equality and women's economic empowerment in Yemen.

The graduation ceremony was attended by high-level dignitaries and officials, including senior government officials, ILO Yemen staff, community representatives, family members of the graduates, among others.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Qahwan, Deputy Minister for Curricula and Continuing Learning, and the local authority in both Hajja and Almahweet governorates , proudly presented certificates to the graduates, emphasizing the transformative impact of demand-driven skills training on youth employability and economic growth.

Dr. Mohammed expressed profound appreciation for the ILO's Quality Apprenticeship Programme, lauding its innovative approach in identifying market-relevant occupations through rigorous labour market assessments ensuring alignment with national priorities and industry needs. Furthermore, he highlighted the crucial role of trained Master Craftsperson’s in imparting practical knowledge, skills, & coaching in business management to apprentices.

In conjunction with the graduation ceremony, exhibitions were held to allow graduates to showcase their products and establish connections with potential buyers.

The initiative not only fosters skills spirit among apprentices, but also enables graduates to engage in self-employment by establishing their own businesses, thus promoting economic integration and sustainable livelihoods in Yemen.

Skills development has the potential to be a transformative power that unlocks opportunities, revives local economies, and advances gender equality. As Yemen continues its journey towards socio-economic recovery and rebuilding, the ILO remains committed to building a brighter future for all through inclusive and sustainable development initiatives. Drawing lessons from the first round and building on its success, the ILO will launch the second round of the apprenticeship training programme, targeting 750 vulnerable youths in nine districts across five governorates in Yemen.