Entrepreneurship Education - Know About Business for Yemen

The population growth rate in Yemen is one of the highest in the world, and its young age structure implies a fast growing labour force. The increasing number of jobseekers entering the labour market renders employment and income generation opportunities an important priority for Yemen. In addition to the rising population growth, other challenges include an increase in graduates possessing skills not relevant to labour market needs, high dropout rates and an increase in the female labour force participation rate. New job opportunities must be created on an annual basis in order to provide jobs for all new labour market entrants. The number of jobs demanded is significantly higher than the current employment creation rate; emphasizing the need to equip school leavers with skills that enable them to participate effectively in the formal economy or establish independent micro-enterprises. Unemployment is most common among unskilled workers and workers with only elementary education. There has also been a discreet rise in unemployment among those with academic qualifications. The surplus in qualified workers does not respond to work force requirements and results in a significant shortage of workers within certain professions. In the absence of a workforce able to adapt to the fast developments and new conditions of certain businesses there has been a growing dependence on immigrants in many professions. There is also a gender dimension in the sense that widespread illiteracy and the low level of educational attainment of women are considered constraints towards broadening the participation of women in the economy and in society in general.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to contribute to the creation of employment opportunities by fostering an enterprise culture in Yemen, through promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment among youth. This objective will be achieved by introducing the ILO Know About Business (KAB) curriculum in technical/vocational education and universities. This will lead to:

• Creating awareness of enterprise development and self-employment as a career option for trainees
• Developing positive attitudes towards enterprise and self-employment
• Providing knowledge and practice of the required attributes and challenges for starting and operating a successful enterprise
• Preparing trainees to work productively in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

Expected Results

The following results will be achieved upon project completion:

• Know About Business (KAB) curriculum introduced, reviewed and adapted
• KAB training capacity built in secondary schools and technical institutions
• KAB curriculum implemented in secondary schools and technical institutions
• KAB test phase in secondary schools and technical institutions evaluated
• KAB introduced, tested and adapted to university needs
• KAB training capacity built for universities
• KAB test phase in universities evaluated