Assessing economic opportunities and training needs

The defining feature of the TREE methodology is that it grounds all training and post-training support in a careful, thorough, and participatory analysis of realistic employment and self-employment potential in the local area. This section of the TREE resource provides information and tools to ensure that you have identified the right opportunities and the appropriate training needs.

The first and most important element is ensuring that you are involving local communities, beneficiaries, and stakeholders in the process. Building on the work you have done to identify stakeholders and establish local advisory committees, this stage will directly involve these people and groups in developing the economic and training objectives of the TREE programme.

The four steps in developing economic and training objectives are:
  1. Data collection and analysis: Collecting and analysing information on local economic and labour markets. Economic information includes looking at sectors, markets, and consumer demand. Labour market information includes the potential for waged employment as well as enterprise development and self-employment.
     
  2. Participatory identification of economic opportunities: Identifying priority areas for development, based on a number of criteria and with the involvement of stakeholders in the process.
     
  3. Feasibility Studies: Completing studies to ensure that the economic opportunities identified will be viable.
     
  4. Training needs analysis: Analysing the training needs based on the identified economic opportunities and the current skills of the beneficiaries.