Skills development support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Despite a good overall performance, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) training centres face challenges related to the accessibility of training due to UNRWA’s difficult financial situation and the socioeconomic contexts in which they operate. UNRWA can only offer a limited and static number of training places which cannot keep pace with the annual growth in the number of applications. At present, only 30 per cent of those who apply can be accommodated. In addition, there is a need for an overall strategy to structure the decentralisation process as well as improve the market relevance and delivery of the training programmes. To address this issue, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has decided to support a regional project to develop and implement UNRWA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy.

Objectives

This project enhances the job readiness of vulnerable young Palestinian refugees to ensure they have improved access to decent work and decent living conditions. It aims to:

• Contribute to the finalisation and implementation of UNRWA’s TVET Strategy;
• support the capacity of vocational training centres (VTCs) to offer short-term needs-based vocational training and skills development courses;
• support the development of entrepreneurial skills and enhance the placement services provided by UNRWA; and
• improve the employability of young women and men Palestinian refugees in UNRWA’s five fields.

Main Activities

• Develop new training courses in full consultation with employers’ and workers’ representatives;
• improve the capacity of UNRWA’s five fields to conduct skills forecasting exercises;
• organize testing and certification through the training of trainers (ToT);
• implement and deliver diverse methods of training; and
• improve the capacity of UNRWA staff to develop collaborative plans and work with social partners.

Outcomes

• Develop, update and market relevant training courses targeting young and vulnerable Palestinian women and men.
• improve the identification process of vulnerable youth;
• enhance the diversity and relevance of skills training definitions and provisions;
• institute systematic partnerships with labour market institutions;
• introduce entrepreneurship courses into the UNRWA curricula; and
• establish guidelines and mechanisms for partnership with labour market institutions and organizations.