The ILO empowers implementing partner in Ghana to improve training delivery and quality assurance

ACCRA (ILO News): As part of a broad strategy to sustain the implementation of the SCORE programme in Ghana funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the ILO has equipped Implementing Partners (IPs) with the SCORE methodology to provide training to SMEs. One of the newest IPs on board is the Federation of Professional Associations in Ghana (FEPTAG). For FETAG to be able to adhere to the required standards during training provision, a two-day workshop was organised from 3-4 March 2021 for its executives and trainers.

In his opening remarks, the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the ILO, Abuja Country Office, Mr David Dorkenoo represented by the National Project Coordinator, Mr Samuel Asiedu, said that SCORE aimed to support SMEs operating in identified productive sectors to be productive and competitive. He stated that the selected sectors in Ghana were manufacturing, agro-processing and hospitality.

According to the OIC, the focus of the collaboration with FEPTAG is to apply selected tools in the SCORE methodology to improve productivity and competitiveness of their enterprises. He also highlighted the need for FEPTAG to maintain the standards of SCORE training as they go forward. This required the establishment and effective management of Quality Assurance (QA) in the organization. He noted that the training activity sought to enable FEPTAG to set-up and manage a quality assurance system independently. Pledging the ILO’s readiness to support commercial entities that show interest in SCORE, he invited Lead Buyers and Multinational Enterprises to sign-up to the SCORE training programme for enterprises in their supply and value chains.

The Director General of the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) addressing the workshop extolled the long-standing working relationship between MDPI and ILO since the 1960s. He commended the ILO’s partnership which allows MDPI lead the implementation of SCORE in the next phase in Ghana. MDPI emphasised the importance of quality assurance in the delivery of products and services to their customers, and pledged its readiness to work effectively with FEPTAG and the other IPs.

The workshop sessions covered Training Standards and the Quality Assurance System; Monitoring & Evaluation Data Management; and Preparing IPs’ Business Plans. Participants expressed their happiness and commended the ILO for the contents of the workshop and the knowledge provided. According to one of the Executives, Mrs. Tina Agyei, the workshop had given them a better insight into how to strengthen the structures of FEPTAG and design a system for quality assurance. With the training, FEPTAG would be able to explore both internal and external sources to extend SCORE Training to more of their members.

IPs previously trained and empowered by SCORE include, MDPI, SCORE Training Solutions Ghana (STSG), Sekondi Takoradi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (STCCI), and Hospitality Coaching Consult.