Partners celebrate a decade of impact from ILO Job Search Club training

Cairo, Egypt (ILO News)– The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) jointly celebrated the achievements of the Job Search Club (JSC) training programme, marking a decade of youth empowerment. The event convened national and international stakeholders to recognize progress in equipping young Egyptians with the skills and tools necessary to navigate the labour market.

Launched in 2014, the Job Search Club is a global ILO initiative adapted to the Egyptian context. In collaboration with MoYS, the programme has supported over 8500 youth across nearly 350 clubs in 14 governorates. The training provides participants with job readiness skills, interview techniques, CV writing guidance, confidence-building, and practical tools to pursue decent employment.

Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, reaffirmed the government's commitment to youth empowerment, announcing plans to expand the programme to all youth centres nationwide.

This programme is one of our most significant steps toward preparing young people for the labour market. We are not only offering support, we are building strong bridges between youth and the world of work.

Eric Oechslin, Director of the ILO Cairo Office, highlighted the strength of the partnership:

Today, we celebrate not only the implementation of the Job Search Club methodology in Egypt since 2014, we are celebrating a collective effort to support and empower Egyptian youth. This partnership has become a model of impactful collaboration promoting youth employment and decent work.

The event was attended by Dr. Nancy Odeh, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada in Egypt; Bernhard Soland, Deputy Head of International Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland; Mohamed Shindy, Managing Director of Methanex Egypt; senior officials from MoYS; representatives of youth centres; development partners from the private sector and Terres des Hommes; programme facilitators; and beneficiaries.

The day witnessed an awards ceremony honouring the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Director of the ILO Cairo Office. They, in turn, honoured members of the MoYS team, Heads of Youth and Sports Directorates from target governorates, and programme trainers with certificates of recognition for their vital contributions to the success of the Job Search Club

Technical sessions followed, featuring Christine Hofman, Senior Regional Skills Specialist at the ILO Regional Office for Africa, and Laura Schmid, Skills and Employability Specialist at ILO Cairo, who provided an overview of the JSC’s global methodology. Panel discussions focused on strengthening collaboration among government, donors, and partners for inclusive employment, while also amplifying beneficiary voices through personal stories.

Over the past decade, the Job Search Club has been implemented through several initiatives, including the PROSPECTS project funded by the Government of the Netherlands, the "Youth for the Future" programme funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the “Together to Develop the Youth in Damietta” project supported by Methanex and the Government of Canada.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in partnership with the ILO, plans to expand the programme to all 27 governorates, with a focus on strengthening facilitator capacity, fostering private sector partnerships, and extending outreach to a greater number of youth with disabilities and migrants. Enhancements planned for 2025 include integration with Egypt’s national employment platform "Tawtheef Misr" and the ILO’s Maharati application, as well as infrastructure upgrades to youth centres to enhance accessibility.