Youth entrepreneurship for rural development in Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation
On 18-19 February 2020, the Astrakhan Region hosted a kick-off conference on the joint Astrakhan Region Public Employment Service (PES) and the ILO pilot youth employment programme.
20 February 2020
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In the Astrakhan region the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the regional PES launched a programme of youth entrepreneurship for rural development. This joint initiative aims to promote innova-tive approaches for youth employment promotion.
The regional meeting gathered representatives of the government authorities, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, PES, trade unions, employers’ organization, private companies and youth organizations. The programme was appreciated by the participants as a great opportunity for im-proving the employment services delivered to micro and small entrepreneurs.
The initiative builds strategic partnerships for youth employment and facilitates cooperation between dif-ferent public agencies, educational centers and business organizations supporting rural development. Prac-tical examples of on-going regional programmes, good practices and areas for further cooperation were identified and discussed. Participants stressed that reducing mismatches between agriculture development requirements and the existing offer of professions, technical specializations and available youth skills was a regional priority, as much as to provide integrated support to agro-business and to a wide range of mar-ket services in rural localities.
The Astrakhan initiative is a regional contribution to the national reform aiming to modernize the public employment services, led by the Federal Service for Labour and Employment (ROSTRUD), and imple-mented within the framework of the Federal Project “Support to employment promotion and improve-ment of labour market efficiency to ensure economic growth and labour productivity”.
The youth entrepreneurship for rural development programme includes a training plan for PES officials, improving their knowledge in the business areas and strengthening their capacity to provide assistance and counseling to young entrepreneurs in rural areas. The PES staff is trained in the ILO Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) methodology, which help to develop initial ideas for business into a well formulated business plan. Successful applicants will receive financial support for starting their own micro and small enterprises. Furthermore, the PES will facilitate access to additional business services and institutional sup-port, providing professional mentorship and personalized coaching during the implementation period.
Ramiz Azizov, Head of the Astrakhan PES, said that a priority for Astrakhan Region is to support entre-preneurship among young people living in rural areas and to train the officials of the PES on the provision of services of better quality to the population. Astrakhan Region has developed a youth entrepreneurship programme that will contribute to creation of micro and small enterprises in rural area as a means for fur-ther economic and employment growth in the region.
The event was organized within the framework of the ILO Project “Partnerships for Youth Employment in the Commonwealth of Independent States” implemented by the ILO Moscow with the financial sup-port of the Russian private company LUKOIL.
The partnership between the ILO and Astrakhan Region was appreciated by the Governor of Astrakhan Region, Igor Babushkin, saying : «For us participation of Astrakhan Region in such a serious Project is very important. This will allow extending employment opportunities of young people, including self-employment».
The regional meeting gathered representatives of the government authorities, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, PES, trade unions, employers’ organization, private companies and youth organizations. The programme was appreciated by the participants as a great opportunity for im-proving the employment services delivered to micro and small entrepreneurs.
The initiative builds strategic partnerships for youth employment and facilitates cooperation between dif-ferent public agencies, educational centers and business organizations supporting rural development. Prac-tical examples of on-going regional programmes, good practices and areas for further cooperation were identified and discussed. Participants stressed that reducing mismatches between agriculture development requirements and the existing offer of professions, technical specializations and available youth skills was a regional priority, as much as to provide integrated support to agro-business and to a wide range of mar-ket services in rural localities.
The Astrakhan initiative is a regional contribution to the national reform aiming to modernize the public employment services, led by the Federal Service for Labour and Employment (ROSTRUD), and imple-mented within the framework of the Federal Project “Support to employment promotion and improve-ment of labour market efficiency to ensure economic growth and labour productivity”.
The youth entrepreneurship for rural development programme includes a training plan for PES officials, improving their knowledge in the business areas and strengthening their capacity to provide assistance and counseling to young entrepreneurs in rural areas. The PES staff is trained in the ILO Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) methodology, which help to develop initial ideas for business into a well formulated business plan. Successful applicants will receive financial support for starting their own micro and small enterprises. Furthermore, the PES will facilitate access to additional business services and institutional sup-port, providing professional mentorship and personalized coaching during the implementation period.
Ramiz Azizov, Head of the Astrakhan PES, said that a priority for Astrakhan Region is to support entre-preneurship among young people living in rural areas and to train the officials of the PES on the provision of services of better quality to the population. Astrakhan Region has developed a youth entrepreneurship programme that will contribute to creation of micro and small enterprises in rural area as a means for fur-ther economic and employment growth in the region.
The event was organized within the framework of the ILO Project “Partnerships for Youth Employment in the Commonwealth of Independent States” implemented by the ILO Moscow with the financial sup-port of the Russian private company LUKOIL.
The partnership between the ILO and Astrakhan Region was appreciated by the Governor of Astrakhan Region, Igor Babushkin, saying : «For us participation of Astrakhan Region in such a serious Project is very important. This will allow extending employment opportunities of young people, including self-employment».