UNIDO, 2015, Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through Skills Training and Job Creation, Final Evaluation

2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.5. Strengthening IE with attention to gender issues

Recommendation: 31) TVET should include the identification of traditionally male-dominated skills training and job areas in order to increase the opportunities of female trainees on the job market. Likewise, males may also enter into training that may be dominated by females. Consider promoting TVET training access in skills not traditionally carried out by either men or women. While changing the stereotyping of skills may be difficult, breaking the mould can provide more opportunities for both women and men.

Reference: UNIDO, 2015, Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through Skills Training and Job Creation, Final Evaluation, UNIDO, Vienna.

Evidence sample: The evaluation noted that there were women in the project who had selected male-dominated skills areas such as plumbing. In general however ‘gender stereotyping’ remains in the selection of skills. While it is of course not easy to break stereotyping, it is also noted that  the project did not seem to have explicit efforts seem to made by to encourage women to choose more male-dominated  skills areas and vice versa.

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2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.6. Vocational education/skills training

Recommendation: 8) Ensure that projects include implementation of assistance with job referral in the project design.

Reference: UNIDO, 2015, Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through Skills Training and Job Creation, Final Evaluation, UNIDO, Vienna.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that a roster for assisting trainees to find jobs or a job referral system has not been established as envisioned. Individual trainers have helped some of the students to find job placements but this has not been a formal part of the agreement with UNIDO.

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2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.6. Vocational education/skills training

Recommendation: 19) Ensure that training includes both practical as well as theoretical aspects. Projects on TVET should emphasise and directly include the establishment of effective connections between job training and job placements. This may specifically include supporting:

• The establishment of direct interactions during training between potential employers and trainees/students
• Job placement centres/services and raising the awareness of their staff of the existence of the TVET graduates.

Reference: UNIDO, 2015, Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through Skills Training and Job Creation, Final Evaluation, UNIDO, Vienna.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that, though evidence of the relative importance of the classroom component vis a vis the work experience was lacking, they concluded that the combination of the two contributed to program success. 

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2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.6. Vocational education/skills training

Recommendation: 31) The duration of skills training should be of sufficient length to ensure adequate learning of skills.

Reference: UNIDO, 2015, Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through Skills Training and Job Creation, Final Evaluation, UNIDO, Vienna.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that trainees, trainers, vocational training institutes and project staff consistently mentioned that the skills training was too short.

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2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.7. Labour market analysis to determine types of education/training provided 

Recommendation: 1) Ensure a good alignment between training and economic opportunities. Develop a precise strategy to assure training participants have a coherent and successful transition from training to work and that a system is established to provide follow-up support with participants.  Promote the establishment of employment opportunities of graduates of TVET in project design by planning linking with the private sector from an early stage.

Reference: UNIDO, 2015, Reintegration for Liberian Returnees through Skills Training and Job Creation, Final Evaluation, UNIDO, Vienna.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted a common weakness in not implementing activities to establish linkages between the recent graduates and private sector employment opportunities.

Graduates would clearly have benefitted from having had the opportunity of being exposed to the world of work in practice.