IBSA Fund Annual Report- Sudan

Partners

Ministry of Labour and Administrative Reform; Ministry of International Cooperation; Ministry of Youth and Sports; Khartoum State; UNDP Sudan

Overview

This project aimed to rapidly create employment opportunities for unskilled and semi-skilled underprivileged youth through engagement in apprenticeships or on-the-job skills training as well as through access to microfinance opportunities. It supported the placement of those youth workers in enterprises in road maintenance, waste management, and auto-mechanical, electrical or other vocational activities.

Key Achievements

• The project enabled the cooperation between the Ministry of Social Development and the private sector on job placement.
• 2,995 underprivileged youths received skills-based employment training: 1,238 youths were trained in waste management, 1,208 in entrepreneurship, and 549 in vocational training in vehicle mechanics, interlock systems and general electricity.
• A total of 1,785 files (827 for entrepreneurship and 958 for vocational training) were added to the newly created database of labour-intensive records. A labour-based coordination unit was established within the Ministry of Labour and Administrative Reform, and staff were trained in labour-intensive coordination methods and in communications and information systems.

Challenges

• The process of identifying the target beneficiaries was lengthy owing to the lack of proof of identity as well as the need to verify their educational level, which also created challenges in documenting/filing trainee records.
• There was a lack of commitment of the registered beneficiaries to continue attending sessions on vocational and entrepreneurship training. Difficulties were faced in securing the commitment of the contractors for job placement, which depended largely on the availability of jobs.

Link of the Project to National Priorities

The project was part of the national strategic response to unemployment. It was aligned with the Sudan National Strategic Development Plan, the National Employment Strategy and the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, which aim to reduce poverty through rapid, sustainable and shared economic growth.