National Skills Strategy implementation: EU launches five-year programme to assist Pakistan

European Union (EU) has launched a five-year co-operation programme to assist the government of Pakistan in implementation of its National Skills Strategy (NSS) 2009-13, officially. The new programme has a volume of EUR 42 million and is jointly financed by the European Union, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany. Out of total allocation, European Union's contribution is EUR 25.5 million.
The allocation of Netherlands is EUR 15 million and rest of the fund will be arranged by Germany. The ceremony to sign the delegation agreement between the European Union and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH was held on Wednesday. The programme carries the name "TVET Reform Support Programme".
Lars-Gunnar Wigemark the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, Thomas Schaef, the Country Director of GIZ in Pakistan signed the agreement. The ceremony was also witness by Joost Reintjes, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, the Director General from NAVTEC.
The EU Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark said, "As of today, the EU and two of its Member States, the Netherlands and Germany, join the Government of Pakistan as robust, committed and long-lasting partners for promoting access to the skilled labour market."
He said that the programme would ensure practical vocational trainings for youths especially in disaster and conflict areas of Pakistan.
He said youth without proper jobs were useless and easy prey to militants and extremists. "We will assist our development partners through the programme to eradicate poverty by providing the employment opportunities, which will lead to economic growth," he said. He further said that EU member countries have been working close to federal and provincial governments especially after 18th constitutional amendments for providing skill through vocational trainings.
He recalled that legislation to provide market access to certain Pakistani products into EU market has been under process. Once it passed, it would help create more employment opportunities. Joost Reintjes, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in his brief address said that Netherland earmarked EUR 15 million for programme and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Balochistan would be more focused. More concentration, he said would be put on technical training for females in these areas.
The Programme is part of our joint efforts to provide development and job opportunities to Pakistani youth," noted Thomas Schaef, the Country Director of GIZ. He said the programme would be implemented through GIZ, adding that the programme would meet the need of medium and small industries of the country.
Dr Ute Hoffmann, Senior TVET Advisor, GIZ said that agriculture, horticulture, mining and livestock were some of the areas where youth would be imparted technical training. However, she said that provincial government would be consulted to select the areas of technical co-operation.
Recognising the critical role of skills development in gaining international competitiveness, achieving economic and social development and poverty reduction, the government of Pakistan is dedicated to undertake far-reaching initiatives to provide relevant skills for industrial development, assure quality of training, increase access and equity in the training system and ensure employability of young Pakistanis.
The TVET Reform Support Programme will join the Pakistani government in these efforts by supporting governance structures and institution building at national and provincial level, assisting the development of the National Qualifications Framework and human resources, and by stimulating effective and innovative training delivery and labour market services.
Pakistan. Programme measures will help increase the reputation of TVET in Pakistan in general, and will open new opportunities for youth from poor families, women and people living in disaster and conflict affected areas to get better job opportunities and escape poverty.