Skills Local Economic Tender

Switzerland will explore opportunities for supporting local economic development through vocational skills development in predominantly rural areas in Southern Shan. A focus on market-oriented skills opportunities accessible to young women and men especially from vulnerable groups will be identified that open life-long learning opportunities to improve livelihood options and support peace building and security in conflict-affected areas.The Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Myanmar 2019-2023 includes the new domain Skills Market Development and expands its geographical focus to Shan State. Large parts of the population in Southern Shan live in precarious conditions and almost 50 of the population older than 25 years do not have a diploma and only 22 have completed primary education. Despite a recognised need and appetite for vocational training especially on agricultural issues existing government schools are not widely known or remain inaccessible due to lacking entry qualifications or physical mobility of people from remote or conflict-affected areas. Building on lessons learnt from the SDC Vocational Skills Development Programme recognised for its strong private sector collaboration and other engagements in Myanmar the new project aims to improve rural and agriculture-based livelihoods in Southern Shan. Self-employment opportunities along selected skill and value chains in order to promote a skilled workforce for a developing economy are in the centre of the proposal. The project will endeavour to provide i an expansion of market-oriented training opportunities for the large group of youth men and especially women who have little or no access to the scarce training offers in Southern Shan and ii to provide a strategic support at sector-level involving relevant public and private sector partners in the target areas. By promoting inclusive and gainful socio-economic opportunities outside the main economic hubs the project will contribute to the realisation of a peace dividend in conflict-affected areas and increased resilience of people from left-behind communities in Southern Shan.