Skills for Jobs

Project completed

Lack of market-relevant skills is still an obstacle to Albania’s economic development and to reduce (youth) unemployment. The project is supporting the government to address this by reforming the vocational education and training (VET) system. Private sector will continue to play a bigger role in VET definition and provision. Already more than half of all VET students and 10% of all (short term) trainees will have access to improved and labour-market oriented skills development enhancing their prospects for a decent job and increased income.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Albania
Vocational training
Employment & economic development
Vocational training
Advanced professional training
SME development
01.05.2019 - 30.06.2023
CHF  9’830’000
Background

The Albanian economy has maintained limited but positive growth and the labour market has experienced positive changes in the last 4 years. Overall, the labour market is characterized by decreasing but high unemployment (12.5%), by informality, low participation of youth (45.2% overall; gender gap of 15%) and women. The share of youngsters not in employment, education or training is above 27%.

More efforts are needed towards an inclusive labour market and VET sector. VET continues to follow a traditional input-oriented approach. There is no standardized instrument for graduate tracing introduced at the system level. A national model for work-based learning (WBL) adapted to the Albanian context is still missing despite several promising pilot projects that have been tested by various donors.

Reforming the VET system and targeting the employment situation of youth is a priority of the Albanian Government. Reforms aim at increasing the quality of education, developing adequate qualifications and fostering skills recognition, improving the attractiveness and relevance of the VET to match the skills demand of the private sector. The relevant policy framework is currently improved and will also restructure the governance of the sector.

Objectives Young women and men from all social groups in Albania find attractive and gainful employment thanks to improved skills.
Target groups The project’s direct target group are the public VET providers in Shkodra, Lezha, Tirana, Berat and Vlora, as well as at least 10’000  (20%F) VET students (51.8% of all VET students) and 6’000 (40%F) vocational trainees, including unemployed and underemployed rural and urban young women and men, persons not in employment or education and special needs group (students from rural families facing poverty and lack of access to services, urban families receiving state economic assistance, orphans, poor performers, Roma and disabled, returned migrants).
Medium-term outcomes

- Young women and men have access to a performing, labour market-oriented education and training offer in sectors with growth potential.

- The private sector takes responsibility in the defini-tion, provision and financing of VET on provider level.

Results

Expected results:  

- Better and market-oriented VET provision

- The ratio of graduates that are (self-) employed after graduation increased from 49% to 60%.

- 10’000 young people have used improved VET and 6’000 youth used short term training.

- Drop out level decreased from 15% to 9%.

- The number of students in apprenticeships in-creased from 709 to 3’000, interns from 72 to 600.

- The number of companies co-financing VET pro-vision increased from 300 to 500, the number of companies offering apprenticeships increased from 300 to 420.

- 250 in-company mentors certified.


Results from previous phases:  

In the 7 targeted public VET providers there is in-creased level of:

- Employment (+15%) and income of VET gradu-ates;

- Enrolment rate (+30%) and share of female stu-dents (+5%);

- Higher performing students enrolled;

- Capacitated providers (management, administra-tive and teaching staff); 

- Career orientation and guidance instruments;

- Partnerships with the private sector (325 compa-nies offering apprenticeships to 709 students; 336 companies participating in VET network); 

- Labour market driven VET offer for 3’721 (542F) students and 3’855 trainees (1’778F).


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Foreign state institution
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Central State of South East
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Swisscontact


Coordination with other projects and actors The government-donor’s group, co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Switzerland and EU will serve to coordinate the initiatives of various donors. A close coordination with the Swiss supported projects in the VET sector will be ensured.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    9’830’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    9’789’276 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   24’500’000
Project phases Phase 3 01.07.2023 - 30.06.2027   (Current phase)

Phase 2 01.05.2019 - 30.06.2023   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.03.2015 - 30.04.2019   (Completed)