The opening phase allowed close consultation with ASEAN in the design of the ASEAN-Swiss TVET Initiative (ASTI) based on findings from a project appraisal mission to CLM. The ASTI ASEAN Cooperation Project Proposal has been submitted to ASEAN by Switzerland in August 2020 and was formally endorsed by all ASEAN member states (AMS) in March 2021. The ASTI project therefore is part of the Initiative of ASEAN Integration (IAI) and its workplan 2021-2025, which aims to narrow the development gap among AMS.

While in the entry proposal, focus was on companies and their workers, during consultation with the SDC, ASEAN requested to include unemployed youth in addition to low-skilled workers into the target group for WBL.

Baseline: Based on the findings from the project appraisal mission, so far no uniform WBL concept with respective regulatory framework exists in the target countries to address the needs especially of the large number of unemployed youth with limited education, early school leavers and low-skilled workers to improve their skills and conclude learning with certification acknowledged by the formal TVET system.

During the appraisal mission, the three national chambers of commerce and various federations, associations and private enterprises were supportive of the idea of WBL.

During the opening phase it became clear that the overall budget of CHF 4.3 million foreseen in the Entry Proposal is too small to implement a meaningful regional project in 3 countries and at regional level for 8 years. Therefore the overall budget has been increased to CHF 8.4 million.