About one third of the population of Kyrgyzstan are youth (18-35 years old). As this proportion continues to grow, and the job market is unable to absorb these numbers, skills make the difference for employability. Due to the absence of educational reforms, youth faces three main constraints:
i) the quality of formal education is extremely low
ii) both higher and professional Vocational Education Training (VET) systems are disconnected from market needs
iii) there is a lack of short-term courses that could address this mismatch.

As a result, youth tend to enter the non-formal labour market in very basic positions - with very low wages, often without contracts and therefore at high risk of exploitation by employers. Women are particularly affected as evidenced by the decline of their participation in the labour market (from 53% in 2013 to 42% in 2020), mostly in low-wage sectors.

• Government partners: relevant line-ministries and rest state agencies in-charge of up/re-skilling
• Business/Employers Associations, public, private training providers and companies (MSMEs)
• Youth (18-35 years old), young (vulnerable) women and men from the rural areas of the country; employed (but willing to change profession), under-employed and unemployed youth, incl. women

Outcome 1: Environment is inclusive and conducive for private sector-led up-/re-skilling training provision

Outcome 2: Non-formal VSD led by private sector actors enhances labour market development and employability of young women and men

Expected results:  

• Enabling regulatory and institutional ecosystem for non-formal VSD is strengthened
• Young women and men benefit from inclusive up-/reskilling training services, based on a functioning sustainable business model

Results from previous phases:   The inception phase of the project proved (through series of meetings, interviews and workshops conducted by implementing team) the relevance of the planned interventions as both central and local government as well as business voiced the lack of skilled labour as one of the main obstacles for the country’s private sector to grow and develop further.