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Le partenariat Public-Public au service de l’adéquation formation-emploi
Julie CLAASSENS | 20-06-2016
EDUT, projet d’appui à l’enseignement technique et professionnel de la CTB dans la Tshopo accueille des experts belges du secteur public ETFP (VDAB et SYNTRA) en vue de confronter le challenge de l’adéquation formation-emploi en RDÀ la Tshopo, en République Démocratique du Congo, la CTB procède à l’identification des travaux pratiques et équipements et à une analyse participative des pratiques pédagogiques des enseignants. Cette activité permettra d’améliorer la qualité de la formation pratique des apprenants afin qu’elle réponde aux besoins du marché de l’emploi.Du 13 au 18 mai, des descentes dans les écoles techniques pilotes pour les filières bâtiment et mécanique ont été faites par l’équipe EDUT de la CTB et trois experts VDAB et SYNTRA, pour des observations des leçons pratiques, échanges sur terrain avec les élèves et enseignants, suivis d’entretiens avec les entreprises et artisans. Le voyage d’étude, comprenait des visites sur terrain à Isangi et Imbolo et la visite d’écoles pilote, tout particulièrement l’institut Chololo en milieu urbain à Kisangani.Les deux organisations ont ensuite Co-animé du 20 au 21 mai 2016, un atelier d’identification des besoins en renforcement de la formation pratique, organisé par la CTB. Des discussions passionnantes entre enseignants, directeurs, anciens élèves, délégués du gouvernement et représentants du monde du travail et de l’entreprise ont permis de dégager les priorités en terme d’équipement et renforcement des dispositifs de formation adaptés au profil métier mécanique et construction de la jeune Province.
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Et si on parlait certification ?
Bellya SEKPON | 20-06-2016
Ça y est, ça fait trois ans qu’on vous en parle presque toutes les semaines, qu’on vous écrit de merveilleux clins d’œil à ce propos et enfin après trois ans… nos chères PME ayant fait preuve de ténacité, arrivent enfin vers la certification HACCP. Les audits de B&A conseils sont en route, c’est donc l’occasion pour nous de faire témoigner les PME … Commençons par une entreprise de jus d’ananas : Alachac. Que pense Charlotte Alao, gérante de Alachac, de cette expérience ? Votre humble reporter en herbe que je suis est partie le lui demander. Je vous livre ici la première partie de ses impressions. Alors Charlotte dis-nous, quelles sont les premières impressions après l’audit HACCP ? « Les premières impressions sont très bonnes, l’auditeur a fait preuve vraiment d’une rigueur sans pareille. Et il n’a occulté aucune étape, dans le système HACCP nous avons 12 étapes et il a été pointu sur chaque étape. On était à l’aise, mais on se demandait un peu aussi si on pouvait vraiment être à la hauteur. On a essayé de répondre aux questions et il nous a félicité surtout d’avoir pu éliminer les non-conformités majeures. Il a relevé quelques non-conformités mineures, surtout liées à la documentation. On a pêché dans ce domaine. Système veut dire systématique donc dès qu’il demandait quelque chose ça devait sortir, mais on a mis quelque temps à chercher. On était à l’aise grâce à l’accompagnement de ASPS. D’abord les ateliers de janvier et puis le suivi qui a fait en sorte qu’on a commencé à nous familiariser avec le manuel et surtout avec les fiches[…] Nous disons merci à Asps pour l’accompagnement. » Charlotte et moi-même avons ensuite échangé sur le travail mis en œuvre pour arriver à ce jour tant convoité d’audit. « On pensait que cela pouvait passer comme une lettre à la poste, mais on s’est vite rendu compte qu’ il fallait mettre les choses au sérieux. Tout d’abord on voulait montrer à ASPS qu’on voulait être l’un des meilleurs élèves […] Les semaines avant (N.D.L.R. avant audit) comme on a vu venir les messages répétés d’Andrea et de Petia on était sur le quai vive. On a essayé de voir de façon pointue ce qui n’était pas au point. Ça a demandé du travail et de l’investissement personnel. Fallait travailler très souvent sur le manuel , faire le tour de chaque salle pour voir si on est au point, ça nous a permis de passer souvent à chaque étape voir si les choses sont en places […]Ça a permis aussi de dormir très tard, de se lever très tôt et de penser si on n’avait pas oublié quelque chose. Mais à la fin on est très content de cet accompagnement. N’eût été l’accompagnement de ASPS, je crois que l’auditeur n’aurait pas été très satisfait. […] Aujourd’hui on peut dire qu’on est fière… mais… moi je suis perfectionniste donc je disais à l’auditeur qu’on peut faire mieux. Comme on est dans une démarche d’amélioration continue, il faut qu’à n’importe quel moment tout rentre comme un réflexe… » Et Charlotte la perfectionniste se projette aisément dans l’avenir. « Déjà avec HACCP on peut se glorifier un peu, mais on ne va pas dormir sur nos lauriers et continuer à améliorer le jus ». Souhaitons-lui que la qualité sanitaire de son produit maintenant reconnue, son entreprise puisse prospérer.
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Initiation d’une rencontre trimestrielle pour une synergie d’information entre les Partenaires Techniques et Financiers (PTF) de l'Atacora-Donga
Bellya SEKPON | 20-06-2016
En marge de la validation de l’annuaire des statistiques sanitaires 2015 de l’Atacora-Donga, une session a regroupé autour du Directeur Départemental de la Santé, l’ensemble des Partenaires Techniques et Financiers (PTF) et ONG présents à cette rencontre, tenue dans la salle de réunion du PASS Sourou. La session dont les objectifs étaient d'élaborer un calendrier de rencontre, de connaître le domaine d’intervention de chaque PTF et de partager de l'information, a été menée sous le lead du Conseiller Technique International du PASS dans l'Atacora-Donga. A la fin de cette rencontre un calendrier périodique (trimestriel) a été retenu. La prochaine réunion est ainsi prévue pour le 24 Juin 2016.
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Lancement du volet opérationnel du Programme d’appui au développement des filières agricoles (PROFI) : les acteurs des filières bientôt promus
Bellya SEKPON | 20-06-2016
Le programme d’appui au développement des filières agricoles (PROFI) a été mis en place par la Belgique, à travers l’Agence belge de développement (CTB), en partenariat avec le gouvernement béninois, pour soutenir ce dernier dans son désir de rendre le secteur agricole du pays fort et prospère. Il est destiné à mettre en oeuvre les politiques nationales dans des territoires définis, en l’occurrence le Mono-Couffo et l’Atacora–Donga, pour la promotion des filières maraichage, riz et anacarde. Ce programme se base sur les expériences des interventions antérieures de coopération belge dans le domaine agricole au Bénin. En effet, plusieurs interventions ont été financées et mises en oeuvre par la CTB, par le passé, en vue d’accompagner le Bénin pour atteindre et garantir sa sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle. On peut ainsi noter la Facilité d’Appui aux Filières Agricoles dans les départements du Mono et du Couffo (FAFA MC), la Facilité d’Appui aux Filières Agricoles dans les départements de l’Atacora et de la Donga(FAFA AD), l’Appui Institutionnel au MAEP (AIMAEP) et la Facilité d’Appui aux Investissements Agricoles (FAIA), aujourd’hui clôturés.Articulé autour de deux volets, l’un institutionnel et l’autre opérationnel, le programme d’appui au déve-loppement des filières agricoles (PROFI) prend en compte la promotion du filières agricoles de manière intégrée, afin de participer efficacement à la construction d’un monde équitable pour les producteurs et transformateurs agricoles du Bénin. Le volet institutionnel du programme, démarré en octobre 2014, porte sur l’appui au Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) pour le renforcer dans l’exercice de ses fonctions et faciliter la promotion des filières agricoles, tandis que le volet opérationnel soutient l’initiative agricole locale. Ceci en subventionnant les coopératives agricoles, les groupements et petites entreprises dans la production et la transformation, et en développant les investissements publics structurants au niveau des communes au bénéfice des populations locales.Selon le Représentant Résident de la CTB, Michel FRANCOYS, la mise en oeuvre du volet opérationnel du programme permettra de « participer à la résolution du défi du financement de l’agriculture au Bénin. De par notre expérience passée, nous avons constaté que certains des microprojets ou producteurs que nous avons soutenus, ont réussi, en un an, à faire progresser de manière significative leur production. Il est donc clair que le secteur agricole béninois possède des atouts indéniables et qu’en y investissant, on peut aider les populations à atteindre l’autonomie financière et l’autosuffisance alimentaire ».La cérémonie de lancement ayant eu lieu à l’hôtel Azalaï, le jeudi 16 juin 2016, concerne uniquement le volet opérationnel, dont la durée de mise en oeuvre est de 4 ans. La rencontre avait pour but de présen-ter à l’ensemble des acteurs du secteur agricole au Bénin les objectifs, résultats attendus et principales activités. La cérémonie a connu la présence effective du Ministre de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de la Pêche, Delphin Kouzande, des membres de son ca-binet, du Secrétaire Général du Ministère, Abdoulaye Toko, de la représentante de l’ambassade de Belgique, du préfet de l’Atacora–Donga, des Partenaires Techniques et Financiers et d’autres structures du secteur de l’agriculture au Bénin. C’était également l’occasion de présenter au public des notes de capitalisation montrant des expériences intéressantes et la valeur ajoutée des interventions de la CTB Bénin dans le domaine de l’agriculture.Selon le Ministre de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de la pêche, « En visant la promotion des filières maraîchage, riz et anacarde par la professionnalisation des exploitations familiales, la fourniture des services de qualité par les entreprises rurales aux exploitations familiales, la réalisation d’investissements communaux dans les bassins de production et l’amélioration de l’organisation et de la gouvernance des organisations professionnelles agricoles ce programme s’intègre parfaitement dans la politique agricole du Gouvernement du Bénin ».En marge de la cérémonie, plusieurs promoteursagricoles soutenus par la CTB Bénin ont exposé leurs produits. Les participants pouvaient donc s’offrir des jus de fruits, des noix d’acajou en bouteille, du riz produit au Bénin etc. L’une des exposantes, Madame Thérèse Orou Ali, a tenu à donner ses impressions sur le programme agriculture de l’Agence belge de développement (CTB). « Ça m’a vraiment beaucoup aidé. Je travaillais à l’étape artisanale. Mais aujourd’hui j’ai un grand bâtiment,18 femmes qui travaillent pour moi et j’en ai initié aussi d’autres groupements ».Communiqué de presse sur Relief Web
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Racha: a success story of Work Based Learning in Gaza
Eva MORRE | 20-06-2016
Racha is 33 years old, and mother of two daughters. She currently follows a training in beauty at the Polytechnic College Al Mustaqbal in Gaza City. She is no exception. Most of her classmates have her age and succeeded the tawjih exam a long time ago. Some even have bachelor degrees in different subjects. Still they choose to follow an extra formation. Some do so because they cannot find a job, others because they want to change profession.“I am very happy to be able to gain work experience in a beauty salon close to my home. This allows me to combine my education with my private life.”The training will take six months. During the first months they will learn the basic skills in the training centre, afterwards they will pursue their training in beauty salons in the region. Racha has high hopes. She came to the college because of its good reputation and because of the Work Based Learning scheme that gives her the opportunity to do an internship in the private sector. She is very pleased to be able to gain work experience in a beauty salon close to her home. This allows her to combine her education with her private life. After she will finish the training course, she hopes to be able to open her own beauty salon.
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Fortaleciendo la red de salud en 14 municipios
Agar TAMAYO | 17-06-2016
En el marco del Programa de Fortalecimiento de Redes de Salud (FOREDES), en fecha 14 de junio de 2016 se realizó la firma de un convenio entre el Ministerio de Salud, la Agencia Belga de Desarrollo y 14 autoridades representantes de los municipios ubicados en los departamentos de Cochabamba, Potosí, La Paz y Chuquisaca.La firma de este convenio tiene el objetivo de equipar 14 establecimientos de salud de primer nivel con 547 equipos médicos y mejorar la salud y la calidad de vida de más de 214.770 habitantes entre hombres, mujeres, niños y niñas.En el convenio también se garantiza la ampliación de un Centro de Salud en Tiahuanaco, con una inversión de más de un millón de bolivianos.Octavio Quispe, alcalde del Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Tiahuanacu en representación de los 14 municipios beneficiados, agradeció al Ministerio de Salud, a la Agencia Belga de Desarrollo y el Programa FOREDES por el apoyo en el fortalecimiento integral de las redes de salud. Los 14 municipios beneficiarios son: 1) Tacapari, 2) Tacopaya, 3) Bolivar (Cochabamba); 4) Sacaca, 5) Caripuyo, 6) Arampampa, 7) San Pedro de Buena Vista (Potosí), 8) Tiahuanaco, 9) Batallas, 10) Puerto Acosta y 11) Copacabana (La Paz); 12) Azurduy, 13) Tarvita y 14) Sopachuy (Chuquisaca).
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Digitalizing education: six policy papers on the use of ICT in education
Eva MORRE | 15-06-2016
Digital technologies have spread rapidly in much of the world and the use of ICT has become more important in everyone’s daily life. Digital technologies also have the potential to boost improved service delivery in education. Using ICT in Palestinian classrooms has become an important tool to enhance student-centered learning. Furthermore, it allows students to acquire 21st century skills.From 2011 till 2015, the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Belgian Development Cooperation have implemented an E-learning project in 300 pilot schools to introduce the use of ICT in the classroom. One project component focused on providing upstream policy-advice based on a large Action Research to learn from the pilots supported by the project. The Action Research was conducted in 2014-15 by a consortium of the Open University of Cyprus and the Al-Quds Open University. The Action research resulted in the following 6 Policy Papers with clear policy recommendations on all aspects of ICT in schools and digitalizing education. Policy Paper #0 on Information and Communication Technology in Education (ICTE)Policy Paper #1 on School-led Initiatives (SLI)Policy Paper #2 on Digital Educational Resources (DER)Policy Paper #3 on mobile Learning (m-L)Policy Paper #4 on Teacher Professional Learning (TPL)Policy Paper #5 on 21st Century Skills (21CS)
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Estudiantes de Villa Rica y Palcazú se capacitan en genero e interculturalidad
Sonia VIDALóN | 14-06-2016
Con la finalidad de sensibilizar sobre el tema de género e interculturalidad entre los y las estudiantes de las instituciones educativas piloto, Nuestra Señora del Rosario y el Colegio Nacional de Iscozación, en los distritos de Villa Rica y Palcazú, se desarrollaron talleres de capacitación con las brigadas y Comisiones Ambientales Escolares (CAEs). En el taller desarrollado en la Institución educativa Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Villa Rica, participaron cerca de 35 estudiantes integrantes de las brigadas ambientales de ecoeficiencia, salud y gestión del riesgo, quienes aprendieron temas de género e interculturalidad, así como la importancia de implementar sus actividades considerando la participación de varones y mujeres, así como la cultura, en las actividades sociales y de educación ambiental.Por otro lado, con la CAEs del Colegio Nacional de Iscozacín en el distrito de Palcazú, los y las estudiantes aprendieron a elaborar en forma participativa funciones con enfoque ambiental, género e interculturalidad. Como producto de este taller los participantes de las brigadas elaborarán su reglamento de funciones considerando estos aspectos. Es importante mencionar que estas actividades se desarrollan como parte del plan de fortalecimiento de los Comités Ambientales Escolares (CAEs) que el PRODERN viene desarrollando en las instituciones educativas piloto, como parte de sus actividades en educación ambiental.
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The success story of Deir al Balah
Eva MORRE | 13-06-2016
The Palestinian Technical College in Deir Al Balah has more than 1500 students, and already 2500 youth that graduated from their 23 different degrees. Despite the high youth unemployment in the Gaza Strip, there are some degrees like hotel management and TV media where almost all (95+%) graduates have found a job. One of the secrets of the success of the school is its awareness of the importance of cooperation with the private sector. So far each student could follow an internship in the private sector for a couple of days, but the school has realised this is not enough to prepare them for the labour market. Therefore, since this year, the college has implemented a Work Based Learning (WBL) scheme, funded by the Belgian state and implemented by the Belgian Development Agency. The WBL scheme allows students to combine theoretical classes in the college with practical skills in the private sector. The first degrees where the scheme has been implemented are the degrees in photography and media programme producing. The students enrolled in this scheme are combining theoretical classes with a half-time internship in the private broadcasting radio station of Fursan Al Irada. More than 50 students applied for the scheme. Based on the grades of the students as well as their motivation, 15 students were selected, 10 male and 5 female students. As places are limited and the demand is high, the selected students were requested to sign a commitment statement with the school to decrease the chances of drop-outs. “The students retain more details when explaining them the theory, because they can directly understand the practical use of the courses”To support the students throughout this new scheme, the technical college has recruited a supervisor, especially for this WBL initiative. Together with the teacher and the coach from the radio station, she follows up on the progress of the students. The teacher himself went to visit the students twice during their first month of internship. The biggest difference is that they have more advanced skills than in a regular programme. He has noted that they retain more details when explaining them the theory, because they can directly understand the practical use of the courses. Furthermore, he doesn’t have to teach them everything anymore, and can now focus on those skills they do not acquire inside the private radio station. Thus, the cooperation with the private sector has made his teaching easier.
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BTC Uganda and the Flemish Employment Service partner up: “We want to assist the Skilling Uganda project in becoming a success”
Thea MATHUES | 08-06-2016
Two employees of the Flemish Employment Service (VDAB) recently visited Uganda to share their expertise on vocational training. The visit is a scoping mission for the Support to the Implementation of the Skilling Uganda Strategy intervention supported by the Belgian government. VDAB will examine how they can best assist BTC in supporting five selected vocational training centres in becoming 'centres of excellence'. The scoping mission is the first in a new partnership between BTC and the Flemish Employment Service (VDAB). “We want to get a better understanding of the BTVET sector in Uganda. We met principals, trainers and students in different vocational training centres to get an idea of the current needs,” says Carlo De Smedt from the Flemish Employment Service. His colleague Bartelijne van den Boogert adds: “We want to see this BTC project become a success and have a positive impact on vocational training in Uganda.” The mission focused on five BTVET-institutions : Kasese Youth Polytechnic in Kasese, St. Josephs Virika Vocational Training Institute in Fort Portal, Millennium Business School in Hoima, St Simon-Peter Vocational Training Institute in Hoima and Kyema Uganda Technical College in Masindi. They are selected as pilot institutions for the intervention in West-Uganda, an area that is preparing for oil exploitation in the coming years. According to Mr. De Smedt one of the biggest challenges the project faces is seeing the bigger picture. “We should not assume that these five institutions share the same problems as every other Ugandan BTVET centre. We have to take regional differences into account.” New ideasVDAB has a lot of experience when it comes to the Flemish labour market, but can their expertise also be of value in a Ugandan context? Ms van den Boogert firmly believes so: “With our background in career guidance and as a service provider for BTVET we can bring a fresh set of eyes to the table. We will share our success stories and lessons learned and most of all show people that they can accomplish a lot, even on a micro level.” “Therefore we are also grateful that the VDAB colleagues participated in a training organized by the International Training Center of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO)”, says Eliot Arinaitwe, the coordinator of the SSU intervention. Together with colleagues from Namibia, the Netherlands, etc. the VDAB colleagues shared their first hand experiences in training for employment. “Making BTVET more relevant for the needs of the local labour market is key to the paradigm shift Skilling Uganda wishes to accomplish. The five selected institutions are not always aware of how to get this collaboration with the private sector going. Given their experience in Belgium, we hope that VDAB can share some first-hand ideas on how to broker these partnerships," Mr. Arinaitwe continued. Listen to your peers Ms van den Boogert acknowledges that working with the private sector is important but also stresses that the different training centres can learn a lot from each other: “I think it would be of great value to the selected institutions to go and visit one another. It will provide a good way to give constructive feedback and allow for learning opportunities. It can be very enriching to listen to peers, and most of all it is doesn’t have to be threatening since everyone is in the same boat. Those peer-to-peer moments are currently missing.” Now that this first Ugandan mission has come to an end, VDAB and SSU will have to think about the way forward. “We need to draft a strategic plan with all the partners involved,” says Mr. De Smedt. “Back in Belgium we will inform our colleagues about the details of our mission and work as ambassadors to promote the cooperation between us and BTC from within the VDAB.” In a later stage this could mean that VDAB experts with specific vocational skills will visit the different BTVET-institutions and try to transfer these skills upon the local trainers, where and if relevant. True motivation Asked about what she will definitely remember from this mission Ms. van den Boogert had but one word in mind: “dedication,” she said. “The principals and trainers at the vocational centres could easily be discouraged by the challenging circumstances they are working in. But instead of giving up, they stay committed to the cause of creating high quality vocational training. You have to admire people for that and we will do our best to further cultivate this intrinsic motivation.”
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Moins de maladies grâce à de l'eau potable pour 10.000 sénégalais
Fodé Boubou KONATE | 06-06-2016
Dans les régions de Kaolack, Fatick, Diourbel et Kafrine (le 'bassin arachidier'), il ne se pose plus un problème d'accès à l'eau, mais plutôt un problème d'accès à l'eau potable à cause de la salinité des eaux et du taux de fluor élevé. C'est pour cette raison que la coopération belge a installé des unités de potabilisation dans les régions sus-mentionnées.Le Projet d'amélioration des services d'Eau Potables et d'assainissement en milieu rural (PASEPAR) a effectué une enquête auprès d'une dizaine d'unités de potabilisation pour évaluer leur impact. Cette enquête nous conduit à Sibassor, commune située à une quinzaine de km de Kaolack. Cette unité permet à la population de Sibassor (plus de 10.000 habitants) d'avoir accès à une eau de qualité pour la consommation. L'unité est gérée par une association d'usagers de forage. Le litre d'eau est vendu à 5 FCFA, ce qui est tout à fait à la portée du ménage le plus démuni de la commune. Le gérant de l'association confirme également que des maladies comme l'arthrose, liées à l'excès de fluor dans l'eau, ont quasiment disparu dans leur localité.
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Technical & Vocational Education should partner up with private sector
Thea MATHUES | 06-06-2016
Unemployment, especially among young people, is very high in Uganda. The Ugandan Bureau of Statistics estimates that 64% of the unemployed are between the age of 18 and 30 years. This is a huge challenge for the Ugandan government especially given the rapid growth of the population. One of the problems is that many youngsters do not have the skills employers are looking for. The Support to the Implementation of the Skilling Uganda Strategy intervention (SSU) tackles this challenge one step at a time. One of its objectives is to improve the quality of the Ugandan Business Technical Vocational Education and Training (BTVET). Knowledge sharing As part of its support to its BTVET partner institutes, SSU organised a training week on 'management of training institutions' in Fort Portal. The training analysed issues that managers of training centres face in a regional East-African context and provided a platform for knowledge sharing amongst participants. Other projects supporting BTVET also partnered up and supported participants, including BTC-TTE, World Bank, Irish Aid, AVSI, JICA and WHH.In total, over 50 managers of 16 different vocational training institutes participated. These 16 institutes are selected by the Ugandan government to serve as pilot centres of their ‘Skilling Uganda’ strategy. It is rare that all the primary stakeholders of so many different partner organisations are brought together in one learning event. Inspiring examples The training course on ‘Management of training institutions’ was organized by the International Training Centre (ITC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). ITC usually holds its trainings at their global Training Campus in Turin (Italy), but offered to delocalize the training in Uganda to reach a maximum amount of participants. In total 53 people participated in the different sessions, with the overall objective to inspire the management to improve the functioning of vocational training centres. For this reason participants were introduced to different innovative ways of dealing with everyday management challenges as well as global best practises in modern demand-driven skills development such as public-private partnerships, work-based learning schemes, career guidance, etc.The participants worked in groups and tried to come up with strategies to achieve higher effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability for their own centre, aided by inspiring peer-to-peer examples. While a Namibian delegation explained how they created a change in skills development over the past decade by setting up a successful training-levy for the BTVET sector in their country, the Flemish Employment Service (VDAB) introduced best practices from a Flemish labour market context. Different Ugandan organisations also shared their best practises (Q-sourcing, UMI, UMA-HWK, DIT, etc.). Looking for partnerships According to ITC-ILO manager Alexis Hoyaux, trainings like this should reinforce stakeholders in the field: “Too often we tend to focus on the macro-level but real change can only come from the micro-level. We have to empower the people on the ground to take initiative and challenge the status-quo.” Mr. Hoyaux also stressed the importance of public-private-partnerships: “Private initiatives are forced to innovate. If they don’t, they do not survive. Public institutions or too often directed with a very top-down mentality, independent thinking is not stimulated. I think public schools can really benefit from private sector experience and strongly believe in the necessity of public-private-partnerships.” “If there is one thing I would like the participants of the training to take away from this experience it would be: take initiative! They should be active in seeking collaborations with the industry, they shouldn’t be afraid to come up with new ideas and they should inspire their staff and teachers to do the same.”
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Gradueneur - The first TVET Boot Camp in the Palestinian Territory
Eva MORRE | 06-06-2016
The first boot camp for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Palestine was launched in Gaza city on the 31st of May. This entrepreneurship boot camp for TVET graduates or Gradueneur is a joined initiative of the Belgian Development Agency and Islamic Relief in cooperation with the private sector. Representatives from the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and representatives from the private sector and the trade unions all attended the opening ceremony. During 3 days, 120 graduates of the construction and ICT sectors will be trained in life and entrepreneurship skills that will help them to take the first steps in their career. Before the start of the boot camp, the students were asked about their expectations, and based on their hopes and desires, they were divided in two groups. A first group of 60 students indicated that they would like to start their own company. Therefore, they received a three day training course on how to develop a business plan. The first day they had courses on the concept of being an entrepreneur. The second day there were sessions on how to translate their own idea into a sustainable business model, and on the third day they had to defend their ideas and their business plan in front of a professional jury. The jury – consisting of the private sector and business experts – has given them feedback and the 4 best ideas from each sector – ICT and construction – have won a start-up fund, financed by Islamic Relief.The other 60 students indicated that they prefer to work as an employee in a company. Therefore, a different trajectory was foreseen for them. On the first day, a career guidance session helped them to improve their CVs and apply for a job. The next day, different companies from the Gaza strip were invited to attend a career day, where they could get into contact with the students. The companies were given an incentive to recruit them, because during the first two months they only have to pay their employees 30% of their salaries, as the other 70% will be funded by Islamic Relief. At the end more than 25 graduates were hired during the career day. This boot camp was a first in the Palestinian Territory. As it turned out to be very successful, the idea might be exported to the West Bank as well.
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Vidéo "Valorisation autour des bassins de rétention burkinabé"
Marcella PASOTTI | 31-05-2016
Une vidéo avec les témoignages des participants au voyage d'étude au Burkina Faso en février 2016.
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Focus on coordination: 8th international conference on ICT for Development
Mathias LARDINOIS | 31-05-2016
IntroductionFrom 16 to 19/05 2016 Maisha Bora was represented by its Programme Coordinator at the 8th annual ICT4D Conference: “From innovation to impact: Using Technology to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (http://www.ict4dconference.org/)” in Nairobi, Kenya. This conference was a good opportunity to have a direct view of various ICT tools and methodologies to implement development projects.The focus of the conference was on:ICT solutions that are having significant impact in development;Government ICT strategies, their alignment with the SDGs, progress towards their implementation, and challenges and experiences to date;The intersection between government ICT strategies and the goals and strategies of private sector businesses and civil society organizations operating in the same geographies;The structure of cross-sector partnerships and business models for ICT solution delivery that have shown promising results.The expected outputs of the conference were to:Examine the types of changes within development sectors that are critical to achieving the SDGs and the ICT strategies that have potential to enable those changes;Introduce and demonstrate up-and-coming ICT solutions that are relevant to challenges within development sectors and have already shown promising results;Provide training for those wishing to obtain hands-on experience with ICT solutions or to strengthen their skills in developing strategies and plans for solution implementation;Discuss partnerships and business models for implementing scalable and sustainable ICT solutions that address development challenges.Speakers and participants came from NGOs, private ICT companies, UN agencies, Universities, as well as agencies such as, BTC, GIZ and SIDA (750 attendees in total).Objectives of the participation of Maisha Bora The first and main objective of the mission was to get information on ICT4D that could be applicable for our programme. It proved to be very successful, with many ideas identified. They have been selected both for direct use in the programme and for the information of the partner organisations in general, given that all have expressed interest to develop their experience and expertise in that area.The second objective was to develop the network of the programme, which also proved successful with very promising contacts with whom direct relations can be investigated, some interesting in terms of potential contracted service providers, and some sharing interests and / or objectives with Maisha Bora, thus interesting to keep informed and to follow.The third objective was to provide visibility of Maisha Bora in an international event linked to digitization and SDGs, which was also a success, through on one side the activation and dynamic use of our twitter account (@MaishaBoraTZA), and on the other side active participation in the discussions during the presentations and the social events, with practical sharing of experiences issued from Maisha Bora.Stay tuned for moreMore details will be provided through a case study to be published in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to our updates on open.btcctb (this site) and our twitter account (@MaishaBoraTZA) to be the first informed!Information: mathias.lardinois@btcctb.org