Joint Programme on Improving Vocational Education in Abkhazia 

ObjectivesFund scope

Hostilities in 1992 and 1993 in Abkhazia not only led to the economic breakdown and political isolation of the breakaway region, but also significant deterioration of the education system. Conflict, destruction and underfunding has caused the education system to suffer by way of poor infrastructure, low teaching standards, outdated teaching methods, and a lack of textbooks and other teaching materials. It has also had impacts on vocational education and training (VET) for people of all ages.

Due to the lack of competency-based general education and the low quality of vocational education, there is a mismatch between the needs of the labor market (public and private) and actual skills of school and vocational education graduates. This has resulted in the low quality of private economic activities and public services in certain sectors, such as health. The objective of the vocational education joint programme in Abkhazia is to improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of VET in the region. To comprehensively address the needs of people in the region and to build their skills and capacity, stakeholders are:

• Assessing ways to improve the management and delivery of VET. 
• Supporting the elaboration and implementation of VET best practices in selected areas. 
• Developing the education system to support VET.  
• Establishing cooperation schemes and dialogue with private and public sector employers.  
• Creating a pool of maters trainers in the plant protection sector.  

Strategic framework  

A powerful tool for improving employability and self-employment, the joint programme seeks to improve VET measures and local population access to active labor market measures through career guidance, job search assistance, apprenticeships, employment support services, and work-based learning. The programme also aims to improve the readiness of students for vocational education by inclusion of essential competencies and life skills in general education. To achieve these goals, programme partners promote integrated, comprehensive and sustainable solutions that ensure greater coherence and stronger impact by mapping the needs in the VET sector and labor market in Abkhazia. 

The Joint Programme contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 4, SDG 1, SDG 3 and SDG 16. Cosely aligned with the UN Partnership for Sustainable Development (UNPSD) for period of 2016-2020, programme outcomes contribute to Outcome 5 (inclusive and high-quality education), Outcome 6 (provision of quality, equitable and integrated health services) and Outcome 7 (better security and stronger resilience of conflict-affected communities).

GovernanceGovernance arrangements

Steering Committee 

Provides strategic guidance for a coherent and coordinated programme implementation, and ensures that funds are managed properly and in a cost-efficient manner. The Steering Committee is is co-chaired by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and designated authorities from the European Union delegation in Georgia, and is also comprised of Senior Management representatives from UNDP, UNICEF and FAO. 

Programme Coordination Team 

Members include the designated quality assurance personnel of the Participating Agencies. They coordinate the planning and implementation of the Joint Program, and assure the quality of the implementation and reporting vis-à-vis the Steering Committee. The Programme Coordination Team is also responsible for identifying and fostering synergies across various project initiatives and promoting joint/consolidated implementation. 

Programme Management Unit 

Responsible for day-to-day implementation of the joint programme, the team is coordinated by the UNDP designated manager responsible for coordination, joint planning, and implementation.  

Administrative Agent  

Funds are routed by way of a pass-through mechanism. Participating Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Participating Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors.   

Projects

Joint Programme on Improving Vocational Education in Abkhazia

Joint Programme on Improving Vocational Education in Abkhazia is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

Joint Programme on Improving Vocational Education in Abkhazia

Results

The Joint Programme on Improving Vocational Education in Abkhazia improves access to quality vocational education and training (VET) for people through the promotino of integrated, comprehensive and sustainable solutions that increase the employability of people in Abkhazia and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

ContactsPoints of contact

For Policy and Programme issues

Anna Chernyshova, Deputy Resident Representative, Email: anna.chernyshova@undp.org 
Nino Dzneladze, Programme Associate, Crisis Prevention & Recovery Portfolio, Email: nino.dzneladze@undp.org 
Giorgi Vardishvili, Team Leader, Crisis Prevention & Recovery Portfolio, Email: giorgi.vardishvili@undp.org 

Fund Administrative Agent issues

Olga Aleshina, Senior Portfolio Manager, Email: olga.aleshina@undp.org
Dawit Ghebremichael, Portfolio Associate, Email: dawit.ghebremichael@undp.org
Ramon Gatchalian, Finance Associate, Email: ramon.gatchalian@undp.org