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and underfunding has caused the education system to suffer by way of poor infrastructure, low teaching standards, outdated teaching methods, and a lack of textbooks and other teaching materials.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).