Frequently Asked Question: SKILLS Support to Knowledge and Lifelong Learning Skills (SKILLS) programme

What is Support to Knowledge and Lifelong Learning Skills (SKILLS) programme?
The Support to Knowledge and Life-Long Learning Skills (SKILLS) Programme has provided technical support to the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MoEST) to carry out various interventions for  the overall development of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sub-sector of Nepal. In 2022, the programme implemented ‘The Enhancing Returnee Migrant Workers Skills (RMWs) for Employment’ project which delivered skills training, certification and equipment support/post-training career counseling to 1612 RMWs in Lumbini and Madhesh Provinces. This project was implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) with the support of the British Council managed Dakchyata Project and funding by the European Union in Nepal. 
 

Who funded this project?
This project is funded by the Government of Nepal, UNDP, the British Council and the European Union in Nepal.
 

Who are the implementing agency of this project?
The implementing agencies of this project are the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) and Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT).

What are the major achievements of this project?
The ‘Enhancing Returnee Migrant Workers Skills for Employment’ Project of SKILLS Programme successfully delivered skills training, certification and post-training support to 1612 RMWS in the year 2022. For the overall development of TVET sub-sector, SKILLS had in the past aided the High-level Taskforce of the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MoEST) to suggest a new TVET policy.  SKILLS was trusted with this important task after it successfully organized nationwide policy dialogue exercise to carry out consultative workshops and interviews with various TVET stakeholders to identify TVET policy gaps and the need for restructuring of TVET sub-sector. These documents chiefly contributed in formulating the Comprehensive Education Policy (with TVET components) endorsed by the Government of Nepal in 2019 with the aim of preparing “capable, efficient, competitive and productive human resource for the economic development of country”.

Furthermore, SKILLS extended its support to MoEST for establishing the TVET Management Information System for synchronizing short-term training related data of the federal line ministries. This consolidated system has now been able to accommodate 300,693 (of which 51.5% are Women) skilled human resources (as of 31 December 2022) who have received various kinds of technical-vocational training from the five federal line ministries. In addition, SKILLS supported MoEST to develop an operation paper (legal & structural arrangement) for the purpose of establishing an integrated TVET Fund through a sector-wide approach in Nepal. These endeavors have significantly contributed to evidence based TVET policymaking and planning and helped avoid duplication of programmes. UNDP SKILLS in collaboration and cost-sharing basis with the Ministry of Social Development of the Sudurpaschim Province conducted a skill mapping exercise in Sudurpaschim Province with the aim of identifying skill gaps between demand and supply of human resources. This exercise has forecasted that a total of 51,542 skilled human resources were required in various economic sectors of the province for three years (2020-2022). 
https://www.np.undp.org/content/nepal/en/home/projects/skills.html

Where to contact?
You can contact Poverty and Inclusion Unit, Ms. Kalpana Sarkar kalpana.sarkar@undp.org  and National Programme Manager, Dr. Mukunda Mani Khanal mukundamkhanal@hotmail.com to enquire more about the project. 
Go to https://www.undp.org/nepal/projects/skills for more information