The Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) accords high priority to designing a “cohesive” approach to poverty alleviation, through comprehensive national policies and programmes on employment, growth with equity, rehabilitation and sustainable human resource development for productive employment.

In line with an Industrial Agenda for Poverty Relief and Transition to Sustainable Development and the Component Strategy to develop vocational training skills for technology acquisition and entrepreneurship development at MSE level, the project supports the rehabilitation of technical training centres, i.e. the Wau VTC, for its communities, and to alleviate poverty in a post–conflict environment, as experienced in Southern Sudan as a whole.  

This project acts to develop sustainable livelihoods and create productive employment opportunities through MSEs for young persons, including women, through the provision  of:

    Vocational and technical skills training for apprenticeship programmes,

    Skills training/upgrading courses,and

    Trade testing activities.

within the context of the Wau Centre to be rehabilitated. The project creates a productive and private sector culture through vocational and technical training, which is market demand-driven to support youth entrepreneurship development (YED). 

With reference to the:

    Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 1, 3, and 8,  focusing on targets
        16 (Productive Work for Youth), and
        18 (Private Sector Development),
    Sudan Integrated Programme Development Strategy,
    Sudan Integrated Programme Development Contingency Plan.

the project intends to improve the overall socio-economic standards of living of young persons, in particular those young displaced persons due to the consequences of war, through technology acquisition for small enterprise development.

Value is added by providing market demand-oriented skills for developing priority sub-sectors. However, as requested by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), the initial focus of this project will be  on the immediate rehabilitation of the May VTC in Wau, and  on the provision of basic and advanced skills training in four areas of vocations

     Mechanical and electrical engineering including auto repair,

     Metal work and welding,

     Lathing, and

     Tailoring.

Technical vocational training provided combined with entrepreneurship development for job creation for at least 2,000 beneficiaries is presented with micro and small business (MSE) opportunities, in an integrated manner within the VTC programme.  These skills will be essential for product and services development, expanding local economics and sustainable job creation for youngsters in the State of Wet Bahr El Ghazal, in dire need of recovery after a post- war era.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a VTC?
VTC stands for 'Vocational Training Centre' supporting Youth Entrepreneurship Development (YED). These are centres where youth and young adults, both men and women can obtain training or improve their skills in technical subjects, therefore increasing their employability and entrepreneurial potential. Training offered at the centres will incorporate the Competency based Training (CBT) approach, a new modular approach which is more cost effective in the long run. 

What is the  concept behind VTCs?
Through the institutional competency building of VTCs as well as by stressing industrial relevance and dimensions of skills development, UNIDO aims to expand and enhance training services available to youth and women. The objectives are to improve employability, foster an entrepreneurial mindset and environment in addition to creating market driven job opportunities, which in turn can contribute to poverty reduction.  UNIDO's entrepreneurship development programme provides the trainees with relevant entrepreneurial competencies to engage in different technical sectors. The trainees' personal attitudes, behaviours, technical skills and knowledge are providing them with a competitive edge to engage in the workforce with greater employability as prospective entrepreneurs. Training for Youth Entrepreneurship Development (YED) or Women Entrepreneurship Development (WED) encompasses a holistic approach for opportunity driven entrepreneurship. 

What services  are offered?
The centres offer market-oriented vocational and entrepreneurial training in various disciplines and or technical sectors, namely:

  •     Metalwork & welding design 
  •     Building & construction
  •     Wood work
  •     Auto-mechanics
  •     Information Technology
  •     Electrical engineering
  •     Food processing

These skills contribute to the quality of life of the local community by (1) fostering a productive culture and an industrial mindset of adding value to the community through service provision, and by (2) developing the skills and knowledge of men and women to become an employable workforce and/or business owners with the relevant  technical  and  entrepreneurial competence.

The VTC promotes a training-cum-production methodology to facilitate application of entrepreneurship in technical sectors. The training is geared to foster a greater entrepreneurial and market oriented mindset through practicing with real-life commercial orders and on the job training.

What is Youth Entrepreneurship Development (YED)?
YED provides a solid base for human resource development and  is a driving force for socio-economic development and growth. It is a major window of opportunity for self-employment generation and enterprise creation using technical skills.

Who is able to  access the services offered at the VTC?
Youth, women, and vulnerable groups, i.e. Disarmed, Demobilized  and Reintegrated Ex-Combatants (DDRs), and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

How long does  the training last?
The current regular traditional curriculum consists of certified 3-year course programmes. However, UNIDO through   the projects implemented in Sudan is promoting a more market-oriented approach by promoting certified short modular courses and Competency-Based Training (CBT).

How is the  training structured in terms of time?
See previous

How flexible are  the services offered to the needs of female students?
UNIDO is fully supporting gender parity in enrolling and the set-up of the VTCs. In addition short courses are offered therefore facilitating the full participation of women. 

Is there an age  limit for receiving training at a VTC?
15 years of age and above 

What basic  skills do I need to attend training at the VTC?
To be able to fully benefit from the training trainees must at minimum have attended primary school and be fully literate. The training offered is not geared at developing blue-collar or manual jobs, but more at bringing an innovative edge to a technical skills set crucial for the set up of Micro and Small Enterprises.

Are there any  costs involved with working at a VTC?
The trainees in the regular 3-year programme pay a fee of $60 USD per year. For further information please contact the relevant VTC Director.

Do I receive any  certification at the end of the training period?
Yes, all training courses are to be certified by the Ministry, Public Service and Human Resources Development, Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS).

What opportunities are available to me after engaging in training at the  VTC?
Trainees are furnished with:

 

  • Set of employable skills and the confidence to set up a successful business
  • Access to incubation (business support) services at the VTCs to facilitate the set-up of business enterprise.
  • Set-up for coaching and further EDP training /BDS at the VTCs on site. 

 

 

 

Partners

 

 

 

 

Japan International Cooperation Agency

 

 

 

Government of Netherlands

 

 

Government of Southern Sudan