Completed Project: Implement skills development approaches – Myanmar

In Rakhine State, FXB Myanmar partnered with ILO to improve the professional competencies and self-employment capacities of vulnerable women and youth.

Context

Although Rakhine State is endowed with natural resources including oil and gas deposits, vast agricultural lands and deep-sea ports, it is one of the least developed state in Myanmar. The vocational training sector is poorly developed in the country and unable to supply the workforce required by the economy, both in quantity and in quality. As a result, the majority of people entering the workforce remains unskilled or inadequately skilled, affecting both the industry in terms of productivity and competitiveness, and society in terms of underemployment and poverty.

Action

The project was implemented in two townships of the State, Thandwe and Gwa.

It was based on an operational three-pronged approach through:

• Vocational and Livelihood Skill Training through mobile units in Hospitality and Souvenir Crafts,
• Employability Support to find jobs in industry and promote self-employment in Social Enterprises, and
• Sustainability Support by strengthening Village Development Committees.

The initial project phase targeted 360 women and young people, coming from various communities and ethnic backgrounds.

During COVID-19 pandemic, FXB staff collaborated with ILO in order to distribute prevention kits to targeted communities.