The SkillLab digital tool was introduced in Egypt to profile refugee and host community jobseekers' competencies in the Alexandria Business Association's Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC). It helped VTEC staff refer individuals to relevant training and employment opportunities. SkillLab in Egypt also showed potential for identifying candidates suitable for business development services, such as Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training. 

PROSPECTS in Jordan supported the development and testing of a national (RPL framework with the Technical Vocational and Skills Development Commission (TVSDC), National Sector Skills Councils (NSSCs) and national training providers such as the National Employment and Training Company (NET) and Vocational Training Company (VTC). This included building capacity among curriculum developers in DACUM (Develop a Curriculum). This provided a pool of trained experts to develop occupational standards in the future. A self-assessment portal was launched and aligned with the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) standards and integrated into the Ministry of Digital Economy (MODEE)’s digital infrastructure. A pool of mentors were trained to guide applicants through the certification process. A national awareness raising campaign was launched with AQAC and MODEE, generating thousands of expressions of interest for RPL. 

To facilitate informed decision on returns to Syria, PROSPECTS Jordan  launched a comprehensive skills profiling exercise in the Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps. These represented two locations where refugee populations had not benefited from economic inclusion to the same extent as out of camp populations. Done with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, the comprehensive survey found that skills gaps were a significant determinant of both return intentions. It also found that the skills acquired by refugees in Jordan did not necessarily align with labour market needs back home. Find out more about RPL programmes in Jordan.  

PROSPECTS in Kenya supported the development and adoption of a national RPL framework, which made explicit reference to the inclusion of refugees. PROSPECTS supported the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and relevant national bodies in the development of a framework, implementation guidelines and assessment tools. They piloted RPL with industry representatives and collaborated with training providers to use existing training curricula for national RPL certification in the digital and IT sectors. The pilot was run in areas hosting refugees, including inside the Kakuma refugee camp. To support national ownership, PROSPECTS commissioned a costing exercise for RPL, using the Differentiated Unit Cost to inform recommendations for cost-sharing and long-term financing models. it also supported the development of an RPL Management Information System (MIS) with the TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (CDACC) which serves to streamline RPL assessment and certification nationwide. Investments made in the RPL system ultimately equipped over 200 national Qualification Awarding Institutes to assess and certify tens of thousands of RPL applicants from both refugee and host communities. 

To capture a snapshot of skills availability and facilitate the development of career pathways in refugee-hosting areas, PROSPECTS in Lebanon introduced the SkillLab digital tool. Similar to the context in Egypt, it enabled more targeted employment and business development support, such as Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB). It was built into a partnership with UNHCR to extend employment services through Community Development Centres (CDCs). This was initially done on a pilot basis in three centres in northern Lebanon. When a change in regime inside Syrian spurred an increase in refugee returns from Lebanon, ILO PROSPECTS launched a rapid skills assessment through the UNHCR's CDCs. The rapid assessment helped PROSPECTS understand refugees existing skills profiles and better match them with employment opportunities in Lebanon and inside Syria. Findings uncovered significant foundational skills gaps in literacy, numeracy and digital skills . While only a small percentage of surveyed Syrians intended to return in the short-term, few had information about labour market opportunities inside Syria. Read more about how the ILO helps to strengthen Lebanon’s communities amid conflict by employing a holistic approach to education, training, and employment.

PROSPECTS in Uganda operationalized nationally recognized certifications for refugee and host community members by partnering with the Federation of Uganda Employers and the Directorate of Industrial Training. Existing certification systems required proof of formal qualification issued by an academic or training institution. The ‘Worker’s Practically Acquired Skills (PAS)’ certification was issued to workers who had experience in the industrial sector, but lacked formal qualifications. Upon receipt of the Worker’s PAS, close to 70 per cent of assessed workers were employed. PROSPECTS supported the National Council for Higher Education in equating and validating refugees' foreign qualifications. RPL assessment and certification processes were aligned with the Ugandan Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB). Assessment and training packages were developed with UVTAB to enable assessment and certification. In addition, PROSPECTS used rapid skills profiling as part of mobile employment services in remote refugee-hosting regions lacking traditional job centres. Read case study in social cohesion. 

A pilot RPL programme was developed  and implemented in partnership with  the Addis Ababa Education and Training Quality Regulating Authority. The pilot assessed and certified the prior knowledge and experience of refugees, returnees, and host community members in food preparation, electrical installation, beauty services, and domestic work. A capacity assessment was undertaken to evaluate the assessment centers' infrastructure and human resource capacity based on national standards for training institutions. Following the assessment, a workshop was convened to bring together key actors, including focal persons of the assessment centres, deans, TVET branch managers, directors, supervisors, and senior experts involved in the assessment process.

In Sudan, outdated curriculum served as a major barrier for the delivery of industry- relevant training. Supporting government institutions and TVET providers to undertake skills anticipation and labour market assessments was a critical step. In partnering with UNESCO, ILO PROSPECTS was able to train representatives from the National Centre for Curriculum and Education Research, state and federal government officials and social partners on rapid skills assessment methodologies and ultimately produce up to date evidence of current and future skills needs. This made use of the ILO Training for Rural Economic Empowerment, alongside training on Competency Based Education and Training CBET curriculum review.