Private Sector/Employers Corner

Engaging with Employers in Skills Mobility Partnerships

This OECD–Business Advisory Group report synthesises findings from two 2023 employer-focused webinars on Skills Mobility Partnerships (SMPs) and presents evidence on why employer engagement is critical for demand-driven migration systems. It explains that employers face major shortages—illustrated by the “vacancy gap” figures on page 4—and that traditional recruitment pathways do not match emerging skill needs. Pages 7–14 summarise survey results (e.g., only 1 in 10 employers can recruit internationally without difficulty; over half prioritise “getting the right skills” even if costs and waiting times increase). The report outlines employer expectations: clearer migration channels, trusted skills assessment, quality-assured training in origin countries, predictable visa processing and better recognition of qualifications. The final section proposes eight actions to strengthen employer involvement, including early engagement, sectoral needs mapping, co-funded training, and regular dialogue platforms.

Agribusiness and agricultural skillsHuman Capital DevelopmentEducation systems & policy

Gender-Transformative Change in Practice: 6 Case Studies – Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training for Women (ATVET4W)

2020

Gender-Transformative Change in Practice: 6 Case Studies – Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training for Women (ATVET4W)

This publication documents six gender-transformative pilot initiatives implemented under AUDA-NEPAD’s ATVET4W programme across Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Togo. The case studies demonstrate how targeted agricultural TVET interventions—such as organic compost production, rights awareness and co-creation processes, tractor operation training, agribusiness incubation, household-based decision-making, and fruit and vegetable processing—address structural barriers and shift gender norms. Each case highlights changes across individual, relational, socio-cultural and systemic levels. The booklet provides practical lessons on applying GTA, strengthening agency, enhancing women's skills, improving livelihoods and embedding women’s economic empowerment within agricultural value chains.

Case Study| English

Gender and TransformationAgribusiness and agricultural skillsHuman Capital Development

Strengthening Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training

2021

Strengthening Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training

This AUDA-NEPAD policy brief presents evidence and lessons from the ATVET for Women (ATVET4W) project, which applies a gender-transformative approach (GTA) and the pro-WEAI index to strengthen women’s empowerment in agriculture-focused TVET. It outlines continental and national gender policy commitments, highlights systemic socio-cultural and institutional barriers affecting rural women’s access to skills, and demonstrates how GTA-based training, curriculum reform, entrepreneurship modules, and community sensitisation can shift gender norms. Drawing on pilots in six countries, the brief provides policy recommendations for the AU, RECs, Member States, TVET institutions and the private sector to embed GTA and improve women’s agency, productivity and income.

Gender and TransformationHuman Capital DevelopmentDigital skills & future of work

Driving Gender Transformative Approaches for Africa: Strategies to Empower Women and Girls in the World of Work through VET

2022

Driving Gender Transformative Approaches for Africa: Strategies to Empower Women and Girls in the World of Work through VET

This study examines gender disparities affecting female library educators’ participation in TVET programmes in Nigerian universities. Using a descriptive survey across two institutions, it identifies multiple barriers including deep-rooted stereotypes, cultural and religious norms, gender-based discrimination, unequal resource access, and limited career guidance. The research finds that although TVET opportunities such as digital literacy, information management, cataloguing, and data curation exist and include women to a high extent, participation remains constrained by structural and socio-cultural challenges. The study proposes strategies such as gender-sensitive curricula, zero-tolerance harassment policies, mentorship, industry-linked internships, and equal-slot allocation to strengthen gender equality in TVET.

Multimedia/Video| English

Gender and TransformationAgribusiness and agricultural skillsEntrepreneurship and informal sector formalisation

Women in the Driving Seat tractor operation training Innovation and Learning Practice Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) Project

2021

Women in the Driving Seat tractor operation training Innovation and Learning Practice Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) Project

This UNESCO-UNEVOC BILT innovation practice showcases Ghana’s first gender-sensitive tractor operation training programme designed exclusively for women. Implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the initiative equips women with skills in tractor operation, maintenance, safety, business opportunities and bookkeeping. It addresses gender barriers in agricultural mechanization, improves operator competency, and increases women’s visibility in a male-dominated sector. The programme includes workplace learning, community sensitisation, and role-model engagement. Its curriculum has since been institutionalised in national refresher courses, demonstrating sustainability and wider adoption within Ghana’s agricultural TVET ecosystem.

Case Study| English

Entrepreneurship and informal sector formalisationIndustrial, technical and vocational trainingDigital skills & future of work

The Private Sector and Youth Skills and Employment Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2015

The Private Sector and Youth Skills and Employment Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

This RAND Corporation study analyses how private sector actors engage in youth skills and employment programmes in low- and middle-income countries. It reviews evidence on training, entrepreneurship, wage subsidies, and employment services, highlighting the effectiveness of public-private partnerships and offering lessons for policymakers on leveraging firms’ participation for youth employment.

Industrial, technical and vocational trainingEntrepreneurship and informal sector formalisationGreen skills / sustainability

Framework/Standard| English

Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) Authority_ 2024 – 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN

The TEVET Authority Strategic Plan (2024–2030) sets Malawi’s direction for technical, entrepreneurial, and vocational education and training. Centred on four pillars—Access & Inclusivity, Quality & Innovation, Governance & Management, and Financial Sustainability—it aligns TEVET to Malawi 2063 and the AU’s Continental Strategy for TVET. It emphasises gender equity, digitalisation, green skills, entrepreneurship, and stronger public–private partnerships to enhance labour market relevance.

GovernanceHuman Capital Development

Making Better Use of Migrants’ Skills

Examines wage and employment outcomes for migrants in Australia, identifying barriers such as poor recognition of qualifications, English-language proficiency, and discrimination. Provides recommendations to improve productivity and inclusion.

GovernanceHuman Capital Development

Competing for Talent – What Role Can Employment- and Skills-Based Mobility Projects Play?

Competing for Talent – What Role Can Employment- and Skills-Based Mobility Projects Play?

Examines global labour mobility projects and their role in addressing skill shortages. Focuses on how skills-based migration can meet labour market demand while ensuring fair employment outcomes.

Green skills / sustainabilityGovernanceHuman Capital Development

Meeting Skill Needs for the Global Green Transition – A Role for Labour Migration?

Meeting Skill Needs for the Global Green Transition – A Role for Labour Migration?

Explores the potential role of international labour migration in addressing skill shortages in the green transition. It discusses mobility partnerships, recognition of green skills, and policy frameworks to ensure fair and sustainable outcomes.

GovernanceHuman Capital DevelopmentGreen skills / sustainability

Future Danish Engagement with Africa – Insights and Priorities for Denmark’s New Africa Strategy from DIIS’ Partners Across the Continent

Future Danish Engagement with Africa – Insights and Priorities for Denmark’s New Africa Strategy from DIIS’ Partners Across the Continent

Summarises insights from African stakeholders on Denmark’s strategic engagement in Africa. It highlights priority areas including climate change, migration, governance, trade, and human capital, offering recommendations to shape Denmark’s new Africa strategy.

GovernanceHuman Capital Development

Decent Work for Displaced People – Lessons from the Experiences of Venezuelan Migrant and Refugee Workers in Colombia and Brazil

Decent Work for Displaced People – Lessons from the Experiences of Venezuelan Migrant and Refugee Workers in Colombia and Brazil

A research brief analysing the experiences of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia and Brazil. It reviews integration challenges and highlights effective practices for promoting decent work, safeguarding rights, and improving social inclusion.

Policy Brief| English