Pilot Training Program (Colombia)

Violence and crime have eroded the welfare of Colombians. Education and labour market opportunities are severely limited in an atmosphere of violence and insecurity. Risk of victimisation is high among the unemployed. Young school leavers face a disproportionate share of unemployment. Furthermore, there is an increasing gap between secondary and post secondary education. Labour skill development through technical training improves opportunities for employment. The technical training of women has been identified as a way to ensure a continuing education, greater female participation in the work force and increased family income.

Reledev Australia Limited in collaboration with AusAID and Instituto Superior de Ciencias Superiores y Económico Familiares (ICSEF) completed a 3.5 year project that aimed to provide 300 women with post-secondary technical training, work experience and job placement. Through this project, women from low income groups received an opportunity for post secondary training/education, which contributed towards the prevention of youth unemployment.

The Pilot Program, Access to Economic Development for Vulnerable and Underprivileged Women, also provided training through short courses to help a further 405 persons increase their employment stability.

These courses were delivered in three provincial areas of Colombia: Cundinamarca, Antioquia and the Capital District.

Performance indicators	Target at 3.5 years	Results
Post-secondary technical training
Women access technical training	300	281
Establishments involved in the project	50	117
Women employed	150	262
Short courses
Participants in short courses	405	1,419
Number of courses	27	36

Updated November 2007