Quarter 3 Report: USAID/Egypt Workforce Improvement and Skill Enhancement Project

The project aims to upgrade technical secondary education to meet market needs in selected governorates and sectors, improve the skills and productivity of the workforce and private sector in selected sectors and governorates, and support an enabling environment for improved labor market efficiency. Result A focuses on upgrading technical secondary education to meet market needs in selected governorates and sectors. The project has partnered with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) to develop new curricula and implement quality control and assurance systems. The project has also established school and local transition to employment units to provide career guidance and support to students. Result B focuses on improving the skills and productivity of the workforce and private sector in selected sectors and governorates. The project has provided training and capacity building for stakeholders and counterparts, including the private sector, to upgrade technical, practical, and soft skills. The project has also established a 3R Program to help firms recruit, retrain, and retain their staff. Result C focuses on supporting an enabling environment for improved labor market efficiency. The project has partnered with various Egyptian entities, including the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, to develop strategies and policies that promote labor market efficiency. The project has also supported stakeholders at the governorate level to address identified challenges to labor market efficiency. The project has made good progress in all result areas, building upon previous achievements and heightening the emphasis on elements of sustainability that will lead to long-term impact. The project has also partnered with a variety of Egyptian entities and brought Government of Egypt counterparts from various ministries into project planning and implementation, creating a cadre of professionals who believe in, support, and are committed to carrying on the work that WISE has been doing. The Ministry of Education and Technical Education continues to be a critical supporter of WISE activities, and the updated MoETE strategies and priorities remain compatible with the WISE project. The project has also established a strong partnership with the private sector, including the Federation of Egyptian Industries and the German International Cooperation Agency, to promote sustainable transformation and capacity building. The project's cross-cutting activities include sustainability and sustainable transformation, gender integration, environmental protection, and project management. The project has also established a list of annexes, including a list of acronyms, which provides a comprehensive overview of the project's terminology and abbreviations. The WISE project has made significant progress in upgrading technical secondary education, improving the skills and productivity of the workforce and private sector, and supporting an enabling environment for improved labor market efficiency. The project's emphasis on sustainability and capacity building has created a strong foundation for long-term impact and has established a cadre of professionals who are committed to carrying on the work that WISE has been doing.