USAID MITRA KUNCI INITIATIVE QUARTERLY REPORT APRIL – JUNE 2021

The initiative is part of the Youth Power: Implementation IDIQ Contract AID-OAA-I-15-00014, which is a contract between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and DAI Global, LLC. The program is focused on empowering youth, particularly those with disabilities, to access education, employment, and economic opportunities. The initiative has several key components, including partnership engagement and knowledge sharing, leveraging public and private sector resources, and employment and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities. The program has made significant progress in these areas, with a focus on increasing access to education and employment opportunities for youth with disabilities. One of the key achievements of the program is the establishment of a platform for community-based vocational training centers (BLKs). The platform provides a framework for BLKs to develop their own road maps and business models, and has been launched in several provinces. The program has also conducted a series of strategic meetings to scale up programs in Mitra Kunci provinces, and has established an advocacy network to promote inclusive workforce development. The initiative has also made significant progress in engaging the private sector, with coordination and cooperation with DPP APINDO, TVET institutions, and private sector companies in three provinces. The program has also conducted training workshops to develop a team of GESI facilitators in the private sector, and has facilitated youth councils for PYD advocacy teams. In terms of employment and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, the program has made significant progress in gathering accurate data on persons with disabilities at the community level, expanding access to data on internships, jobs, and entrepreneurship opportunities, and empowering disabled persons organizations (DPOs) at the district level. The program has also facilitated multi-stakeholder coordination, developed inclusive guidelines for TVET and private sector, and promoted inclusive corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the private sector. The program has also made significant progress in monitoring and evaluation, with regular series of Kunci Coordination Meetings, Provincial Kunci Coordination Meetings, and advocacy for regional planning and budgeting processes. The program has also conducted a midterm evaluation, which revealed a significant increase in performance across the board. Overall, the USAID Mitra Kunci Initiative has made significant progress in promoting inclusive workforce development in Indonesia, with a focus on empowering youth, particularly those with disabilities, to access education, employment, and economic opportunities. The program has established a strong platform for community-based vocational training centers, engaged the private sector, and made significant progress in employment and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.