Skills Development Project

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The project development objective of the Skills Development Project for Uganda is to enhance the capacity of institutions to deliver high quality, demand-driven training programs in target sectors. The project is comprised of four components. Component 1, institutionalizing systemic reforms in skills development seeks to support the reform task force (RTF) to oversee the implementation of critical reforms necessary for the effective functioning of the skills development system as well as supporting the establishment of the skills development authority (SDA) in the medium term. The establishment of sector skills councils (SSCs) are also part of this component and will carry out the following functions: (i) identifying and analyzing of skill requirements in the economic sector; (ii) development of industry skills strategies and training plans to achieve priority goals; (iii) establishing occupational and competency standards and qualifications as part of the Uganda Vocational Qualifications Framework (UVQF); (iv) evaluating performance in skills development; (v) putting in place regulation of public and private sector training providers; and (vi) promoting enterprise based training in the sector. Component 2, improving quality and relevance of skills development, seeks to develop 4 colleges to eventually become Centers of Excellence (CoE) offering high quality competency-based training for artisans (low-level), craftsmen (medium level) and technicians (higher-level) to equip them with skills demanded by selected trades/occupations in the manufacturing, construction, and agriculture sectors of the Ugandan economy. Component 3, employer-led short-term training and recognition of prior learning, will be implemented through a Grant Facility mechanism that will be co-financed by the private sector through a matching grant contribution, and support training activities that lead to improved productivity and competitiveness in the formal and informal sectors. This grant facility will be implemented in four phases. Component 4, project management, monitoring and evaluation, will finance: (i) management of the project including establishment of a Project Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to manage the project, as well as implementation units within the respective CoEs, and strengthen the existing project coordination unit (PCU) under the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU); (ii) monitoring and evaluation under the project including baseline studies, mid and end-term tracer studies, employer satisfaction surveys, mid-term management review, and annual performance audits, and (iii) Capacity building for implementing units.