EQWIP HUBs

Challenge

The population of youth around the world seeking work exceeds the number of available jobs. Employers are looking for workers with skills beyond the basic literacy, numeracy, and technical knowledge youth may learn in school. Programs are needed that help youth develop the marketable skills to succeed, whether as employees or business owners.

To that end, EDC is a partner of EQWIP, a youth-serving alliance led by Canada World Youth (CWY) and Youth Challenge International (YCI). The alliance operates EQWIP HUBs, a five-year youth workforce development project in six countries (Bolivia, Ghana, Indonesia, Peru, Senegal, and Tanzania) that mobilizes a global network to deliver innovative, gender-responsive livelihood programming for young women and men. EDC’s role in this endeavor is to provide customized curriculum, coaching, and training to youth participants and trainers.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, EQWIP HUBs integrates Canadian and local youth volunteers as a way to strengthen the intervention. In addition, it uses carefully selected learning spaces known as “hubs” where youth develop market-relevant skills, build networks, and access technology.

Key Activities

Through EQWIP HUBs, EDC delivers:

Curriculum development and adaptation of three core training courses: Foundational, Employability, and Entrepreneurship
Facilitator training in the core training courses, including the use of Work Ready Now!, EDC’s curriculum and approach for delivering work readiness skills to youth in and out of school
Professional development and technical assistance to in-country teams
Support for the integration of technology in the delivery of core training courses

Impact

Six sets of locally customized, validated, and tested training curricula on work readiness, employability, and entrepreneurship will be available in five different languages.
More than 130 trainers in six countries will be trained on learner-centered participatory teaching practices that support 21st century skills.
More than 35 trainers will receive in-depth coaching to improve their content knowledge and teaching practices.
100,000 youth in six countries will receive market-relevant skills training and other services to support them on their paths to successful livelihoods.