International Development Grant
Support to Learning Development and Integration Project
Project Number: CA-3-A034982001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $4,948,012.00
Start Date: January 02, 2013
End Date: December 31, 2017
Duration: 5.0 years
Project Description
This project aims to reduce poverty among Senegalese youth by improving their opportunities to have decent and gainful employment through apprenticeships. Apprenticeships allow young people to obtain professional qualifications through hands-on training in a production unit under the mentorship of a craftsperson called an apprenticeship master. The project supports the Ministry of Vocational Training Learning and Crafts and the regional stakeholders responsible for implementing vocational training through apprenticeships to improve the quality and management of apprenticeship programs. Project activities include the following: (1) developing study programs and teaching materials to support literacy and micro-business management training including the development of business plans; (2) supporting the creation of micro-businesses by helping young women and men obtain small loans from microfinance institutions; and (3) assisting the Ministry of Vocational Training Learning and Crafts in integrating apprenticeships into the vocational and technical training system. The project is delivered in six regions in Senegal: Thiès Fatick Diourbel Kaolack Tambacounda and Kédougou. The training programs are 14 months long and are expected to help 1 050 young people aged 15 to 26 (50 percent women).
Expected Results
The expected results for this project include the following: (1) the employability of girls and boys (aged 15 to 26) who have obtained vocational training certification through apprenticeships is improved in the regions of Diourbel Fatick Kaolack Thiès Tambacounda and Kédougou; and (2) a functional steering and apprenticeship management mechanism is implemented by the Ministry of Vocational Training Learning and Crafts and the regional services in charge of implementing the apprenticeships.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of March 2018 include: (1) an innovative and recognized apprenticeship training model combining informal and formal training has been developed and tested in 12 career-developing occupations within 135 artisanal production units across six regions of Senegal (Thiès Diourbel Fatick Kaolack Tambacounda and Kédougou); the target trades are aviculture hairdressing traditional sewing refrigeration and air conditioning market gardening motor mechanics wood working metal working restoration dyeing agri-food processing and fish product processing; (2) 135 apprenticeship masters (55 women and 80 men) have received training focusing on the competency-based approach gender equality and respect for the environment to help guide young people through the apprenticeship process; (3) 135 production units benefitted from upgrades to their equipment; (4) 1 251 young people between the ages of 15 and 26 including 556 girls (44%) received 14 months of training in a career-developing occupations across three cohorts; of these 942 young people including 408 girls (43%) passed the certification examination with a certificate officially issued by the Ministry of Vocational Training Learning and Crafts: the vocational training certificate or the trade certificate of competence; 683 young learners including 495 girls received functional literacy training; (5) 942 toolkits specific to the trade practised by the recipient were distributed to the young people who were certified; (6) 918 young people including 400 girls received entrepreneurship training to enter the labour market; 295 young people including 113 girls joined the labour market whether as self-employed persons employees in association with a master tradesperson or in association with other certified young people as an economic interest grouping; (7) 30 business plans developed by 13 girls and 27 boys received funding under an agreement with a microfinance institution to facilita
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP