International Development Grant
Advancing Specialized Skills for Economic Transformation (ASSET)
Project Number: CA-3-D000349001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $11,490,378.00
Start Date: June 26, 2014
End Date: March 31, 2019
Duration: 4.8 years
Project Description
This project aims to promote economic growth in Sri Lanka by supporting equitable employment in expanding trades sectors for young women and men in Northern North Western Eastern and Southern provinces. In collaboration with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training the project works with public and private sector skills training providers who engage with relevant businesses in the four selected trades (hospitality communications technology construction and automotive repair) to develop and provide training that reflects the needs of the job market and to identify and fill job placements. The project also implements a social marketing campaign with the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training to attract students to high-demand trades.
Expected Results
The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved linkages amongst government training institutions and businesses to increase the relevance of the training to the market; (2) better skills training available for job seekers in high-demand sectors (hospitality communications technology construction automotive/mechanical); and (3) increased acceptance of careers in trades and of women entering the trades market.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2019) include: (1) 33 business stakeholder forums with members from government training institutions private sector and civil society organizations were established; (2) 65 public and private sector training institutions developed training plans that reflect private sector priorities; (3) 400 private sector partners targeted by the project established service delivery agreements with training providers; (4) 5 981 young people (including 3 032 young women and adolescent girls) received professional skills training resulting in 4 081 private sector job placements (including 1 491 for young women); and (5) over 12 million people were reached through the project’s social marketing campaign. Overall these results have contributed to: improved collaboration between government business and training institutions; better alignment of training with the job market and increased employment of young people in growth-oriented sectors of the Sri Lankan economy.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
WUSC - World University Service of Canada
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific
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:
Unsolicited Proposal