Sustainable Colombian Opportunities for Peacebuilding and Employment

This project aims to develop programs that provide skills training work internships and job placements matched to labour market needs for at-risk youth in seven major Colombian cities: Baranquilla Bogota Buenaventura Cali Cartagena Medellin Soacha and Quibdo. This project seeks to transfer Canadian inclusive training and employment models to Colombian municipalities and private sector partners. In addition the project will involve deploying 34 skilled Canadian cooperants to build municipal capacities in areas such as employment program planning and gender-responsive employment strategies. The Sustainable Colombian Opportunities for Peacebuilding and Employment (SCOPE) promotes private sector engagement by designing training that responds to the needs of local businesses while ensuring their commitment to providing employment opportunities for poor and vulnerable youth. Project activities include: (1) increasing equitable and inclusive participation of poor and vulnerable youth in the labour market; and (2) improving the design and implementation of market-driven employment policies strategies and programs for poor and vulnerable youth.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased equitable and inclusive participation in the labour market of poor and vulnerable people in targeted regions in Colombia; (2) improved design and implementation of gender-responsive and market-driven employment policies strategies and programs for poor and vulnerable people. This initiative directly benefits 4 000 vulnerable youth with 80% receiving guaranteed employment. Also 12 000 indirect beneficiaries via youth contributions to their overall family incomes.