Developing a thriving youth enterprise to help boost the local economy is the nexus of the recently launched European Development Fund (EDF) Generation of Employment through Private Sector Development Programme (GEPSED) – a collaborative venture to be implemented between the European Union (EU) and the Government of St Lucia (GOSL).
The significance of the project was accentuated at this weekās media launch, where key stakeholders associated with this component provided insight into the rudiments of the programme.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Development and the Youth Economy and National Authorization Officer (NAO), Claudius Emmanuel highlighted the peculiarities of this EDF project and the impact that it can create on the socio-economic development of the country.
āIt now allows us to partner with the European Union to address a significant issue in the lives of the young people, which is the mismatch of skills that are outputted by the education system and what is required from the labour market,ā he declared.
āAnd so this generation of employment project allows us to do precisely that. And so itās a wonderful opportunity for the young people to get in touch with what the new government has put forward as a major initiative, the Youth Economy, ā added Emanuel.
He further noted that there is āgreat excitementā amongst the NAO staffers āas we play our part in putting the platform together to be able to deliver on this very important project.ā
The GEPSED Programme is geared to contribute to employment generation and private sector development in Saint Lucia. With heightened support for the implementation of St. Lucia National TVET Policy & Strategy 2019 ā 2025; stakeholders anticipate that this initiative can help contribute to the development of a dynamic, competitive, and resilient workforce, with a particular focus on unemployed workers, young people, and women and identified marginalized groups.
The programme will also allow for better alignment of the education and training systems to complement labour market needs. Ultimately, this development will contribute to building job opportunities, reducing structural unemployment, and contributing toward private sector development, in the overall thrust of the countryās
economic growth and development.
EU Ambassador to Barbados & OECS Countries, Malgorzata Wasilewska spoke on the good bilateral diplomatic relations that have endured between the EU and St Lucia and that she was pleasantly pleased with the launch of this latest youth project.
The ambassador stated that discussions on this venture āstarted a long time agoā, and over the week, āwe will be able to launch a programme that will be able to deliver vocational training to a lot of young people that can fill in the gap that is needed by the industry and different aspects of your economic needā.
Ambassador Wasilewska is optimistic about seeing this programme brought to fruition āfor the benefit of the people.ā
The ambassador noted that upon completion of the program, in two years, it would be fulfilling to see that āwe can equally celebrate the results and the added value of the training we can say that so many young people have benefited from this industry and are working in job creation ā¦and helping the industry to prosper to the best of the countryās economy, then we can consider it a success.ā
Prime Minister Phillip Pierre acknowledged the support and input of the EU delegation for working assiduously towards the implementation of this development program.
He disclosed that the $6.17 million EU grant allotted for this program is timely and relevant to the countryās socio-economic development, while also recognizing the contribution from other related government departments in this endeavour.
Pierre noted that Minister for Education Shawn Edward has been an advocate for the transformation of the education system āto allow the different people with different skills to make their meaningful contribution even though they did not have the necessary certification or the conventional certificationā.
The prime minister added, āThe theme of the launch ā¦ āTVET as an Economic Driver Providing Opportunities for all in 2022 and beyondā resonates with the priority of the St Lucia government in leaving none behind and āPutting People Firstā.ā
He explained, āTVET can be seen as lifelong learning that could include many participants ā¦and that this project can provide several opportunities for our people as a whole, as we seek continued social and economic prosperity for all. TVET will endeavour to provide a qualified and capable workforce that is suited for the needs of the world of work.ā
He said the government pledges its support for āthis
Investment in people as it seeks to contribute towards meeting the demands of the labour market and correcting deficiencies that exist.ā
PM Pierre asserted that with a priority focus on youth employment: āThis project is a critical intervention to the facilities prepared for the vastly changing workplace that demands different skills, particularly in the use of technology.ā
There is an allocation of two separate tranches to fund the program; firstly a 50% equivalent in the sum of ā¬2.9m presented last December, and the second tranche which represents 25% of the budget. In the process, the Office of the National Authorising Officer (NAO) and the St. Lucia Council for Technical, Vocational Education & Training (SLCTVET) has deployed several activities directed toward the advancement of the project.
According to government sources, these funds are acclimatized to meeting the following four targets by November 2022;
– Providing 600 trainees with access to an attachment program (of three months minimum) within the industry by November, 30. (disaggregated by sex, age, disabilities);
– Providing 300 certificates (CVQs and NVQs) issued by the TVET Council by November, 30 (disaggregated by sex, age, and disabilities);
– Recording a minimum of 400 inputs/ data entries from industry, TVET Council, training providers, and Dept. of Labour by November, 30.
– Enrolling 100 individuals in the physical Workforce
– Development Centre by November, 30.
Other aspects of this weekās programme launch, included a Press Briefing and Signing Ceremony between the European Investment Bank (EIB) / Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB) MSME Investment Facility; An Opening Ceremony, Career Fair ā held on Wednesday at the Constitution Park and an Opening Ceremony – Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Industry Linkage Forum, held on Thursday at the Finance Administrative Centre.