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COVID-19 VSD
Top NewsICT4VET Community of Practice – our response to COVID-19 Implementing online skills development, learning and teaching under Covid-19 restrictions is a big challenge for many projects and programmes.To tackle this challenge we will kick-start a dedicated Community of Practice (CoP), facilitated by our colleagues of the Swiss Educational Innovation Network. >> Know more
Webinars on “Responding to COVID-19 and saving jobs in non-farm sectors: experiences from two SDC projects In the Webinars we heard about first experiences from projects in Bangladesh and Moldova and how they adapted their strategies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. From Bangladesh, we learned how the project is reorienting its strategy to support jobs in the ready-made garment sector. From Moldova, we heard how the project supports partners, for example, in setting up an e-commerce system for food or online trainings for ICT skills. >> see the recordings
Problem statement Impact on education and training systems
The Covid-19 crisis leads to the interruption of education and training systems. According to UNESCO’s school closure monitor on May 25, 2020 144 countries have closed schools, universities and technical training facilities country-wide. Intermission of tutoring services and apprenticeship workplaces are unprecedented challenges for governments, teachers/trainers, students and private sector actors, trying to ensure learning continuity and/or business survival. Many SMEs had to shut down their business, not able to provide the in-company training, and leaving a young population without income, nor the social safety net of western countries. Vulnerable youth are disproportionately affected by disrupted education. Girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys during crises. Most countries have followed WHO recommendations, relying on e-learning and distance education to minimise the disruption of VSD. However, many vocations do not allow remote training at all, and the work-based or practical part of VSD programs poses a core challenge. If alternative educational opportunities are applicable in certain professions, disadvantaged groups often have only limited access (no internet connection, no financial resources for the necessary bandwidth, or limited space at home).  Impact on recruitment and labour market
The expected medium to long term economic crisis will equally impact the employers’ possibilities and willingness to invest into workforce development or provide in-company training. Many of them already halt recruitment, closing the small window of opportunity for VSD graduates. Expected to contribute to family income, many of them will be pushed into informality. Too old to qualify for basic education, having missed the entry into self- or wage employment they risk becoming a lost generation beyond the Covid-19-crisis. With a predictable shortage of funds due to lower tax returns and remittances, as well as higher expenses in face of the pandemic, funding of VSD will hardly be a priority. Responding proactively to this paradigm shift, VSD can play a key role in upgrading the relevant skills for the health (e.g. train health assistants) or logistics sectors (e.g. production and distribution of hygiene products) to address imminent issues. SDC’s focus on transition to work (cf. SDC's Education Strategy) gains more importance: missing certificates due to education disturbances, reduced job opportunities and other unexpected challenges ask for increased efforts in matching (e.g. establishing job portals, investing in entrepreneurial skills). Regardless of the Covid-19 crisis, digitalisation is transforming jobs and skills globally. The current challenges offer a window of opportunity to explore new or alternative ways of learning and foster innovation. SDC projects and partners will have to respond to new questions affecting implementation of activities and whole projects. The following non-conclusive overview outlines possible critical points and gives example of emerging initiatives, tools and good practices to address them.
CHALLENGESExamples of short-term issues/consequences | MITIGATIONPossible mitigation strategies, tools and good practices |
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No (practical) training: Educational institutions (VET schools, VET centres, VSD providers) and businesses are closed. Youth lack practical training due to no on-the-job training. It is easier to transmit theory, general education and soft skills remotely than occupational/technical skills in most professions. If training can continue, there is a high risk of infections.
| - Globally distance education methods (e.g. digital training courses) are tested
- use specifically existing solutions for VSD, e.g.: Funzi, Alison, EdX, entrepreneurship course- lists of online TVET material; UNEVOC, login needed; COL-Website) - UNESCO list of general distance learning solutions (very broad, not specific VSD focus) - Qualify teachers and trainers to use distance and e-learning methods
- Develop a scheme to take up practical training at a later point (postponement)
- Support national VET agencies in adopting distance learning methods (incl. digital initiatives)
- Connectivity: Coalition with private sector (e.g. Microsoft, GSMA, Telecommunication companies)
- Make sure hygiene standards are followed
- Guidance for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Schools (link)
| Uncomplete training: Disruption of education and lack of assessments/certifications leads to unfished training. | - Find alternative ways of assessment
- Introduce certification system considering Covid-19-situation
| Less employment: Trained youth cannot find employment or pursue self-employment.
| - Find alternative ways of working, home deliveries, payments through e-payment solution (m-pesa, etc.)
- Focus on products in high demand
- Distance training in e-marketing and online communication
- Mentorship: Remote coaching by trainers/teachers via phone/Whats app; provide online training on how to be a remote mentor for mentors
- Virtual career guidance /counselling for career decision resp. change
| Liquidity shortage: Private training providers face liquidity problems. Trainers are not available anymore. | - Provide information to private sector partners on available funds, their access requirements, support access process, etc.
- Ensure trainers are supported during crisis; continuation of salary payments, stipends, etc.
- Training/further education of existing and new trainers
| Changing labour market: New professions or fields of employment emerge and certain professions are in high demand. Changing nature of certain professions, e.g. online retail, asks for adapted trainings | - Apprentices in health professions or ICT get fast-track upskilling; validation of acquired knowledge and experiences later
- Pay attention to gender and social inclusion
| Earning instead of learning: Youth are needed to contribute to crucial family income as part of survival strategies of families (no time for VSD training). Especially parents working in the informal economy lose their income and can no longer finance their children's training. | - Cash transfers to families in need, vouchers for food
- Introduce stipends system for youth attending VSD training
- Develop short-term effective financing mechanisms, e.g. public voucher systems for access to alternative training offers
| Enlarged gender and inequality gap: More marginalized youth and women lack access to alternative education and training (e.g. digital solutions). The income and poverty gap get bigger. | - Plan alternatives with equity in mind from the beginning; suggestions on the world education blog
- Measures to support value adding sectors and workers reconversion
- Identify new opportunities created by labour-market shifts: more attractive jobs should not be the prerogative of men
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Medium to long-term consequences and related potential coping strategies Many of the above challenges will continue in the medium to long term. In an ever-shifting environment, the following mid to long term issues and responses will require constant updates: CHALLENGESExamples of medium to long-term issues/consequences | MITIGATION Possible mitigation strategies, tools and good practices |
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Reduced economic growth: This negatively impacts the involvement of private sector in VSD: Companies are less ready to invest (time and resources) in VSD and to hire graduates. | - Identify new opportunities through continuous dialogue with employers / associations
- Financial incentives for employers
| Higher youth unemployment and underemployment rate: Depending on countries and sectors,these rates will increase substantially. | - Holistic approach of youth employment (e.g. combine with private sector development and support self-employment)
- Define labour-market failures and opportunities for different target groups
| Sector-specific shifts in labour markets | - Continuous assessment of and adaptation to labour market demand
- Sector-specific analyses
- Job portals, matching and mediation
| Reduced public budgets: Declining tax revenues and new priorities (increasing health sector spending and economic stimuli) will lead to reduced State funds for VET. | - Increase ODA for education sector and mobilisation of alternative resources (e.g. improved public and private sector participation)
- Governance of the funds released during the crisis for a better outreach of the real needs
- Lobby to maintain budgets for ODA
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Case Studies
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The Skills for Jobs project in Albania is designed to address key challenges in Vocational Education and Training (VET). At the core of the Skills for Jobs approach are work-based learning, the application of industry standards in VET trainings and a business mindset in the management of VET institutions. Under Covid-19 the MESOVET online platform has become the core answer to assure distance learning and therefore the learning progression of Albanian students and trainees. To find out more about the project’s response to Covid-19 have a look at the project description in the pdf.
Relevant News
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11 Mar 2021
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24 Apr 2020
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06 Apr 2020
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06 Apr 2020
 11 March 2021
Innovative solutions are essential to meet the challenges during the Covid-19 crisis. Three examples from Latin America show how the projects Swisscontact implements have adapted to the new circumstances and demonstrated resilience in the face of the pandemic. In El Salvador, complementary carpentry training for returning migrants is being adapted to the new market conditions. Master builders in Peru are developing digital skills in order to improve safety during construction projects. In Bolivia, mechanical engineers designed and developed a respiratory assistance device for families in rural parts of the country. >> Read more
24 April 2020
Vocational education and training is profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially the support of practice-related skills development is a huge challenge in times of restricted access to the workplace and/or schools, but also the change from learning and teaching in the classroom to learning at home. The presentation of the SDC-project “Skills for Jobs”, implemented by SWISSCONTACT shows how a VET project is coping successfully with the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. Contact: Fation Dragoshi (project manager) and Sidita Dibra (deputy project manager)
06 April 2020
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has produced some interesting resources that are relevant to this discussion. COL has developed three online courses to build TVET educators' capability in flexible learning. The courses are designed to be facilitated in cohorts, but anyone can view them and learn from them:
06 April 2020
COVID-19 & Education: Special additional funding window April – June Submit innovative responses to face the Covid-19 impacted learning crisis The current health crisis has also led to an education crisis! In more than 188 countries schools, universities or training centers closed. 1,6 billion children and youth miss out on education. This is 89% of the world’s student population. The highest numbers of affected students are children at (pre-)primary and secondary level basic education due to the hundreds of thousands of schools closed. Hardest hit are countries with already weak school systems or where parents have not the means or capacities to do home schooling. The interruption of children’s schooling risks major fallbacks in their learning and long-term school-drop-out particularly of the disadvantaged and vulnerable. It also has an impact on children’s protection, health and mental well-being. Challenges face also young people in vocational skills development or at universities whose courses are interrupted with little prospects when training would regain. However, in many places educational authorities, schools, teachers, parents, students, civil society organizations, private sector actors are creating inventive solutions to make sure education and training continues – such as distance learning, mobile-phone learning, radio or TV schooling. Innovation and creativity are now asked more than ever. The SDC Education Fund: Innovation meets Education therefore opens a special COVID-19 & Education Funding Window to support innovative approaches that enable to continuing or catching-up learning as a result of COVID-related school closure. Between now and end of June 2020, SDC Country Offices are invited to submit projects whose purpose is to make sure children and youth can continue or catch-up learning despite the current health-crisis. Projects have to be linked to the COVID-19 impact on education or training. Projects that besides educational learning include also health-messaging and protection aspects are particularly encouraged, so are innovative modalities that may include private sector engagement (e.g. for ICT solutions, distance, mobile or radio learning etc.). Funding can be in the range of CHF 50’000 to CHF 300’000. Projects can be submitted any time between now and end of June, for feedbacks if approved within 2,5 weeks. The Education Fund Committee will convene a review/approval-meeting every 2 weeks. Proposals have to be submitted via the template that can be found on the Shareweb page. They need to have the necessary quality in both content and form and be submitted together with the annexes mentioned on the template. The general SDC administrative regulations regarding contributions/mandates apply. Kindly note: Should you have project ideas please get in touch with marie.bruening@eda.admin.ch and rahel.jus@eda.admin.ch prior to the submission of a proposal, in order to assess whether your idea is eligible to the criteria of the Education Fund. Please find here further information Eligibility & Selection Criteria and Process & Application. Attention: this is a special Covid-19 & Education Window that does not affect the regular EDU-Fund mandate, process and submission-schedule that can be found on the Shareweb. Please, do not hesitate to contact us for any additional questions or guidance! >> read more
Relevant Events
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11 Jun 2020
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10 Jun 2020
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07 May 2020
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09 Apr 2020
online
11 Jun 2020
11 June 2020
11 June 2020
11 June
In the Webinars on “Responding to COVID-19 and saving jobs in non-farm sectors: experiences from two SDC projects” we heard about first experiences from projects in Bangladesh and Moldova and how they adapted their strategies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. From Bangladesh, we learned how the project is reorienting its strategy to support jobs in the ready-made garment sector. From Moldova, we heard how the project supports partners, for example, in setting up an e-commerce system for food or online trainings for ICT skills. RecordingsBelow you can see the recordings from both webinars - Webinar on Wednesday, 10 June
- Webinar on Thursday, 11 June
Stefan Butscher, Deputy Director of Cooperation, Swiss Cooperation Office Moldova
Elene Tkhlashidze, Programme Lead at the SDC's Optim project in Moldova, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
Derek George, Deputy Director of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh (Webinar Thursday 11 June)
 Ameena Chowdhury, Programme Manager – Income and Economic Development, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh (Webinar Wednesday, 10 June)
Moderator  Marcus Jenal, Partner at Mesopartner
10 Jun 2020
10 June 2020
10 June 2020
10 June
![]() We invite you to join the Webinar on “Responding to COVID-19 and saving jobs in non-farm sectors: experiences from two SDC projects”. We will hear about first experiences from projects in Bangladesh and Moldova and how they adapted their strategies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. From Bangladesh, we will hear how the project is reorienting its strategy to support jobs in the ready-made garment sector. From Moldova, we hear how the project supports partners, for example, in setting up an e-commerce system for food or online trainings for ICT skills.
Below you find some additional information on the two projects:
Dates:
How to join the webinar - To join on your computer, open this link for Wednesday and this link for Thursday. If you use your office computer, the link will open with your Skype for Business (if installed). If you don’t have Skype for Business installed, copy the respective link and open it with your Internet Explorer or any other browser (except Firefox!)
- To join with your smartphone or tablet, download the Skype for Business App, and then open this link for Wednesday and this link for Thursday.
- To join via phone, call (+41584646973), using conference ID 3226333364 (for Wednesday) and 3348555586 (for Thursday)
Speakers Stefan Butscher, Deputy Director of Cooperation, Swiss Cooperation Office Moldova
Elene Tkhlashidze, Programme Lead at the SDC's Optim project in Moldova, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
Derek George, Deputy Director of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh (Webinar Thursday 11 June)
Ameena Chowdhury, Programme Manager – Income and Economic Development, Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh (Webinar Wednesday, 10 June)
Moderator Marcus Jenal, Partner at Mesopartner
07 May 2020
07 May 2020
07 May 2020
07 May
Webinar on Skills development during the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for recovery This webinar will take place on Thursday, 7 May 2020 from 13h00 to 14h30 (CEST). To participate, please use the following link which will be activated at the time of the webinar here. Information about this and previous webinars, including reports, recordings and presentations can be found on this website. The webinar will highlight key innovative country experiences in tackling the immediate and longer-term challenges of the COVID-19 crisis on TVET and skills development systems. It will also explore how recovery is planned and how to further build more equitable, resilient and labour market-responsive TVET systems after the pandemic >> agenda >> visit the UNESCO COVID-19 Global Education Coalition website
09 Apr 2020 in online
09 April 2020
09 April 2020
in online
09 April in online
In the face of the corona virus disease (COVID-19), governments are taking unprecedented measures including school closures that have so far affected over 1.4 billion learners worldwide. The SDC Education Network is planning a webinar on 9 April 2020 on Education in health emergencies in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar will provide guidance on education programming in such exceptional times and provide an opportunity for SDC Network members to discuss their concerns, share experiences and ask questions. The webinar takes place on April 9th - 9h-10h (Swiss Time) in English
- 14h-15h (Swiss Time) in French
Please note, that the webinar is for SDC staff only. Other people interested in participating, please write to education@eda.admin.ch.
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