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IWO continues work in Georgia

Picture: ©IWO

The project "Master of My House I Professional Qualification" was approved by the German Federal Foreign Office for the next three years as part of the expansion of cooperation with civil society in the countries of the Eastern Partnership and Russia - 2023, allowing us to continue our activities in Georgia.

With this project, IWO e.V. is continuing its work in Georgia and Abkhazia, which it started in the previous projects "Master of my House" (2018-2022), and is developing it further due to the great demand from local stakeholders. Stakeholders together with its civil society partner network. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) community is still the most vulnerable part of Georgian society. Problems such as access to basic necessities like food, clean water, health care, employment and education remain despite several measures to improve the current situation. Youth and senior citizens are the most vulnerable sections of IDP communities. School dropouts and low access to higher and vocational education lead to disadvantages in the participation of IDP youth in the labour market. This project aims to improve vocational skills in construction for young people living on the territory of Abkhazia and the border area. It is innovative because normally no one crosses the dividing line for vocational training. Previous projects have shown that other professions are in high demand and more young people want to be trained.

Although the demand for plumbers, tilers, welders is very high, there are no training opportunities in these occupations. Our labour market analysis of the construction sector has shown that the majority of workers are unskilled and trained personnel are in high demand even in difficult economic times (e.g. Corona). Therefore, learning one of these professions would significantly increase employment and income opportunities and improve the living conditions of young returnees and their families in Abkhazia. The labour market analysis also showed that there is a lack of qualified and mobile repair companies in Abkhazia, which hinders the provision of fast and high-quality services. As part of the previous project, CHCA and Abkhazian partners are establishing a social enterprise (SE). Partners established a social enterprise (SE) involving 3-5 people. The SE will offer mobile services in the field of construction, repair & reconstruction of buildings. The SE will employ about 7-8 professionals from different technical fields.

In parallel, janitorial training is further integrated in 3 vocational schools (Construct 2, Black Sea & New Wave) in the regions of Imeretia and Ajara. The previous project revealed an imbalance in the labour market between supply and demand in the construction industry. Vocational schools need to be more responsive to the needs of the sector and develop dual training programmes with companies. The project coordinates the implementation of a dual training programme for electricians in Georgia. The project coordinates the implementation of a dual training programme for electricians for the Georgian market for more than 2 years. Cooperation is promoted through the active development of a cooperation network of vocational schools, construction companies and the Skills Agency.

For further information please contact Johann Strese | strese@iwoev.org.