The PPDP approach allows the Japanese company Komatsu, the Government of Japan, which provided funding for the project, and UNIDO to join forces to make market-oriented technical training available to young Liberians. “The project will train workers for the heavy equipment sector, which is necessary to support the reconstruction efforts in the country. At the same time, it will create opportunities for young people. Thereby the PPDP approach creates a win-win situation and benefits both, the Liberian youth, as well as private companies”, explained Stavros Papastavrou, the responsible UNIDO project manager.

The second project aims to revitalize forest training centers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. With support from the Government of Finland, the project enables Finnish Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to transfer knowledge and provide equipment to these training centers. Special emphasis is being put on introducing cost-efficient innovative virtual learning technologies. Ultimately, the project will contribute to green employment creation in the SADC region.

The Learning and Knowledge Development Facility is run by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It brings together companies, vocational training centers, development agencies and donors to facilitate knowledge sharing on innovative public-private development partnership approaches in industrial skills development.

For further information, visit project page or contact:

Virpi Stucki, UNIDO Project Manager