GHANA: SKILL-UP Ghana (Upgrading skills systems to strengthen inclusive trade and economic growth)

The SKILL-UP Ghana Project aims to move the TVET system from a supply to a demand-driven system by building on existing structures and strengthening institutional resources to promote a better understanding of the skills demanded in economic sectors. Currently in its second phase(II), the project PhaseI was implemented from 2018-2020.

Skill-Up Ghana project is part of a programme funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Norway, under Phase II (2018-2019) of the Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the Government of Norway and the ILO. The overall expected outcome of the PCA is ILO’s P&B’s Outcome 1, “More and better jobs for inclusive growth and improved youth employment prospects”, and more specifically, Indicator 1.3, “Constituents have taken action on skills development systems, strategies and programmes to reduce skills mismatches and enhance access to the labour market”.

Skill-UP Ghana aims to move the TVET system from a supply to a demand-driven system by building on existing structures and strengthening institutional resources to promote a better understanding of the skills demanded in economic sectors. The project is staged on a three-component approach to: strengthen the skills development system at national level; improve the skills development system to better match current and future labour market needs at sector level and make the skills system more inclusive.

In its initial phase, the focus is on strengthening the capacity of national stakeholders on skills governance. The subsequent phase will be centered on the transformation of skills governance in target sectors, to make them more responsive to the needs of trade and/or economic diversification. Finally, informed by sector skills initiatives, skills systems inclusiveness will be strengthened to meet the needs of women and youth. With the implementation of the three project components, the ILO aims to help the country’s skill system to be more relevant and effectively provide the skills needed in the labour market.