Planning post-training support

Planning post-training support begins during the planning phase of a TREE programme The role of partners is important: ensure that you have identified suitable partners for post-training support and engaged them in the programme from the beginning. Feasibility studies will also have identified both needs for post-training support and potential providers. Finalizing the plan for post-training support should include the beneficiaries themselves, the local TREE committee and relevant partner organizations.

Post-training supports may include:

For wage employment:
  • Assistance with preparing resumes and job applications
  • Assistance in preparing for interviews and recruitment processes
  • linkages with employers, assistance with job search and placement;
  • linkages with workers’ organizations.
For self-employment and micro-enterprises:
  • support with development or refining of business, financial and marketing plans,
  • support to small business start-ups;
  • support for accessing credit;
  • support access to other financial services including digital ones
  • business development services, including linkages with markets, quality testing, business advisory consultancy, business incubators, transportation, bulk purchasing, technology transfer, including ICT, design services, fashion forecasting, tax, and other regulatory compliance support services, etc.
  • support in the formation or expansion of cooperative enterprises.
To support formalization of enterprises:
  • support for the creation of sustainable community structures (business associations, self-help groups, savings, and credit groups, etc.);
  • linking with and mainstreaming into local economic development programmes and the formal sector in general.
In all cases, follow up activities including:
  • support for formal recognition of skills acquired through training and/or prior learning
  • visits to TREE graduates to monitor their progress in wage employment or enterprises;
  • advice on issues of occupational safety and health, fundamental principles and rights in the workplace, social dialogue, dealing with conflicts, etc.
There are two elements to post-training support plans:
  1. Developing a network of post-training services
  2. Re-assessment of post-training needs

Post-Training Services Network

After the post-training needs have been identified, establishing the range of necessary services may involve a number of steps. Where there is adequate local availability of a service (for example, there may be an existing micro-credit facility) the plan will involve ensuring the service is available and accessible to beneficiaries as they require it. Where a service exists in principle but is not currently available locally, the plan will involve working with relevant service providers to develop locally accessible options: through remote or visiting services by business development advisory services, for example. Finally, where there is a necessary post-training support for which there is no existing provider, the plan will involve identifying potential provider(s), building their capacity to deliver the service and securing resources to ensure the service is available to support the beneficiaries for an adequate period of time.

Re-assessment of post-training needs

While the initial TREE development and feasibility studies will have identified a number of post-training support requirements, the needs of training graduates should be re-assessed towards the end of the training period, and any additional needs relevant to the majority of the group or for individuals should be identified. This may result in modifying the post-training support plan to add additional services or providers or to indicate further training or capacity building needs for service providers to meet the needs of the beneficiaries.