E-formality and skills development in Latin America

2nd ILO Skills Challenge Innovation Call: Finalists to be revealed on 13 October

Finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas during a live event after which the final winners of the Call will be announced

Web page | 30 September 2021
Lima - The International Labour Organization announced on 4 May 2021 a call on innovators from all over the world to propose ideas, solutions and practices that, based on the use of new technologies, support efforts to reduce labour informality by promoting skills development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

More than 60 proposals were received from entities and organizations around Latin America and the Caribbean. The best teams will be shortlisted for the opportunity to present their proposals to a panel of expert judges during the first ever ILO Skills Innovation Pitch Competition to take place on Thursday 4 November 2021. These teams will be invited to participate in mentoring and coaching sessions where they will receive customized training, advice and support in preparation for the pitch event.

Finalists will be competing for a chance to win a USD 30,000 (first prize) and USD 20,000 (second prize), as well as receive expert support for prototyping and implementing their solutions and opportunities for making connections and getting global visibility. For the first time the public vote will also be taken into account for the final scoring and selection of the winners.

Key dates

  • Announcement of the finalists: 13 October 2021
  • Mentorship programme: 19 October to 29 October 2021
  • Pitch competition: 4 November 2021
  • Announcement of winners: 5 November 2021

Map of submissions

 

About the 2nd Skills Challenge Innovation Call

The 2nd ILO Skills Challenge Innovation Call: e-formality and skills development was addressed to entities or organizations that propose solutions that will strengthen skills development and improve apprenticeship systems to reach those in the informal economy. More specifically, it sought innovative solutions to facilitating access to social protection, simplifying registration, improving access to finance, increasing productivity, supporting labour inspection, supporting law enforcement and giving a voice to those working in the informal economy.

The call aimed to promote innovation in the areas of e-formality and skills development to contribute to the recovery of formal employment in the region after the massive job losses caused by COVID-19.