PROJECT BACKGROUND

The relatively low productivity levels in Cambodia stem from the agriculture sector, which absorbs about 54 percent of all workers and produces about 30 percent of GDP. Hence the challenge of youth employment is twofold: (i) to diversify the economy away from its traditional agriculture base providing productive employment opportunities for the 270,000 new workers that enter the labour market every year and (ii) to modernize the agricultural sector in order to provide higher returns to young people who remain employed in agriculture. Meanwhile, skills remain inadequate to service the industrial sector. As cited in the Government’s Industrial Development Policy (IDP) 2015-2025, it has become essential for the burgeoning young labour force to gain the bevy of technical and technological skills demanded in order for Cambodia to industrialize competitively.

To respond to the problem, this United Nations Joint Programme proposes to support the implementation of the recently launched National Employment Policy, which intends to increase decent and productive employment opportunities. While looking after the continued improvement of the policy, the proposed programme will emphasize the employability of young job seekers through entrepreneurship and skills training, including life skills, and volunteerism. It will focus on a series of measures that will help address the challenges of the informal sector, including through the promotion of rights at work. This shall translate into activities related to education, entrepreneurship training, promoting public-private partnership, improving public services and strengthening regulatory and policy frameworks as well as research and coordination mechanisms.

UNDP brings the added value of providing the Royal Government of Cambodia with policy advisory and research to link human capital and industrial policies and to improve the resilience of people employed in rural and informal jobs.

KEY EXPECTED RESULTS

This joint effort aims to increase the access of young women and men to decent and productive employment opportunities and to quality formal and non-formal education including volunteerism so that they can develop relevant technical and vocational skills.

The programme also equips young women and men, both in-school and out-of-school, with adequate knowledge of their rights and obligations and with entrepreneurial and business skills to create and develop sustainable enterprises.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. National Employment Agency (NEA) Communication Strategic Plan was developed and endorsed by NEA management.
   
   
2. Multimedia skills training provided to NEA technical staff so that they can produce multimedia products that address youth employment needs and reach out to diverse young people throughout Cambodia.
   
   
3. Research on the macroeconomic effect of investment in education and training packages for youth skill development and entrepreneurship in Cambodia is being conducted and expected to end in the first part of 2019.
   
   
4. In partnership with the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC), a series of events were held to reach out to youth, to raise awareness about youth entrepreneurship and employment, including among private sector HR managers:
   [a] Two youth conferences on "Becoming Young Entrepreneurs and Leaders" took place in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces with the participation of 783 students (448 young women)
   [b] Training workshop provided to 21 people with disability on financial management system and tax regulations for MSMEs, followed by mentor and coaching service to the trainees, and
   [c] ToT training was provided to 16 company managers (7 females) from 11 companies so that they can train/ coach their young staff at the workplace.
   
   
5. A Business Investment Guidebook for Siem Reap province was developed in consultation and with support from local authority such as provincial hall and provincial departments. 
   
   
6. Over the past year, UNDP has been reaching out to youth with disabilities, private sector and policy-makers to raise awareness about access to skill and decent employment of people with disabilities. As a result:
   [a] 72 (44 women) youth with disability gained more understanding on the process of job seeking and application. Specifically, in partnership with Disabled Organizations, UNDP equipped them with skills on writing CV and application letters.
   [b] 25 Disabled People Organizations received ToT training to get better understanding on employment and the process of job seeking for young people with disabilities.
   [c] Quarterly Disabilities and employment committee meeting was held at the National Employment Agency participated by representatives from private sector including CAMFEBA, GMAC, HR Inc, BBC Media Action, ACLEDA.
   [d] Radio talk-show produced to raise awareness about disability issues in relation to decent employment and skills training.

For more photos, see our Flickr album