Skills Development Project (CHeber), Kyrgyzstan

Situation

The Skills Development Project in Kyrgyzstan addresses persistent gaps between the skills workers have and those employers need. It establishes a demand-driven mechanism in which formal and informal employers identify training needs through employer associations, which then facilitate tailored short-term training with qualified public or private providers. Training focuses on practical technical, business, and soft skills and can take place on or off the job. The project primarily targets young people aged 15–34, including women, unemployed and underemployed people, migrants and socially excluded groups, while also supporting existing workers who need upskilling. Employer associations are strengthened to identify collective skills needs, organize relevant training, and sustain these services over time. Alongside training delivery, the project supports a more enabling environment for non-formal skills development, including links to occupational standards, the National Qualifications Framework and recognition of prior learning. By connecting training directly to employer demand, the project aims to improve access to more, better and more inclusive jobs and strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s skills development system.