Home Our Work Establishment of a Pilot Career Guidance Centre in Syria

Establishment of a Pilot Career Guidance Centre in Syria

E-mail Print PDF

Implementing Partner: CEED/Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL)
Practice Area: Poverty Reduction
Total Budget: US$ 585 324
Total Expenditures to Date (Dec 2009): US$ 164, 852
Duration: May 2008 – Dec 2010 (initial 18 months extended)
Status: Ongoing
Location: Damascus (pilot only)

Description / Overview:

The project aims at introducing the career guidance (CG) concept and services to Syrian youth focusing on job seekers from different educational levels and in particular women. Enabling individuals to choose their careers on an educated basis would increase their productivity, self-satisfaction and enhance matching their competencies to actual labour market needs. This approach has proved to be effective in mitigating unemployment and combating poverty. It also promotes the involvement of individuals and the civil society in decision making. Employers will also benefit from CG services in advertising their vacancies and widening the base for selection.

An autonomous Pilot Career Guidance Centre (PCGC) in Damascus, under the supervision of the Commission for Employment and Enterprise Development (CEED) with active participation of employers and workers’ organizations and the civil society, will provide individuals with information on their own interests and competencies as well as labour market trends and available vacancies. Guidance and counseling will help them acquire necessary skills to search for appropriate jobs, apply for them and prove themselves during screening. Further training will be recommended, as appropriate. Unbiased computer-based helping and matching software will be used, as well as printed material and other media to fit all groups’ needs.

Cross Cutting Themes:

This project works towards achieving gender equality in employment



Objectives:

In line with the UNDAF’s aim of promoting a socio-economic environment that enables sustainable growth, employment equity and protection of vulnerable groups in place, the project aims to:
  • Establish a pilot career guidance centre in Damascus, with an autonomous identity under the supervision of CEED with a Steering Committee involving other major stakeholders
  • Design and implementation of a long-term advocacy media campaign
  • Establishment of mechanisms linking the centre to available local/national information systems / sources as well as local data collection tools
  • Production of a final report on the project with clear recommendations regarding possibilities and needs for the anticipated replication

Target Beneficiaries:

  • CEED/MoSAL
  •  Syrian job seekers in Damascus and beyond
  • Employers’ and workers’ organizations and the civil society

Implementation Strategy:
  • Secure appropriate premises for the Pilot Cereer Guidance Centre in a proper location, refurbish it to the needs and make it habitable for the centre
  • Equip the centre with necessary furniture, audio-visual equipment, computers and modern communication facilities, including a high-speed wide-band reliable internet connection
  • Select, contract and train the core gender-balanced staff of the centre to the required level
  • Design and implement a long-term media advocacy campaign to help change the mindset of job seekers, males and females, and their families towards employment in the private sector, establishing their own SME or being self-employed
  • Produce / adapt necessary software to secure the smooth running of the centre
  • Establish proper connection with related data systems and outline data sharing mechanisms and rules, including own regular data collection and analysis by the Centre focusing on the local labour market in Damascus

Achievements / Current Status: 

Up to 2008:
  • Required information systems designed
  • Core staff training program designed
  • Media campaign designed
  • Centre core staff selected
  • Project document signed
  • National Project Director vacancy announced
  • Transfer of Government funds, allocation of facilities and naming MoSAL focal point completed
As of February 2010:
  • Centre of Career Guidance (CCG) has been selected by Government.
  • MoSAL has transferred the in kind contribution as cash contribution for centre renovation, equipment and furniture.
  • CGC is currently under renovation.
  • CGC staff received different trainings of the designed programme (technical training on career counseling and soft skills training).
  • National consultant has been recruited to develop the centre software.
  • National consultant has been recruited to develop the centre manual and publications for career guidance have been published. 
 

Partnerships:
 
CEED/MoSAL


Project Documents Link:
TL: Rime Hassani PO Roula Koudsi
NPD: Hala Rizk
UNDP Project Management: Social Development Team
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  
Last update of project information: February 2010