Global Call for Case Studies: YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation:
Better Youth Workforce Development Outcomes through Sustainable Systems Reform
Do you know of or have you been a part of a Youth Workforce Development project that has a strong systems approach? Was government involvement a key component of your project? Did you achieve local ownership and sustainability? If so, we would love to hear from you so that we can better understand and share your findings and outcomes!
Summary
USAID’s DDI/Center for Education through YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation is calling for applications for case studies in youth workforce development (YWFD) that demonstrate a sustainable systems approach to improving youth workforce readiness and employment in low- and middle-income countries. Selected case study sites will host this USAID-funded collaborative research effort. Applications not selected for onsite research will be considered for inclusion in a synthesis report. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 pm ET, June 7. Questions may be directed to Nick Reed-Krase at info@youthpower.org.
Background
Better Youth Workforce Development Outcomes Through Sustainable Systems Reform
USAID/DDI’s Center for Education seeks to increase understanding of effective approaches for supporting improved, scaled, and sustainable youth workforce development (YWFD) outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Governments working in concert with the private sector, community-based organizations, and youth themselves, have a unique potential within a country to scale and sustain YWFD innovations and reforms. However, from a USAID perspective, there is limited understanding of how to foster government and eco-system ownership and integration of YWFD approaches that can be sustained after USAID (or other donor) funding ends. Increasing knowledge and evidence around systems approaches 1. YWFD will contribute to the growing literature around positive youth development, as well as USAID’s locally led development agenda (including the USAID Local Capacity Strengthening policy). This learning will enable USAID to design and manage more responsive programming and to foster peer learning across successful YWFD reform initiatives. Case study hosts will gain valuable insights into their program progress and impact with partners and stakeholders, as well as global visibility.
This study is implemented by Making Cents International, prime implementer for USAID’s YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation Project.
The objectives of the research are to:
Develop at least three case studies of successful youth workforce development (YWFD) reforms in low- and middle-income countries in which the government was a critical system actor and reforms were scaled and sustainable. At least two of the case studies will involve USAID investment. Reforms which involve a combination of changes at different levels, may include curriculum materials, pedagogy, policy, mindset shift, partnerships, inclusion, incentives, efficiency, etc.
Identify the key enabling factors across the case studies which contributed to improved YWFD outcomes at the systems level, with special attention to donors’ engagement with government. Enabling factors will include specific approaches used by local and international partners and stakeholders to facilitate improved performance in YWFD across the youth ecosystem, with special focus on government and its relationships with other stakeholders. The youth ecosystem is the set of public and private institutions, stakeholders and actors, including families, communities and youth themselves that collaborate to provide services and support for youth’s successful transition to adulthood. Typical YWFD systems actors are noted in the text box below.
Enabling factors will also include contextual elements (e.g., policy environment, funding, local capacity, etc.) critical to this progress. USAID expects to utilize these findings when designing, implementing, and evaluating USAID youth activities, especially in ways that facilitate localization and sustainability.