Within the framework of the directives of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, aimed at strengthening the resilience of Palestinian citizens in marginalized areas and areas threatened by the policies of occupation and settlement, particularly in Jerusalem Governorate, the National Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training held a consultative workshop with the heads of the local councils of the ten villages northwest of Jerusalem, whose population exceeds 80,000 residents. The workshop was held with the participation of the Ministry of Labour, the Lutheran World Federation, Jerusalem Governorate, and the Technical and Vocational Employment and Training Council in Jerusalem Governorate.

The workshop aimed to discuss the situation of youth in the area and to develop practical interventions and programmes in the field of technical and vocational education and training that contribute to enhancing the skills of young men and women and improving their opportunities to obtain employment or launch their own projects, particularly in light of the high unemployment rates and the economic and social challenges facing the area.

Dr. Rabah Morrar, President of the National Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, affirmed that this initiative comes in line with the governmental vision aimed at strengthening the resilience of citizens in areas targeted by the occupation and settlers, through investing in the Palestinian human capital and equipping youth with the skills that enable them to build their future and contribute to the development of their local communities. Dr. Morrar noted that technical and vocational education and training represent one of the most important national tools for addressing unemployment and poverty and enhancing employment and productivity opportunities. He further emphasized that the Commission is working to develop policies that respond to the real needs of citizens, particularly in marginalized areas, areas classified as Area “C”, and areas affected by the policies of the occupation.

The workshop witnessed an extensive discussion on priority training needs, in addition to ways of enhancing enrolment in technical and vocational training programmes and linking them to labour market needs.

For his part, Mr. Yousef Shalian, Vocational Training Programme Manager at the Lutheran World Federation, affirmed the Federation’s readiness to provide a wide range of vocational training programmes targeting the most vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, in a manner that contributes to enhancing their economic opportunities and enabling them to acquire the skills required in the labour market.

Eng. Sawsan Abu Shanab, representative of the Ministry of Labour, also confirmed the Ministry’s readiness to provide a significant number of free and specialized vocational training opportunities in various vocational and technical fields for all segments of society, through the Ministry’s vocational training centres in Ramallah and Jerusalem Governorates, in line with national efforts aimed at empowering youth and women and enhancing employment opportunities in targeted areas.

The workshop resulted in a number of practical outcomes and recommendations, most notably:

• Conducting detailed field visits to the ten villages, with the participation of all partners, to identify the needs of young men and women and determine the training and development priorities of each village.
• Preparing a map of the training and vocational needs in the area and linking them to the economic opportunities available at the local and national levels.
• Launching a joint awareness-raising campaign to introduce the benefits of technical and vocational training and the opportunities available to youth.
• Developing short and specialized training programmes targeting the most vulnerable groups, particularly women, unemployed persons, and recent graduates.
• Developing an initial database of youth needs and training opportunities in the villages northwest of Jerusalem, in a manner that contributes to improving planning and future interventions.

The partners agreed to continue coordination and joint work during the coming period in order to translate the workshop outcomes into practical programmes and initiatives that contribute to empowering youth and enhancing training opportunities, thereby positively reflecting on the resilience of citizens and their stability on their land. The National Commission further affirmed that this initiative represents a practical model of partnership between governmental institutions, local authorities, and development partners, and that the Commission will work during the coming period to replicate this experience in other marginalized and threatened areas across the various governorates of the country, in order to ensure that technical and vocational training services reach the most vulnerable groups and to enhance opportunities for youth and women to access training.