Prime Implementer
The QED Group LLC
Implementing Partners
JE Austin Associates, Inc
Union of Economists of Turkmenistan
Project Timeline
October 2021 – September 2026
Project Goals
Turkmenistan’s transition to a market economy requires workforce development aimed at equipping the labor force with modern, market-matched skills and knowledge. Towards this goal, USAID’s Youth Development Activity will connect Turkmenistani youth (ages 15-25) with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and create sustainable linkages between training providers and the labor market.
The activity will engage with three key stakeholder groups (youth, employers, and training providers) to understand and match skills-driven educational approaches to the current and future demands of the Turkmen economy. The Youth Development Activity is implemented by The QED Group, LLC and runs from October 2021 through September 2026.
Brief Background
The Youth Development Activity will focus on supporting youth from primary school through to their first jobs, to become productive, well-adjusted members of the Turkmen workforce and their communities. The new activity will blend education, entrepreneurship, civil society, and development initiatives to provide a holistic approach to supporting Turkmen youth. The Youth Development Activity will create opportunities for Turkmen youth to acquire marketable skills and/or start their businesses with a special focus on marginalized groups. It will also work with training providers to make their curricula more market oriented and create sustainable linkages between educational organizations and industries. The activity will also support inclusive youth grassroots initiatives to improve their communities. The Youth Development Activity will utilize the USAID Youth in Development Policy and support areas that are critical to supporting Turkmen youth’s educational needs.
Overview of Activities
- Identifying skills and qualifications that are currently in demand in the private and public sectors
- Working with training providers to facilitate the creation of opportunities for youth to acquire such skills and qualifications
- Establishing links between training providers and employers to help training providers make their curricula more labor market-oriented
- Supporting and implementing programs that will equip youth willing to start their businesses with the required expertise and will connect them with potential investors, international experts, mentors, businesses, and donors (startup facilitation).
Expected Results
- Additional formal and informal linkages between key stakeholders – youth, employers, and training providers – including alumni/employer networks, mentorship programs, and advisory bodies;
- Strengthened training systems that develop modern, market-matched skills;
- Increased employment and entrepreneurship among Turkmenstani youth, especially among women and people with disabilities; and
- Sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Contact
For more information, please contact Serdar Akyev, Chief of Party at SAkyev@qedgroupllc.com