Germany provides new funding for technical and vocational training of Palestinian youth

On behalf of the German Government, KfW Development Bank signed today agreements totaling 10 million EUR with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Ministry of Finance
and Planning to improve job opportunities of Palestinian youth.

The funds will be used to enhance technical and vocational training facilities in the West Bank and the Gaza strip. Students will receive better training in subjects such as automotive, electrical and
mechanical engineering, solar technology, computer technology, food processing, fashion, nursery and tourism.

The programme will be implemented in close cooperation between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and Al QudsUniversity.

Al Quds University will strengthen its Dual Study Progamme where students study and gain practical work experience at the same time. Several industrial schools, technical colleges and vocational trainings Centers will also benefit from improved facilities.

During the signing ceremony Minister of Education Dr. Sabri Saidam said: “we thank the German Government for their support to the Education Sector especially the Vocational and Technical Education which aims to increase the trainings of Palestinian Youth making it easier for them to join the labor market.”

The German Representative in Ramallah, Peter Beerwerth stated “More job opportunities for Palestinian youth – with today´start of this programme I am confident we will not only better equip  vocational training facilities, but also contribute to better vocational trainings opportunities to prepare Palestinian Youth for the labour market.”

It is worth mentioning that Germany has promoted vocational and technical training in the Palestinian Territories since 2004 through both its cooperation agencies KfW and GIZ.

The additional funding will complement previous funds out of a special initiative to support Youth Employment in the MENA region.

According to the latest statistics by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics the unemployment rate for persons aged between 20 and 24 currently stood at 43 % in the first quarter of 2016.

Better vocational and technical training that is tailored to the needs of the labor market is considered an important measure to reduce this number.

KfW finances investments and advisory services in developing countries on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Palestinian-German Financial cooperation started in the 1990s.

The main focus of this cooperation is water and sanitation, Development of the Economy and Governance, with ongoing programmes and projects amounting to about 500 million EUR.

Source: PNN