Project to support labour market integration of youth affected by conflict 

The project

In order to tackle the challenge of integrating young people in Niger socially and professionally into the labour market, Swisscontact is developing a project specifically adapted to the local context in each of these intervention areas:

• Project to support labour market integration of youth affected by conflict (PIPJ), in the region of Tillabéri, targeting young girls and boys affected by conflict in their communities on the Malian border

In order to support the socio-economic integration of the young people affected by these regional conflicts, Swisscontact encourages local actors to implement integrative, safe and high-quality initial vocational training. Through these short-term training courses, young people acquire technical and entrepreneurial skills in real-life work situations. The additional development of soft skills will enable them to carry out an economic activity in the local economy. At the end of their training, they will be accompanied by their community until they are integrated in a group or individually into working life.

• Project to train and make young women independent in the region of Maradi (PFAJF), targeting young women in 5 rural communities undergoing rapid demographic development

In order to support the socio-economic integration of young girls, Swisscontact sensitises local communities to the importance of girls' economic responsibility for local development and offers them safe and high-quality initial vocational training. Accompanying measures (childcare, flexible working hours) are introduced to enable all young girls to participate.

Through these short-term training courses, young girls acquire technical and entrepreneurial skills in a real work situation and develop soft skills that enable them to carry out an economic activity linked to the local economy. At the end of their training, they are accompanied by their community until they are integrated into working life in a group.

• Pilot project on alternatives to prosecution and detention of minors (PAPJ)

In order to support the reintegration of minors who have come into conflict with the law, Swisscontact intends to use their time in prison to acquire skills (technology, entrepreneurship, soft skills, literacy) so that they can set up their own small business with the necessary support after their release.
In addition, the project offers an alternative to the detention of minors through vocational training. Instead of imprisonment, the young person begins his socio-professional integration path. (Information and orientation about the professions, orientation towards a profession, and the acquisition of technical and vital competences that enable him to exercise a profession.)

Swisscontact supports these municipalities in the implementation of the first professional moderation training courses (Formations Initiales Professionalisantes, FIP for short) in the areas of agriculture (agro-processing, vegetable production and animal husbandry) and craft services and art.
These short-term training courses, which focus on practical application, enable young beneficiaries to acquire technical skills in order to pursue a profession that meets the needs of the local economy. The target sectors are identified on the basis of an analysis of training needs carried out in conjunction with the beneficiaries and local interest groups (local authorities, beneficiary families, family businesses, operators, etc.).

The project will also carry out activities to help young people acquire modern life skills through education, personal development and the development of their entrepreneurial spirit.

Following this training, the project helps young people to find their way into productive working life, based on financial or material support through intermediary services between beneficiaries and microfinance institutions and potential donors.