Open Call: Vocational Training and Labour Market Linkages Grant (Syria)

Deadline: 21-Sep-2026

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking partners to implement an integrated model that improves the efficiency of vocational training and strengthens connections between vocational training centers and the labor market in Syria. The initiative will initially be implemented in two vocational training centers in Aleppo and Damascus, with potential expansion to additional centers subject to available funding. The project is designed as a proof of concept for a scalable national model that can improve institutional performance, strengthen youth employability, and create sustainable mechanisms connecting vocational education and training with employers. The approach brings together government institutions, private-sector actors, training centers, and implementation partners.

About the UNICEF Vocational Training Partnership Opportunity

The initiative seeks implementation partners to help strengthen Syria’s vocational training system and improve the transition from training to employment. The intervention is designed to test an integrated model that can eventually be adapted and expanded nationally.

The model focuses on improving:

- Vocational training efficiency. - Institutional performance. - Youth employability. - Connections between training centers and employers. - Work-based learning opportunities. - Labor market responsiveness. - Employment monitoring. - Career guidance and counseling. - Communication and community engagement. The approach is intended to be developed collaboratively with government institutions, private-sector actors, and implementation partners. Why the Initiative Matters Vocational training can play an important role in helping young people develop practical skills and transition into employment. However, training systems can face challenges when curricula and training opportunities are not sufficiently connected to current labor market requirements. This initiative seeks to strengthen that connection by creating mechanisms through which employers can provide feedback, training centers can adapt programs, and young people can receive better support in moving from training into employment.

The proposed model therefore connects:

- Training institutions. - Government stakeholders. - Employers. - Young people. - Families and communities. - Implementation partners. Main Objectives of the Project The initiative has several interconnected objectives.

Key objectives include:

- Improve the efficiency of vocational training. - Strengthen institutional performance. - Improve youth employability. - Align vocational training with labor market needs. - Increase private-sector participation. - Expand work-based learning. - Integrate on-the-job training into vocational curricula. - Establish stronger employer partnerships. - Improve monitoring and evaluation systems. - Strengthen career guidance. - Improve communication and outreach. - Generate measurable employment outcomes. - Develop evidence for future national scale-up. Four Core Components of the Model The strategy is built around four mutually reinforcing components.

1. Private Sector Engagement and Labor Market Integration

The first component focuses on establishing stronger relationships between vocational training centers and the private sector.

Activities can include:

- Establishing private-sector liaison units. - Conducting labor market assessments. - Identifying employer needs. - Developing relationships with businesses. - Formalizing partnerships with employers. - Strengthening feedback between employers and training providers. The goal is to ensure that vocational training responds more effectively to labor market demand.

2. On-the-Job Training and Work-Based Learning

The second component focuses on creating structured opportunities for learners to gain practical workplace experience.

This includes:

- Designing structured work-based learning programs. - Developing on-the-job training systems. - Formalizing employer partnerships. - Integrating workplace learning into curricula. - Connecting learners with relevant employers. Work-based learning can help learners apply technical skills in real-world settings while giving employers an opportunity to participate in skills development.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

The third component focuses on creating systems that generate reliable evidence about program performance and employment outcomes.

Potential activities include:

- Developing monitoring tools. - Tracking implementation progress. - Measuring employment outcomes. - Collecting feedback. - Analyzing program performance. - Using evidence to improve training systems. The monitoring, evaluation, and learning component is intended to support continuous improvement rather than simply measure results at the end of the project.

4. Communication, Community Engagement and Career Guidance

The fourth component focuses on increasing participation and improving information available to young people and their families.

Activities can include:

- Communication campaigns. - Community outreach. - Youth engagement. - Family engagement. - Career guidance. - Professionalized career counseling. - Information about vocational training and employment opportunities. Improved outreach can help young people better understand vocational training opportunities and potential career pathways. Continuous Feedback and Learning Cycle The four components are designed to work together rather than operate as separate activities. The model creates a continuous feedback cycle: Labor market needs → training adaptation → work-based learning → employment outcomes → monitoring and learning → improved training Private-sector engagement provides information about labor market demand. Training providers can use this information to adapt their programs. Work-based learning gives learners practical experience. Monitoring systems measure outcomes and identify areas for improvement. Communication and