BISP, World Learning sign MoU for skills development, employment of young girls
- By Web Desk -
- Sep 04, 2018
ISLAMABAD: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and World Learning (WL) signed an MoU here in Islamabad focusing adolescent girls’ future.
The objective is to provide skill development and employment opportunities to BISP beneficiaries under the umbrella of the USAID funded Advancing Girls Education and Skills (AGES) Program implemented by WL.
The partnership is a part of BISP’s complimentary initiatives programme which focuses on partnership with civil society and private sector for women’s economic empowerment and their uplifting in society.
Secretary BISP Omar Hamid Khan termed the new partnership as a great initiative and hoped that it will benefit the beneficiaries to develop market based skills and create more employment opportunities.
He said that BISP’s focus is on women and this partnership encompasses enrollment in schools, skills building and employment opportunities for girls.
He further said, “It is important for all stakeholders to assist the most vulnerable segment of society to graduate out of poverty and become part of economic growth of this nation.”
An important component of this collaboration is the mentorship program for beneficiaries, which would be implemented in eight districts including Swat, Buner, Peshawar, Muzaffargarh, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Karachi and Lasbela.
Communities will be provided access to models of successful women in various fields in life. BISP and WL will work in collaboration to help BISP beneficiaries in acquiring demand driven skills and creating linkages between skilled women and employers.
World Learning Country Director Nadya Karim-Shaw said, “This partnership has identified several areas for sustainable and collaborative activities that will benefit the education and vocational training of girls and young women aged between 10 and 25.”
She said that AGES was focused on power of gender which is aligned with vision of BISP. She further said that “this MOU highlights our commitment to the government of Pakistan’s polices for our youth. WL is very excited about its partnership with BISP and the potential for transforming lives and futures together, through cost-effective and high-quality education, skills, and mentoring support”.
AGES is a four-year initiative with a mission to provide access to education and skills training to girls to empower them economically. Through this initiative, WL will identify and enroll up to 6000 out of school BISP beneficiaries between the ages of 10 and 19 years in either formal schools or AGES supported Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) schools and centers.