Launch of Skills Gap Assessment in Province 5

Ministries, Municipalities (Siddharthanagar, Tilotama, Kohalpur, Gohari, Tulsipur, Omsatiya, Sainamaina, Lumbini Sanskritic), Universities, Business Associations (Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rupendehi Udyog Sangh, Siddharthanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry etc), participated.

The Provincial 5 Government--under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Shankar Pokharel--has embarked upon an ambitious agenda for the economic and social transformation of the Province. A structured engagement strategy with all the constituencies in the Province is currently underway to help finalise the Provincial Development Plan (PDP) that will guide development efforts. Work on the PDP is being led by the Provincial Planning Commission (PPC) and UKaid सीप is supporting Province 5’s employment generation initiatives, and in the design, piloting and scaling up of innovative skilling models--working with the private sector--in the growth corridors. It is focusing on key sectors for structural transformation identified by Province 5 Government for economic growth and employment generation, including: i) tourism, ii) ICT, iii) agro-processing, iv) construction, v) health services and v) light manufacturing.

The objective of this joint Province 5 PPC – UKaid सीप workshop was two-folds:

i) to discuss the importance of skill gap assessments to build skilled workforce, present learning and best practices from global and national skill studies; including the one conducted by UKaid सीप in 2018; and

ii) Present the methodology and research approach for a skills gap assessment and firm-level survey to be conducted in Province 5.

During the workshop, Dr. Prakash Shrestha, Vice Chairman of Provincial Planning Commission, discussed about the current unemployment rate in the province and the importance of skilled workforce to transform the economy of Province 5. He also requested co-operation from municipalities and industries/associations during the survey. Once completed, the assessment will inform the skills gaps and challenges of the 5 sectors (plus other priority/emerging sectors) in Province 5. It will--among other things--consolidate and present skill gaps by sector based on primary research conducted with firms across the five sectors in the economic growth corridors in the province. The results of the survey will help shape demand driven skills training aimed at generating employment in the growth-oriented sectors of the provincial economy.

Members from PPC will review the questionnaire, methodology and sampling frame and suggest changes if required, will give approval to roll out the survey after comments/changes are incorporated, and form a committee consisting of members from PPC and सीप team to oversee the survey in Province 5.