Better Education for Africa’s Rise project
The Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) project is a flagship project dedicated to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Africa. UNESCO has been implementing this project, funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea, in the African continent since 2011.
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The project contributes to global efforts to implement the Education 2030 Agenda, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (2016-2025), the Transforming Education Summit’s Call for Action and UNESCO Strategy for TVET (2022-2029).
The project’s core focus is on enhancing TVET systems to make them more responsive to economic needs. This includes strengthening collaborations with both public and private sector industries and enterprises to create employment opportunities, with an emphasis on job-specific, digital, green, and transferable skills. BEAR III prioritizes the digital readiness of TVET systems, aiming to bridge the digital skills gap, especially among women and girls.
BEAR III stands as a comprehensive initiative for addressing youth unemployment and skill gaps in sub-Saharan Africa. BEAR project has been implemented in the area that covers approximately 40% of the Sub-Saharan region, with 59% of the population living in the region. By enhancing the TVET systems and building upon past experiences, the project promises to make significant strides toward economic improvement and social transformation in the beneficiary countries.
BEAR III builds on national and regional development plans and priorities of each participating country and aims to improve national TVET systems by focusing on three key areas:
- Increasing the relevance of TVET to the needs of the economy by developing training curricula to respond to labor market demand of skills;
- Enhancing the quality of TVET delivered to trainees by building capacities of TVET trainers and institutions and;
- Improving the perception and attractiveness of TVET among young people, enterprises and society, therefore making it a more appealing education and training option.
The Formulation Phase of the BEAR III Project has established a robust foundation for the implementation and long-term success of TVET in the targeted countries. With a thorough needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, and a clear roadmap, BEAR III is well-positioned for effective implementation and significant impact. The official launch planned for April 2024 will signify the transition from the Formulation to the Implementation Phase, marking a significant milestone in achieving the objectives of the BEAR III Project.
Publications on the BEAR project
