About Us
At UNIDO, we are dedicated to nurturing sustainable industrial development and cultivating inclusive job opportunities on a global scale. Through our PLaCED initiative, operating under the SME Competitiveness, Quality, and Job Creation Division, we are unwavering in our commitment to addressing the unique needs of the most vulnerable groups impacted by conflict. Our firm belief lies in empowering these individuals through tailored industrial interventions, laying the groundwork for inclusive and lasting business ecosystems.
Our approach is centered on creating an environment that fosters a diverse and inclusive job market, ensuring that no one is left behind. By concentrating on the advancement of inclusive business ecosystems, our goal is to dismantle barriers and establish clear pathways for those affected by conflict to rebuild their lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Through PLaCED, UNIDO stands resolute in its dedication to championing the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle and advocating for the critical Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus. We envision a future where industrial development serves as a catalyst for positive change and empowerment for all.
1. Tailored Approach
Our approach is tailor-made to the needs of beneficiaries and to existing opportunities to improve livelihoods and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) development. Projects take into account the local resource endowment, business opportunities and skills needed by the local economy and matched with the career aspirations of the beneficiaries.
2. Social Cohesion
PLaCED projects promote social cohesion by ensuring that projects address the needs of individuals affected by conflicts, including persons with disabilities, refugees, internally displaced individuals, returnees, and various other vulnerable groups. Within post-crisis-affected areas, the scarcity of employment and livelihood opportunities among both the displaced and host communities can perpetuate social instability, compelling us to address these challenges comprehensively.
3. Entrepreneurship and Technical Skills Training
UNIDO delivers quick impact entrepreneurship and technical skills training. The duration of the trainings ranges from 90 to 120 training hours for entrepreneurship trainings, and from 48 to 120 hours for skills training, depending on the competency levels to be achieved.
The entrepreneurship training covers topics on soft and life skills and how to set up and manage the livelihood and business activity of their choice.
The technical skills training organized depends on the preferences of the beneficiaries, skills required by the private and skills that allow the beneficiaries to immediately establish their own livelihoods either through wage-employment or self-employment.
Some technical skills training conducted among others include: household dairy processing, wood working, cell phone repair, photo shop processing, agri-businesses, heavy-equipment operations; hospitality courses (housekeeping, front desk operations, food servicing); advanced auto diagnosis, welding, etc.
4. Equipment, Tools and Supplies
In a post-conflict environment, business financing support including loans and grants is often either absent or not available to the displaced people. To address this issue, PLaCED projects include a component to provide equipment, tools and supplies to the trained beneficiaries to help facilitate establish their livelihood and business activities.
The team is currently looking into a possibility of combining our training programs with regular cash transfer schemes such as basic income support administered by a partner organisation.
5. Capacity Building for Governments, Universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions
We capacitate our project partners (governments, local training institutions; Business Development Service (BDS) providers, either by developing/updating skills training curricula, conducting Training of Trainers, and refurbishing equipment and tools. This allows trainers and training centres to continue their activities beyond the project ensuring sustainability.
Target Beneficiaries
The projects are designed to address the distinct requirements of the target beneficiaries, encompassing a spectrum of individuals affected by conflicts, including persons with disabilities, refugees, internally displaced individuals, returnees, and various other vulnerable groups. Past initiatives have successfully engaged with these diverse communities, as well as vulnerable individuals within host communities such as unemployed youth and women. Additionally, our support extends to local governments, micro and small enterprises, and training institutions within these host communities, ensuring a comprehensive approach to our assistance efforts.
