An ETF team of experts is now in Libya to examine how the assistance in vocational education and training can help in the country's post-conflict recovery and the future economic diversification.

During a two-week mission, ETF experts will investigate how to implement a 5 million euro technical and vocational education and training programme in Libya.

Earlier, the EU and the Libyan government agreed on the general principles of the programme. Then Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation (EuropAid) requested the services of the ETF.

During the first days of the mission, from 13 to 16 April, the ETF delegation met with Ali Ahman Saleh, Deputy Minister of Planning and Mokhtar Jwaili, Chairman of the National Board for Technical and Vocational Education. ETF experts carried out site visits at schools and talked to representatives of international NGOs active in the country.  

‘It’s a new situation for us, even though the ETF worked in the past in the countries that came out of violent conflicts such as Bosnia and Herzegovina,’ said Henrik Faudel, who is in charge of ETF operations in the partner countries, and led ETF mission in Tripoli. ‘There are many needs in Libya. One of which is better match between educational offer with what is expected in the labour market.’

‘There are also some more urgent issue to be solved like what to do with thousands of young revolutionaries. They might need retraining to come back to civilian life,’ said Mr Faudel’.

It is the first mission of the ETF to Libya since the country officially became a partner country.

Photo by Omar Chatriwala / Flickr Creative Commons