Investing in youth, building the future: DARYA at the heart of skills and employment in Central Asia
On 24–26 September, Astana welcomed more than 100 participants from Central Asia and Europe for the International Conference on Youth Employment and Skills Development. Organised by the European Training Foundation (ETF) together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Kazakhstan, the event brought together representatives of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, senior officials from the Government of Kazakhstan, and practitioners from across the region and Europe.
Held under the EU-funded DARYA programme (2022–2027), the conference took place against the backdrop of Kazakhstan’s Year of Working Professions and focused on one of the most pressing challenges for Central Asia: ensuring effective school-to-work transitions and building stronger pathways for youth employment.
A shared vision: EU–Central Asia partnership
Speakers highlighted the importance of investing in human potential as a driver of growth and stability. EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aleška Simkić thanked the ETF for bringing together such a wide community of policymakers and experts, stressing that employability of young people remains a key priority for the region.
“By 2030, around 30% of Kazakhstan’s population – and nearly half of Central Asia’s – will be under 30. This is something we no longer see in Europe, and it’s both a challenge and an opportunity. The task, today, is to narrow the gap between promises and real opportunities,” she said.
Simkić also underlined how cooperation between ministries of labour and education is essential, pointing to the 2024 EU–Central Asia summit in Samarkand as a milestone in sharing perspectives on connectivity, energy, digital transformation, and critical raw materials. “Global Gateway is not just about infrastructure or resources. Investors are also looking for skilled workers in those sectors. Human capital is one of the most important investments in the future, and DARYA directly supports progress in this direction. In just four years, it has fostered regional collaboration and encouraged innovation in teaching and learning.”
In recent years, through DARYA, the ETF and the EU have also promoted peer learning and regional collaboration on Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs), with a special focus on innovation, flexibility, and inclusion. Central Asian countries have been integrated into wider networks involving ministries of labour and public employment services from the EU and neighbouring regions. Mutual exchanges have supported new approaches to labour market information systems, reskilling and upskilling strategies, and the digitalisation of employment services. These platforms have enabled countries to adapt innovative practices to their own contexts, fostering more inclusive and responsive labour policies.
Adapting policies to fast-changing realities
Cristina Mereuta, Acting Head of Unit at the ETF, underlined the importance of data-driven reforms. “We always start from evidence. Together with you, we are building the data Central Asia countries need on education, youth and employment policies to design more targeted initiatives,” she said. “But one of the biggest challenges everywhere is ensuring a cohesive approach between education and employment systems. This is why the ETF is a strong promoter of cross-country peer exchange, because reforms only happen when we can see what has worked – and what has not.”
“Projects like DARYA create a unique ecosystem for education and youth employment in Central Asia, as well as a platform for young people themselves,” said Askarbek Yertaev, First Vice-Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Kazakhstan. He pointed to recent national initiatives: “Within the Year of Professions, we are training workers for the digital economy. Kazakhstan has established a digital skills bank, based on ESCO, with 12,000 recognised skills. We have launched nine centres of qualifications recognition and are working on models for cross-regional qualifications frameworks. Regional cooperation is essential for qualification development.”
ETF expert Eva Jansova added a more personal note: “As a parent, I look into the future through the eyes of my children. What professions will they choose? What opportunities will they have? These are deeply personal questions, but they are also at the heart of our discussions here.”
How to put youth truly at the centre?
The demographic reality of Central Asia makes youth the main driver of future change. The region’s young population can lead innovation, digitalisation, and the green transition – if provided with the right skills and opportunities. Otherwise, risks of exclusion, unemployment, and migration pressures grow.
Youth unemployment and school-to-work transitions remain pressing challenges in Central Asia and beyond. This regional conference brought together policymakers, practitioners, and experts from Central Asia, the EU and the Western Balkans to exchange knowledge on active labour market policies for youth. Sessions explored national youth employment strategies, global labour market trends, outreach to vulnerable groups such as NEETs, and the importance of evidence-based policymaking.
Special focus was given to labour market monitoring and forecasting, as well as to innovations in career guidance and work-based learning. Experts from Austria, Ireland, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Sweden presented successful practices in apprenticeships, data-driven youth programmes, and outreach to disadvantaged groups.
“Youth policies are complex, and they require good governance and coordination,” explained ETF expert Katarina Lukacova. “Young people make up a big part of the population, but they remain vulnerable – especially women, rural youth, and those facing social barriers. The digital transition brings opportunities, but also risks: new work models, precariousness, informality. Policies must adapt quickly to these realities.”
One of the highlights of the week was a series of peer visits to organisations in Astana – from career centres and universities to labour mobility hubs. Moderated by the Ministry of Labour’s Workforce Development Centre, these visits gave participants the chance to see programmes in action and exchange directly with practitioners.
Discussions after the visits reflected on practical lessons: the importance of career guidance in schools, innovative outreach methods for disadvantaged youth, the role of communication strategies that resonate with young people, and successful apprenticeship models.
Looking ahead: “empowering young people is not a side agenda, it is the agenda”
The conference ended with an interactive wrap-up, where participants shared insights from working groups. The atmosphere was lively, with flipcharts full of notes and animated exchanges across tables.
Several themes stood out. Career guidance emerged as a priority, with calls to embed specialists directly in schools so that vulnerable youth do not “fall off the radar”. Communication strategies were also seen as crucial: “Youth brings more youth,” one participant said, pointing to the need for peer-to-peer mentorship and new channels to reach young audiences.
International inspiration played its part too. Slovenia’s targeted youth policies, Austria’s apprenticeship system, and Sweden’s advanced labour market monitoring were all cited as models worth adapting. The session on active labour market policies showed how data and monitoring frameworks can help evaluate what works and improve accountability. Finally, participants underlined that integrated strategies – from apprenticeships and on-the-job training to business grants and mentoring – are the most effective when tailored to local realities and built in partnership with the private sector.
The conversations in Astana did not end with the closing session. The commitment shared over these three days will continue, with the next step being a High-Level Group meeting with deputy ministers of labour and education from Central Asia, scheduled for 30–31 October in Turin.