International migration flows are not a new global trend. What is new is the number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) among these migrants. Around the world, more than 65 million people are currently displaced. That is almost 15 million more than three years ago (51.2 million in 2013). Almost two thirds - more than 40 million - of the people who have been forcibly displaced, are internally displaced within the borders of their own countries. They have no protection under international law. The mandate of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) does not include any particular responsibility for internally displaced persons. It is primarily their countries of origin that are responsible for protecting them.
Eighty-six per cent - nearly nine out of every ten refugees - flee to developing countries, to countries already suffering from inadequate infrastructure, poor economic prospects and scarce resources. Trying to provide adequate supplies and care for the high number of refugees places a huge additional burden on these countries. This can be seen in particular in the field of education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), employment and health care. The problems are compounded by the fact that more than 60 per cent of refugees around the world live in urban areas, beyond the reach of the supply structures offered by refugee camps. Affordable housing is in short supply, leading to the rise of informal settlements. Frequently, the local population regards refugees and internally displaced persons as a threat, given the intense competition that exists for precisely these scarce resources. There is thus a serious risk of social tension arising between the host community and refugees or IDPs.
Young people account for a large percentage of displaced people. It is vitally important that they receive skills development training if they are to become integrated into the economy in the host country or reintegrated in their country of origin. TVET not only helps make young people employable. It also enables them to participate in society and enhances their confidence. TVET is an integral part of education in the broader sense. The foundations that enable young people to take up any type of skills development training are laid at primary school level. Parallel to economic and employment promotion, TVET also has a very important part to play in mitigating migratory pressure: The lack of training and ultimately decent employment opportunities forces many young people to leave their homes in search for work and better living conditions. As a result, nations that are already struggling lose their main source of generating revenue: their human capital, their future workforce! These are some of the factors that have created great demand for GIZ's advisory services in the field of technical and vocational education and training in BMZ's partner countries. In 63 of the 80 current partner countries, bilateral development cooperation programmes aiming to improve TVET systems are already being implemented. One fundamental focus of advisory services is to design work-based TVET courses that are responsive to labour market needs. It is also crucial that training measures are accompanied by employment promotion, because although TVET can enhance employability, new jobs will only be created if the economy grows, and with it the demand for more human resources. The integration of refugees in skills development training programmes is an additional and highly complex challenge for the partner countries and for German development cooperation.
Excerpts from publication.
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