The Importance of Collaboration and Skills Development: The Central Asia Experience
0 likes230 views
The document discusses the importance of collaboration and skills development in Central Asia, particularly in the context of trade and jobs through the USAID Competitiveness, Trade & Jobs (CTJ) project from 2016-2021. It emphasizes the need for investing in human capital, especially during the pandemic, to enhance agility, resilience, and strategic thinking for businesses. The approach taken focuses on addressing systemic constraints through local solutions and adapting to the changing challenges in the region.
The Importance of Collaboration and Skills Development: The Central Asia Experience
- 1. IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT THE CENTRAL ASIA EXPERIENCE Competitiveness, Trade & Jobs in Central Asia
- 2. ROAD MAP • My First Encounter with CILT • T&L Challenges in CA Region • Overview of CTJ Project & Market Systems Approach • Our Response to Pandemic • Why Invest in Human Capital?
- 3. KHORGOS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH CILT Eurasia Pole of Inaccessibility is right about HERE
- 4. NORMAL T&L CHALLENGES • Entirely landlocked • Involves vast distances • Difficult Terrain • Differences in Work Cultures • Geopolitical Chess • Inherently complex • Competitive • Constantly in flux So, any skills gap immediately puts a company at a competitive dis- advantage. AMPLIFIED IN CENTRAL ASIA
- 5. USAID CTJ PROJECT • Competitiveness, Trade & Jobs • 5 Years (2016-2021) • Regional – Offices in 5 Countries • 3 Sectors: Horticulture, Tourism and T&L • Market Systems Approach
- 6. • Focus: on Visible Issues and Core Supply/Demand Gaps • Role: More Direct - “Solutions” tend to be delivered by the project • Less adaptive • Shorter Game Traditional Development Approach OUR MARKET SYSTEMS APPROACH • Focus: on Underlying Causes of Systemic constraints • Role: More Facilitative & “Solutions” tend to be delivered by local service providers • More adaptive • Longer Game • Sustainability in Forefront Unintended Consequences • Market Distortions • Crowding Out • Perpetuates Dependency • Sustainability - After Thought
- 7. HOW DID CTJ & CILT RESPOND TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC? • Collaboration - “Stronger Together” • Assessed Situation / Anticipated Needs • Re-prioritized & Re-focused on Small, Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) • Analog Digital • Expanded Access to Relevant Content • Encourage Experimentation – its OK to Test & Try New Ideas
- 8. WHY INVEST IN HUMAN CAPITAL DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC? • Coordination / Safety • Generates Value – Individual and Business • Differentiates Your Business • Increases Agility & Resilience • Distribute Decision-Making • Allows Strategic Thinking
- 9. THE END. Thank You Questions / Comments? Email: [email protected]