What is the Call?

The UN in Cambodia is calling on organizations to share innovative ideas and solutions to address digital TVET skills challenge. The Cambodia Skills Challenge Innovation Call will recognise and support the development of solutions that aim to address challenges faced by TVET to adapt to online learning and skills training. Identified digital innovations should aim to provide new skills and/or reskill and/or upskill young Cambodians. The main objective will be to identify solutions to i) enhance the effectiveness of online vocational education and training programmes through innovative digital delivery and ii) establish new and innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships to address digital TVET challenges at the national or sectoral level.

We are looking to mobilize a national cohort of skills innovators to rethink TVET in the aftermath of COVID-19 and of the 4th industrial revolution. We are looking for innovators to help build the future of work we want!

We aim to create change in three ways:

• Incentivizing TVET providers in Cambodia to identify major challenges to design and deliver online learning and skills training;
• Sourcing innovative e-learning ideas and solutions to those challenges; and
• Encouraging innovative partnerships involving representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations and other key stakeholders.

The Cambodia Skills Challenge Innovation Call aims to support the of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It also supports SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, by enabling new solutions for workforce development that deliver relevant skills for productive employment and decent work.

Who can apply?

Any legally recognised organization/company that is able to contract and in existence for at least two calendar years prior to the deadline. By organizations we mean cooperatives, education and training institutions (including schools, public and private training providers and universities), government agencies, NGOs and civil society organizations, public and private enterprises, regional and sectoral bodies and research organizations.

We are open to all ideas and solutions at any stage of development. They can be at an early-stage or more mature innovation. They can be a one institution’s idea or involve a collaborative joint effort from different actors, such as governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations.

The Call will be co-led by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and United Nations in Cambodia. Thus, the implementation of the Call will be co-chaired by the Minister of Labour, Vocational Training (MLVT) and the UN Resident Coordinator in Cambodia. The submitted proposals will be evaluated by an independent panel, composed by skills experts of MLVT, ILO, UNESCO and external innovation experts from Cambodia and other external members.

What will the winner get?

The winning entries of the Call will receive:

1. A US$50,000 (1st place winner), US$30,000 (2nd place winner) and US$20,000 (3rd place winner) implementation agreement to implement their proposed solution;
2. Participation in the ILO ITC Lab on Digital TVET and Skills Innovation Lab to develop the idea into prototypes ready to be piloted;
3. Access to extended networks and partnership;
4. National and global visibility.

Moreover, the top-10 shortlisted competitors will be invited to join the ILO Skills Innovators Network.

There is no fee to participate in the Call. Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their application has been received. Incomplete or late responses will not be considered.

What might a good idea/solution look like?

A good solution to address digital TVET skills challenges and skills mismatch takes both the supply and demand sides of the labour market into consideration. It seeks to connect the two sides and develop a more holistic solution in the process. We are looking for ideas that support:

• Development of new TVET e-learning packages;
• Transformation/adaptation/upgrading of existing TVET packages into e-Learning modular;
• Development of an e-learning platform: Learning Management System (LMS);
• Promoting the digital Learning Technologies;
• Development of TVET E-Facilitation/Tutoring and E-Pedagogy;
• Greening of existing TVET packages leading to the development of e-learning modular;
• Development of web-based Recognition of Prior Learning assessments programmes;
• Adaptation of existing apprenticeship packages into e-learning modular;
• Establishment of new and innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships to address digital TVET challenges at the national or sectoral level;
• The ideas should benefit in priority:
  • Women and young migrant workers
  • Low-skilled workers
  • People with disabilities
  • Rural and vulnerable youth

What eligibility criteria apply?

In addition to the aforementioned, the proposal must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

• The proposed solution responds to a clear need;
• The proposed solution has the support and commitment of key stakeholders;
• Applicants are available and able to commence the programme implementation from December 2020.

What is the application process and key dates?

To submit your idea or solution, applicants should:

1. Complete the form available on the website;
2. Review the eligibility criteria (above) and terms and conditions of the competition, as well as the Implementation agreement with the ILO;
3. Develop the proposal and secure support from partners;

Dates and deadlines for the Skills Challenge Innovation Call are:

• Launch of the Call: 16th October 2020 (virtual with livestream) at 15:00-16:00
• Submission deadline for ideas: 23rd November 2020 at 12:00 pm
• Announcement of winners: 11th December 2020
• Piloting of solutions completed by: 31st December 2021

Any queries related to the Challenge Call in general or the application process itself should be directed to sou@ilo.org