Youth Job Training Program

                                   VENEZUELA


SECTOR:                 Education

PROJECT NAME:           Youth Job Training Program
                        (805/OC-VE)

TOTAL COST:             $25 million

FINANCING:
      IDB               $15 million
    LOCAL               $10 million

DATE OF APPROVAL:       December 22, 1993

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:    The objective of this program is to train a group of
                        young people, who otherwise are likely to be excluded
                        from the labor market, in trades and at the levels for
                        which there is demand in the country, thus enhancing
                        their opportunities for employment and social integra-
                        tion.  It is a program without precedent in Venezuela
                        and will be conducted on an experimental basis.

                        The program will have the following components:  (a) training, which will
                        consist of conducting classroom and practical courses at the semi-skilled
                        level in trades for which there is a demand, for a target population of
                        young Venezuelans over the age of 18 with the following characteristics: 
                        they are outside of the regular education system; they have not completed
                        their basic education; they lack the basic skills required to work in
                        occupations in demand in the labor market; they live in poverty; and they
                        are unemployed or underemployed; (b) institutional strengthening to
                        support the Program Coordination and Execution Office (OCEP) and the
                        training agencies that will participate in the program; (c) studies to
                        evaluate the program as it proceeds, making any necessary adjustments,
                        and to carry out studies to prepare future labor training actions;
                        and (d) publicity to disseminate information about the program,
                        including a promotional campaign.

CONSULTANTS:            Individual consulting services will be engaged for the
                        institutional strengthening component to support OCEP in the
                        following areas:  execution arrangements; evaluation and
                        supervision of training courses; participation of the training
                        agencies; and promotion of the participation of women in the
                        program.  Consultants will also be hired to evaluate the
                        program in terms of its focus on the target population,
                        execution arrangements and impact.  Program evaluation will be
                        a permanent process and will be conducted by a consulting firm
                        to be hired for that purpose.

GOODS AND EQUIPMENT:    Computer equipment and related software will be procured
                        with program funds.

CIVIL WORKS:            Not applicable.

EXECUTING AGENCY:       Ministry of Family Services

ADDRESS:                Torre Oeste, Piso 41
                        Parque Central
                        Caracas, Venezuela
                        Telephone: (58-2) 575-3286
                        Fax:       (58-2) 575-1240