Transitions towards an inclusive future: vocational skills development and employment options for persons with disabilities in Europe & Eurasia

In Europe and Eurasia, (excluding Russia) the estimated number of persons with disabilities is 16.5 million. Governments spend up to 1% of GDP in service and care provision by means of a centralised, segregated, institution-based service delivery system. In this respect, the current report outlines a set of specific recommended actions for USAID (American Agency for International Development) missions in the region. The report particularly is concerned with the development of vocational skills training and employment-related services in the framework of a ‘rights-based’ approach.

The document states that persons with disabilities are a part of a segregated educational and vocational skills training in the region, and are ill-prepared to transition into gainful employment and mainstream society. Therefore, key stakeholders are in need of technical assistance and institutional capacity building support in order to provide quality services to persons with disabilities.

The paper recommends that the following activities be given priority:

• pilot projects that employ the different vocational skills training and employment models be supported 
• participation and involvement of key stakeholders from the governmental, non-governmental and disabled persons’ sectors in the design, and development of such projects
• similarly, participation and involvement of these key stakeholders in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of those projects
• implementation of capacity building and coordination efforts across key stakeholders and vocational skills training and employment service providers
• the encouragement of stronger links between vocational training service delivery systems and the private sector
  

Accordingly, the authors suggest the creation of a coordination body that has the capacity to provide technical assistance in skills training and employment-related services to key implementing agencies. Likewise, they suggest also supporting the development of an advocacy group that will promote the inclusion of disabled people and ensure they are receiving the necessary support.