KPK and USAID to launch IT Skills for Youth Project

KPK Government and USAID have signed an agreement in order to start a training program for the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) in the field of information and communication technology (ICT).

The agreement was signed by KPK Minister of IT and Health, Shahram Tarakai and USAID’s Deputy Mission Director, Kevin Brownawell, at Civil Officer’s Mess, Peshawar. Mr. Brownawell highlighted that the youth, especially in conflicted areas, face challenges in gaining skills. So, training in ICT will provide them the necessary skills that will link them to employment opportunities.

USAID-funded Skills for Youth Project is a pilot project in the USAID’s Global Development Alliance (GDA) in Pakistan. US Consul General in Peshawar, Raymond McGrath said,

“The project will establish Cisco networking academies in 40 institutions across nine districts of KP with a 1:1 partnership with Cisco systems. The project will also train selected teachers from these institutions to become instructor trainers to deliver student training in IT skills,”

Talking about the importance of US and Pakistan collaboration on educating and training the youth, Shahram Tarakai said,

“Working together in the education sector, we can improve quality and access to information and communication technology, which is the need of the hour,”

USAID is a United States agency primarily responsible for administering foreign aid. In Pakistan, it provides funding and assistance to various projects that are focused on Pakistan’s stabilization and long-term development. Global Development Alliance (GDA) is USAID’s public-private partnership which helps the developing countries improve their social and economic conditions.

The program is aimed at training about 3000 young men and women enrolled in higher education and technical institutions across nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.