The second meeting for the project of Jobs and Skills for PWDs with Focus on ICT-Based Solutions will hold today at UNDP Cairo premises, in the presence of representatives of ICT-Trust Fund, UNDP, the International Labor Organization (ILO), Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Tourism, Egyptian Union for Disabled Persons and representatives of concerned affiliates. The meeting aims to pursue the project’s achievement in the past period and to discuss future plans.

The project targets empowering people with disabilities through the use of innovation and ICT solutions, with a focus on ICT. This is in addition to building capabilities and skills, thus facilitating the provision of job opportunities in the local market.

Standards for selection of partner civil society organizations (CSOs) have been set and accordingly a number of 10 CSOs were chosen in six governorates and signed cooperation protocols. A survey was also conducted to identify the local market’s needs of PWDs in both Alexandria and Minya.

This project is financed by the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) fund and implemented in six governorates: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, El Minya, Red Sea and Port Said, during the period of September 2014 to March 2016 by three partners: UNDP, the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Egypt-ICT Trust Fund.

In the near future, the project is to develop training content and make it accessible for PWDs, train the trainers on the content, conduct awareness seminars in governorates. This is in addition to implementing a study on local market needs for persons with disabilities and identifying required skills in the rest of targeted governorates including Cairo, Giza and Port Said.