Projects

Georgia: Evaluation of the Industry-Led Skills and Workforce Development (ISWD) Project

2017-2022

Project Overview

Objective

Mathematica is conducting a mixed-methods performance evaluation to explore how the ISWD project was implemented, its effects on trainees in project-supported vocational training courses, and how likely it is that project-supported activities will be sustained.

Project Motivation

Mathematica’s independent evaluation of the ISWD project will help MCC assess whether its substantial investment was worthwhile, inform Georgian policymakers as they continue to reform the vocational training sector, and help guide future MCC investments in the sector in other countries.

Partners in Progress

  • Georgian Opinion Research Business International (GORBI)
  • Millennium Foundation Georgia

Prepared For

Millennium Challenge Corporation

The ISWD project aimed to increase the supply of Georgians with technical skills relevant to the local economy through investments in technical and vocational education and training.
The project included four activities. Using an integrated approach, competitive grants for program improvement (PICG) (activity 1) funded providers to establish new or improved course offerings that reflect industry demand for skills. The remaining activities included a set of small grants focused on strengthening provider practice (activity 2), providing technical assistance to government stakeholders designed to strengthen sector policy (activity 3), and supporting an annual conference (activity 4) to foster collaboration among providers, industry leaders, and relevant government policymakers. 

Mathematica conducted an interim study towards the end of the compact, when program implementation was almost complete. It drew largely on a quantitative baseline survey of trainees, as well as qualitative data collected through interviews and focus groups with grantees, PICG-affiliated employers, PICG course teachers, PICG trainees, and high-level stakeholders. For the endline study, Mathematica is administering a phone survey to PICG trainees one year after they graduate and will conduct another round of qualitative data collection. A final report will be available in 2022.
 

Related Staff

Irina Cheban

Irina Cheban

Researcher

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Evan Borkum

Evan Borkum

Principal Researcher

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Ira Nichols-Barrer

Ira Nichols-Barrer

Principal Researcher

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