LKDF Forum 2021

September 15, 2021

The LKDF Forum 2021 will convene virtually on 22 September under the theme Digital Skills for an Inclusive Future, followed by a virtual hackathon on 23-24 September to build on the 2020 forum’s edition and compete to create the best green skills solution. The first day of the event will be open to the wider public, whereas the remaining days will be open only to selected applicants of the hackathon.

Moved by a wide global agreement on the most pressing challenges to be tackled, the LKDF wants to do its part by promoting public-private development partnerships to develop demand-oriented digital skills in an inclusive industry, ultimately contributing to generation equality. Therefore, the proposed theme for the LKDForum 2021 is Digital Skills for an Inclusive Future (of Work).

The Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF) is a platform that promotes industrial skills development among young people in emerging developing economies. The LKDF supports the establishment and upgrading of industrial training academies to help meet the labor market’s increasing demand for skilled employees, ultimately contributing to inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID).

For many developing countries, access to quality educational systems and training programs is not adequate to meet new demands and address technological, social and environmental challenges. Uncoordinated dialogue between governments and national and international private companies affects the development and sustainability of a modern Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) system.

UNIDO identifies and collaborates with public, private and development partners (SDG17) to develop and scale-up training centers to address the skills gap in developing countries. Our training and innovative curricula equip young female and male students with demand-driven skills and future skills requirements to seize the opportunities of technological progress (SDG4, SDG9).

By establishing Public-Private Development Partnerships (PPDP), UNIDO and partners design, establish, sustain, and upgrade training centers and curricula. The PPDP projects support social and environmental standards, such as gender equality and women empowerment (SDG5) and climate resilience (SDG13).