LKDF - Learning and Knowledge Development Facility

25/08/2026

14/08/2026

How much value can a skills development partnership create?

A new Social Return on Investment (SROI) study of UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization's Zamita Zambia project found that every dollar invested will generate 1.87 USD in social value, reflecting concrete improvements in graduate employment, business savings, training quality, and institutional capacity. Combined, these benefits are forecasted to create 3.89 million USD in net social value, almost doubling the initial investment.

Commissioned under the leadership of UNIDO LKDF with the support of Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, with Making Cents International in partnership with Helvetas Schweiz as the technical experts, the study explores the broader impacts of ZAMITA II, a Public-Private Development Partnership (PPDP) bringing together the Government of Zambia, Volvo Group, and the Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka to strengthen industrial skills development in the transport sector.

The findings demonstrate how investments in modern curricula, upgraded training facilities, trainer development and industry partnerships can create lasting value for young people, businesses, training institutions and the wider skills ecosystem.

This study reflects UNIDO's commitment to innovation and to improving the impact measurement of PPDP projects.

📖 Read the full study: https://lkdfacility.org/resources/social-return-on-investment-analysis-sroi-study-of-zamita-ii-valuing-the-social-and-economic-outcomes-of-industrial-skills-development-in-zambia
🔗 Learn more about ZAMITA: https://lkdfacility.org/projects/zamita-zambia

Northern Technical College - Nortec
Ministry of Technology and Science - Zambia
Teveta Zambia
Volvo Trucks South Africa
European Union in Zambia

12/08/2026

New skills and new opportunities for 's hospitality sector!

A new National Hospitality Training Center has opened in Monrovia, Liberia, expanding opportunities for young people to gain practical, industry-relevant skills.

Inaugurated on 6 August by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, the center will provide hands-on training in hospitality management, tourism services, food preparation and accommodation management, helping prepare young Liberians for employment in the country’s growing hospitality and tourism sectors.

The center was constructed by UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization with funding from the European Union under the Project and equipped by IECD through the AFD-funded STRIVE Project.

Together, these investments are strengthening skills development and creating new pathways to decent employment for Liberia’s youth.

Read more here: https://www.unido.org/news/national-hospitality-training-center-inaugurated-youth-skills-development-liberia

Learn more about the Youth Rising Project here: https://lkdfacility.org/projects/youth-rising-liberia

15/07/2026

This year's World Youth Skills Day is "skills for a shared future."

UNIDO's Promoting Youth Employment through Automotive Maintenance Skills Training in Sierra Leone project is building these skills, helping strengthen the country's automotive training ecosystem and empowering youth with training delivery and employment support.

Learn more about the project here: https://lkdfacility.org/projects/automotive-skills-sierra-leone

As we celebrate and the importance of youth skills and lifelong learning, here's one example of how these principles are being put into action.

In Sierra Leone, , together with the Government of Sierra Leone and with the support of the Government of Japan, is helping young people gain industry-relevant automotive and entrepreneurship through a Centre of Excellence at Freetown Polytechnic.

By connecting training with industry needs, the programme is creating pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and a more inclusive future.

Explore more here: 🔗 https://lkdfacility.my.canva.site/sierra-leone

LKDF - Learning and Knowledge Development Facility

14/07/2026

Across Liberia, primary school classrooms are being transformed through hands-on STEM learning.

Under the project, funded by the European Union with additional support from the Government of Sweden, and implemented by UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization in partnership with the Practical Education Network (PEN), teachers are adopting learner-centred approaches that bring science and mathematics to life using simple, locally available materials.

Now, students are exploring concepts through play, experimentation and problem-solving—building confidence, curiosity and a stronger foundation for future learning.

By investing in teachers, Youth Rising is helping inspire the next generation of learners, strengthening the pipeline to TVET and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

Read the full story: https://lkdfacility.org/news/from-chalkboard-to-creativity-how-hands-on-stem-teaching-is-transforming-learning-for-young-students-in-liberia

Sida

07/07/2026

A major milestone for skills development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo!

Thirty-six young people have started the country's first nationally structured training programme in heavy equipment maintenance at the Institut National de Préparation Professionnelle (INPP) in Haut-Katanga.

Through the project, implemented by UNIDO in partnership with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and funded by Sweden, participants will complete a six-month programme designed to prepare them for careers in the mining, transport and construction sectors.

By investing in people and partnerships, PAFEQ is helping create new opportunities for young people while supporting the country's industrial development.

Read more here: https://lkdfacility.org/news/heavy-equipment-maintenance-36-technicians-begin-training-at-inpp-haut-katanga-a-structural-breakthrough-for-skills-development

Learn more about PAFEQ: https://lkdfacility.org/projects/heavy-equipment-skills-dr-congo

16/06/2026

21/04/2026

Behind every gender empowerment statistic is a real woman's story.

Across UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization's PPDP projects, women are stepping into industries where they have long been underrepresented—not just as participants, but as leaders, trainers and role models.

Today, on the International Day of Women in Industry, we celebrate the voices of women who are breaking barriers and reshaping the future of industry. These testimonials reflect a shift in what’s possible when barriers are removed and opportunities are created.



Zamita Zambia

Kitwe Vocational Training Centre
Youth Rising Liberia

25/02/2026

Inspired as a young girl in Kinshasa, Médi Rachidi chose a path few women pursued at the time: electromechanics.

For over a decade, she has trained young professionals, proving that technical excellence is defined by precision and skill—not gender.

Through UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization's project, Médi strengthened her expertise in heavy equipment maintenance and continues to mentor the next generation of technicians.

Her journey is a powerful reminder: investing in skills means investing in systems, opportunity, and lasting change.

Read Médi's story: https://www.unido.org/stories/breaking-glass-ceilings-and-tech-stereotypes
Learn more about the PAFEQ project: https://lkdfacility.org/projects/heavy-equipment-skills-dr-congo