Informal and migrant workers form the backbone of urban and rural economies, contributing significantly to sectors such as construction, manufacturing, domestic work, agriculture, services, and small-scale industries. Despite their economic contribution, these workers face precarious employment, low wages, unsafe working conditions, lack of social protection, and limited access to skills training and formal job opportunities. Migrant workers, in particular, are vulnerable to exploitation, displacement, and economic shocks.
This proposal aims to improve livelihoods and economic security of informal and migrant workers through market-relevant skill development, job placement support, and strengthened linkages with employers and institutions. The project will equip workers with certified skills, facilitate transition into better-paying and safer employment, and promote inclusive labor market systems that recognize and protect informal and migrant workers.
Implemented over three years, the project will combine skills training, certification, career counseling, job placement, and policy engagement to enable decent work and inclusive growth.
The informal economy employs a large proportion of the workforce in developing countries, often characterized by low productivity, income instability, and absence of labor rights. Migrant workers — both internal and cross-border — frequently occupy informal jobs due to limited education, lack of recognized credentials, language barriers, and discrimination.
Rapid urbanization, economic transitions, climate change, and technological shifts are reshaping labor markets, increasing demand for skilled workers while leaving informal workers behind. Many existing skill development programs do not adequately reach informal and migrant populations or fail to link training with actual employment opportunities.
There is a critical need for inclusive, demand-driven skill development and job placement systems that address the specific barriers faced by informal and migrant workers, while strengthening pathways to decent work, social protection, and economic mobility.
To enhance employability, income security, and decent work opportunities for informal and migrant workers.
Primary beneficiaries include:
Secondary beneficiaries include employers, training institutions, labor departments, and local governments.
The project adopts a worker-centered and market-driven approach, emphasizing dignity, inclusion, and partnership. It will align skills training with labor market demand and ensure strong linkages between training providers, employers, and support services.
The methodology integrates skills development, job placement, worker protection, and institutional strengthening to achieve sustainable employment outcomes.
A results-based monitoring framework will track training completion, job placement rates, income changes, and worker satisfaction. Learning mechanisms will support continuous improvement and scalability.
Potential risks include low employer engagement, worker mobility, and economic volatility. These risks will be mitigated through diversified employer partnerships, flexible training models, and continuous labor market analysis.
Sustainability will be achieved by embedding training and placement services within existing institutions, strengthening employer networks, and building worker capacities for long-term employability.
The indicative budget will cover training delivery, certification, placement services, staffing, monitoring and evaluation, and administrative costs. A detailed budget will be developed in accordance with donor requirements.
Investing in skill development and job placement for informal and migrant workers is essential for achieving decent work, social inclusion, and inclusive growth. This project provides a practical and scalable approach to improving livelihoods and strengthening labor market systems.
Read more on fundsforNGOs – Grants and Resources for Sustainability
