Skills for Inclusive Growth

Supporting Change Through Strategic Partnerships

The Skills for Inclusive Growth (S4IG) Program is an Australian Government initiative with the Sri Lankan State Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research & Innovations.

S4IG aims to contribute to sustainable job creation, increased income and business growth for marginalised and disadvantaged people, particularly women and people with disabilities by showcasing and demonstrating skills development innovations and replicable models across the tourism value chain.

Our skills models are developed with and implemented by partners to showcase and enable replication of those models across Sri Lanka.

Innovative Skills Initiatives Program

Enhancing Public Private Linkages for Workforce Development

Professional Cookery Model

Foundational Hospitality Skills Model

Skills for Destination Development

Coaching Skills for Business Improvement

Commitment to Inclusion

S4IG is working towards economic growth particularly in the tourism value chain that benefits all Sri Lankans and contributes to a prosperous and stable Sri Lanka.

We aim to contribute to sustainable job creation, increased income and business growth for all marginalised and disadvantaged people, particularly women and people with disabilities. Our considerations of inclusion expand beyond just gender and disability to include people of diverse ethnicities, religions, ages, dis/abilities, language, sexualities and genders, castes and/or social class. Furthermore, we consider the intersections between them, for example, gender and ethnicity, disability and gender identity.

Partnerships

S4IG’s Phase 2 (2020-2024) is all about partnerships! We recognise our partners as powerful allies in fostering systemic, lasting change in the tourism skill development sector. We seek to partner with organisations across the public and private sector, with our current partners including key government agencies, training bodies, peak private sector industry bodies and a wide variety of businesses and enterprises of all sizes

2021

SLTDA rolling out pandemic training using the Pandemic Preparedness course developed by S4IG in coordination with SLTDA.
The skills models were revised based on engagement with stakeholders and S4IG’s Internal team Reflection and Planning session outcomes
Setting up of national operations in Colombo to support S4IG’s ongoing efforts in Phase 2 to scale up and out inclusive skill models through advocacy and stimulating demand at the national level enabling the team to advocate and lobby the ministry, skills agencies, and private sector stakeholders to replicate skills models.
Partnership agreement signed with Chef Guild of Lanka, Creative Network and Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL) to implement the skills models.
Commencement of the roll out of the Foundational Hospitality Skills online course by NAITA.
HR toolkit vetted by CIPM, and agreement reached with SLTDA for the roll out

2020

‘Supreme Chef’ TV Season 2 picked up by Sirasa TV for national broadcast, providing a larger viewer base
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Tourism approved Batticaloa Dutch Fort Development Project
Improved Area Tour Guide Training approved. Licence registration system granted by SLTDA and the Governor of the Eastern Province
Reasonable adjustments in NVQ assessment for Candidates with Disabilities toolkit approved with circular published by TVEC
Dedicated G2E (Gateway to East) digital Marketing platform established
Professional Cookery Training Course developed with the Chef Guild Lanka supporting high quality, industry endorsed training for improvement of skills across the industry

2019

Women’s Surf Certification program launched
‘Supreme Chef’ winner and runners-up participated in industry training in Darwin and Noosa, Australia
New tour products were developed and made available in the East and North Central Province supporting destination development
Online e-marketing training developed to support small businesses to engage with customers

2018

Tourism SSAPs launched in Batticaloa, Trincomolee & Ampara districts
Professional coaching launched with guest houses to support tourism business improvement
Surf instructor training launched for surf clubs in Arugam Bay to support self-employment in the tourism sector
‘Supreme Chef’ TV show Season 1 launched through ITN, encouraging women and persons with disabilities to engage with employment opportunities in the hospitality sector
Career Guidance and Counselling Resource Kit developed and shared for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry
A total of 7,372 jobs created by S4IG through several skill development interventions

2017

S4IG launched in Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Polonnaruwa districts
First enterprise survey completed to identify Skills Gaps and In-Demand Skills, informing skills development interventions
First district-level Tourism Sector Skills Action Plan (SSAP) launched in Polonnaruwa by the Ministry of Skills Development
Mapping conducted of Training Providers, enrolments, links with the tourism industry and capacity constraints on achieving improved employment outcomes for trainees
Work-based training package for Foundational Skills in Hospitality launched with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)

Supporting Change Through Strategic Partnerships

Systemic Change

Our Intended Program Outcomes

Creating an Enabling Environment

Creating an Enabling Environment

Enhanced Skills for MSME Business Improvement