Less funding, more financial sustainability; Explorative study about finding possible ways to finance TVET for Oxfam Novib

Abstract

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a form of secondary or tertiary education that is known for its job preparation in all kinds of fields and could contribute to tackle the worldwide poverty problem. However, adequate funding for vocational training is at least as important as the education itself. Unfortunately, TVET usually is more expensive than many other forms of education. Despite the fact that funds from external sources will decline, Oxfam Novib would like to remain a funder for this type of expensive education, due to of all the benefits of vocational education. This is why Oxfam Novib would like to explore the existing field of financial sustainability, and would like to contribute to the development of perpetuating financing strategies for vocational education, especially in marginalized areas. Fourteen participants from five different organizations were interviewed to explore the present ways of financing TVET projects within NGO’s. In addition, information was also collected through participation in a TVET expert meeting. Based on the agreements and differences of the interviews between NGO’s, on academic literature and on the attended TVET meeting, the following conclusions were drawn: it has been found that TVET indeed could offer lots of benefits for both individuals as well as their (in)direct environment. In addition, within TVET curricula, soft skills are found to be most important. Current TVET projects within Oxfam Novib are funded by donor money. Other interviewed NGO’s are less dependent on unilateral donor money at the moment, but are also still in search for the most optimal way to finance their future TVET projects. Finding alternative ways of funding is a very topical issue within the NGO world. The two most commonly mentioned alternatives to finance future TVET projects were collaboration with the private sector in several ways, and applying a mixed-method design. With regard to Oxfam’s core values; it seems likely that being dependent on donors could cause donor restrictions and could therefore limit freedom while designing TVET projects. Based on these main conclusions, recommendations are presented that could be taken into account during the design of future TVET projects.