MSI began work on USAID’s Advancing Learning and Employability for a better Future (ALEF) project with the Academy for Educational Development in 2004. The project aims to improve the quality and relevance of workers' skills to the growing and changing demands of business and industry.

The project works with vocational training institutions particularly with those in the Agriculture sector. Building on the success of MSI’s former project, Morocco Education for Girls, the project integrates gender considerations into all elements. To date, MSI has reached success towards the project’s goals by:

• Providing young people with portable and adaptable skills;Increasing the relevance of school curriculum and vocational training to the job market and to rural life;
• Increasing job creation and improving job search mechanisms;
• Integrating information and communication technologies into the training process; and
• Leveraging private sector resources and creating lasting public-private partnerships to strengthen the links between education, training, and employment.

MSI has implemented a number of successful initiatives, including a series of workshops for participants from elementary, middle-schools, and vocational training institutions – the Entrepreneurship Spirit Programs (ESP-Pro 1, ESP-Pro 2, ESP-Basic, ESP-Kid). These are aimed at providing participants with useful information about initiative-taking, commitment, calculated risk-taking, setting objectives, planning, developing contacts, team work and autonomy. These were developed from MSI’s successful and world-renowned Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) curricula. The ESP-Kid program was recognized as among the best projects in USAID/Morocco’s youth programs.

MSI’s Employability Support Program (PAE-1, PAE-2) is another extremely successful initiative. It focuses attention more specifically on the job search process and professionalism. This program has received such positive attention by employers that they have hired 100% of graduates who have successfully completed MSI’s PAE program in the Meknes Vocational Training Institute and are actively looking for more.

To date, MSI has created seven Competency Networks in agriculture vocational training institutions. A Competency Network creates a collaborative space between the training institution and the professional community in which they join to identify the sector’s priority training needs. Equally important, and the true innovation of the approach, is the use of the space to ensure the suitability of the training center to meet these needs -- and in advising and assisting the center to improve the quality and relevance of delivered training. The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, convinced by the interest and the impact of this model, has already created other Competency Network programs outside the pilot institutions. This is a first step towards sustainability.

The project is scheduled to end in September 2009.

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