Design and Implement High-Quality Basic Skills Vocational Training
Post-hurricane workforce recovery through strategic vocational skills development in construction and maritime sectors
Comprehensive post-disaster vocational training system strengthening implemented under EU-funded hurricane recovery programme with DAI Europe to systematically rebuild British Virgin Islands' workforce capacity through development of industry-validated occupational profiles, competency-based curriculum modules, and intensive teacher training programmes for plumbing, cooking & catering, and poultry farming sectors, directly supporting economic recovery and resilience building following catastrophic 2017 Hurricane Irma through strategic skills development aligned with reconstruction priorities and sustainable development objectives.
The British Virgin Islands faced unprecedented workforce development challenges following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Irma in September 2017, which destroyed over 80% of infrastructure and severely disrupted educational institutions including vocational training facilities. The territory's economic recovery demanded urgent reconstruction of critical infrastructure requiring skilled workers in construction trades, particularly plumbing, while the tourism-dependent economy necessitated rapid restoration of hospitality services and food production capabilities. Pre-existing skills gaps were exacerbated by emigration of skilled workers post-disaster, creating acute shortages in essential trades. The absence of updated occupational standards and competency-based curricula hindered rapid workforce mobilization for recovery efforts, while damaged training facilities and depleted instructor capacity limited the territory's ability to scale skills development programmes aligned with reconstruction priorities.
Systematically rebuild and strengthen the British Virgin Islands' vocational training system through comprehensive development of industry-validated occupational profiles and competency-based curriculum modules for critical recovery sectors including plumbing, cooking & catering, and poultry farming, implementation of intensive train-the-trainer programmes to rebuild institutional capacity, and creation of sustainable mechanisms for ongoing skills development that directly support post-hurricane economic recovery, workforce resilience building, and alignment with Caribbean regional qualification frameworks while addressing immediate reconstruction labour demands and long-term sustainable development objectives.
Specific Objectives:
- 1Enhance employment opportunities in construction and maritime sectors
- 2Develop industry-relevant vocational training programs
- 3Build local capacity for sustainable skills development
- 4Strengthen institutional capabilities in curriculum development
Key Activities
- Conducting DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) sessions
- Industry needs assessment
- Skills gap analysis
- Developing occupational profiles and standards for Plumbing
- Developing occupational profiles and standards for Cooking and Catering
- Developing occupational profiles and standards for Poultry Farming
- Creating comprehensive curriculum modules
- Aligning curricula with industry requirements
- Developing teaching and learning materials
- Creating practical training resources
- Designing assessment tools and methods
- Conducting train-the-trainer sessions for selected institutions
- Building capacity of institutional staff in curriculum development processes
- Knowledge transfer to local educational institutions
Methodology
DACUM (Developing A Curriculum) methodology utilizing industry expert panels to systematically identify and validate occupational competencies and performance standards
Four-step structured implementation approach: comprehensive understanding of recovery context and goals, systematic analysis of labour market data and skills gaps, strategic implementation planning with stakeholder engagement, and efficient delivery with quality assurance mechanisms
Competency-based education and training (CBET) framework development aligned with Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) standards and regional qualification frameworks
Participatory curriculum development process engaging employers, industry associations, and government agencies to ensure labour market relevance
Train-the-trainer cascade methodology ensuring sustainable knowledge transfer and institutional capacity building for ongoing programme delivery
Post-disaster recovery integration approach embedding resilience building and disaster risk reduction competencies across all training programmes
Project Outcomes
Comprehensive occupational profiles and competency standards developed and validated for plumbing, cooking & catering, and poultry farming sectors, providing foundation for systematic workforce development aligned with post-hurricane recovery priorities
Industry-endorsed competency-based curriculum modules completed with integrated practical training components, assessment tools, and teaching materials ready for immediate implementation across BVI vocational institutions
Cadre of 25+ local TVET instructors trained in modern pedagogical approaches, competency-based assessment methodologies, and curriculum adaptation techniques, ensuring sustainable institutional capacity
Enhanced institutional capacity established within BVI technical education system for ongoing curriculum development, quality assurance, and labour market responsiveness through systematic knowledge transfer and tool provision
Measurable improvement in employability prospects for 200+ initial trainees in targeted sectors, with documented skills acquisition aligned with reconstruction labour demands and industry requirements
Sustainable framework established for continuous vocational training system improvement, including mechanisms for regular curriculum updates, industry engagement, and regional qualification alignment
Rapid Assessment and Design
2018-01 to 2018-03
Curriculum Development and Implementation
2018-04 to 2018-09
Teacher Training and Handover
2018-10 to 2018-12
DAI Europe
Principal Client
Consulting FirmEuropean Union
Funding Organization
International OrganizationGovernment of British Virgin Islands
National Counterpart
BVI Technical and Vocational Education Institutions
Primary institutional beneficiaries for curriculum enhancement
Local TVET Instructors and Teachers
Direct beneficiaries of train-the-trainer programmes
Hurricane-affected Workers and Youth
Target beneficiaries for skills development and employment
Construction and Maritime Industries
Industry beneficiaries of skilled workforce development