How GFD Learning Helped USAID Reform Tech Education?

A long-term partnership to bridge the gap between education and employment.

USAID launched the Workforce Egypt (WFE) Project in 2021. The mission was clear: develop a competent, job-ready workforce aligned with modern economic demands.

To make this vision a reality, USAID partnered with GFD Learning, an organization with deep-rooted expertise in workforce development and institutional transformation.

About the USAID Workforce Egypt Project

The Workforce Egypt Project aims to improve the employability of youth, especially females, by aligning technical education outcomes with market needs.

Implemented in close collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE), the project supports institutional capacity-building, introduces new specializations, and supports private sector engagement through applied technology schools.

The Challenge

The WFE project was ambitious in scale and scope, facing several key challenges:

• Technical education was perceived as low status and outdated, making student enrollment more difficult.
• The curriculum across technical schools lacked alignment with current industry standards.
• Career guidance systems and structured pathways from education to employment were almost nonexistent.
• Existing vocational Training Centers (VTCs) needed a major overhaul to meet real-world job demands.
  

The GFD Learning Approach

As a lead implementing partner, GFD Learning supported USAID with comprehensive, scalable solutions that tackled challenges at both the system and institutional levels. Our contributions included:

• Curriculum Development: Designed 22 new competency-based curricula in high-demand sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, software development, and CNC.
• School Transformation: Helped launch 10 International Applied Technology Schools (IATS) across various sectors, setting a new standard for applied learning in Egypt.
• Career Support: Established Egypt’s first Career Development Centers (CDCs) for technical education to offer structured career guidance and improve students’ transition into the workforce.
• Employment Integration: Institutionalized employment services within schools, creating sustainable systems that support job placement and internships for thousands of TVET graduates.
• Training Center Revamp: Transformed VTCs into modern hubs for training and employment by aligning them with industry standards and competency-based learning.
  

The Result

The USAID Workforce Egypt Project, powered by GFD Learning, has contributed to a national shift in how technical education is perceived and delivered.

 The project enhanced job readiness among youth, fostered innovation, and laid the foundation for a more responsive, market-driven education system.

More importantly, it proved that with the right partners, large-scale systems reform is not just possible—it’s replicable.

Project Numbers:

22 market-driven, competency-based curricula developed in cutting-edge fields like AI, CNC, robotics, and software development.10 International Applied Technology Schools (IATS) established across diverse economic sectors.

50,000+ job placements facilitated for technical education graduates through national employment programs.30,000+ internship opportunities created to enhance students’ practical skills and workforce readiness.

In Their Words

“GFD Learning, through USAID’s Workforce Egypt Project, has played a key role in the transformation of TVET in Egypt, from launching new curricula to establishing CDCs, bridging the gap between education and industry with measurable impact.”
USAID