IFC, ITIDA Help Improve ICT Skills in Egypt

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today signed an agreement to help enhance the skills of prospective information and communication technology (ICT) workers in Egypt, develop sector specific education and training, and improve the employability of ICT graduates.

IFC will help the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) set up a foundation for talent development, in line with the needs of the market. This includes developing a National Qualifications/Skills Competence Framework that will demonstrate the skills and competences required by the sector as well as providing advisory support on existing sector specific education and training. IFC will also help ITIDA set up new educational initiatives to meet the needs of the ever evolving ICT sector, and encourage dialogue between the government and private ICT companies.

“Sourcing talent has become a major challenge to companies as graduates do not possess the necessary technical skills to join the industry,” said Hussein El-Gueretly, ITIDA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our partnership with IFC will help us improve ICT education and narrow the skills gap.”

ICT is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing sectors in Egypt. It has an annual growth rate expected to reach 14 percent in 2016 and contributes about 4.4 percent to the country’s gross domestic product. The need for a skilled workforce across the sector is expected to grow as the market grows and foreign direct investment increases.

“Skills development is vital for reducing youth unemployment in Egypt,” said Mouayed Makhlouf, IFC Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Providing a qualified labor force will support the ICT sector’s growth, enhance competitiveness, and increase its contribution to the economy.”

The agreement is part of IFC’s E4E Initiative for Arab Youth. Active since 2012 in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco, the program focuses on partnering with the private and public sector to help bridge the skills gap and equip young people with the abilities that employers require.

The project is supported by IFC development partners UKaid, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, and the Netherlands.

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in about 100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. In FY14, we provided more than $22 billion in financing to improve lives in developing countries and tackle the most urgent challenges of development. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

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About ITIDA
The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) is a governmental entity affiliated to Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. It is responsible for growing and developing Egypt’s position as a leading global outsourcing location by attracting foreign direct investment to the industry and maximizing the exports of IT services and applications. Located in the heart of the modern business environment at Smart Village, the six hundred acre business park on the outskirts of Cairo, ITIDA is a self-sustainable entity that drives the IT industry in Egypt and raises awareness among the Egyptian people of the benefits and use of ICT to advance socio-economic welfare of the whole community. For more information, please visit www.itida.gov.eg