DARYA (Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia) is the first EU-funded regional project to focus entirely on measures that support inclusive and labour market relevant skills development opportunities for young people in Central Asia. It is implemented by the European Training Foundation (ETF), a specialised Agency of the European Union, based in Italy.

GREATVISORY together with our consortium partners was entrusted by ETF to provide evidence-based support for the inception phase of the DARYA project. GV mapped the state of developments in five countries, which helped ETF detail the intervention logic and action plan for DARYA. Throughout the assignment our focus has been on three thematic areas of DARYA: 1) forward-looking skills development through better evidence analysis of education and training outcomes and skills needs, 2) stakeholder-driven flexible and permeable approaches to qualifications at national and regional levels to allow equal opportunities for all, and 3) flexible and inclusive teaching and learning approaches, based on learning outcomes and relevant to the labour market.

We conducted extensive desk research and interviews and mapped all relevant policies, (international) projects, stakeholders, data sources, and a selection of labour market statistics. This fed into the preparation of five country reports and a regional synthesis analysing differences and similarities across the countries.

Following the mapping, two workshops and three thematic consultations with ETF staff were organised to discuss how research findings may inform further development of the DARYA logic.

The study fed into the finalisation of the DARYA logic and action plan for five years.