Since September 2021 the IECD has led interventions in France and has strengthened the structures that support young people who are cut off from the labour market – helping them to become motivated, to guide them, to train them and to reintegrate them in the working world. 

 The decision to develop initiatives in France was based on the fact that there were significant needs in terms of vocational training and labour market integration for groups who are cut off from normal education pathways. 

 To meet these needs and bearing in mind the rich ecosystem of French associations working in this sector, the IECD decided to start by supporting existing structures that have significant impact potential, but which may also have certain vulnerabilities. This support includes: helping to improve the quality of action, increasing the number of beneficiaries and strengthening these organisations for the long term. 

 In order to achieve these goals, the IECD intervenes in two different ways: 

• Supporting the management of the structures with their strategic thinking and on how best to structure their organisations. 

• Technical and operational assistance on teaching techniques – creating a methodological approach and supporting development. 

 This second form of support included, for example, the creation of a training course on catering for people who have just been released from prison. The IECD worked on this course with Wake up Café. We also worked with Appel d’Aire (an on-site school in Marseille) on creating a new methodological and educational approach so that this could be shared throughout the school. We also provided general support to ACCES to help them gain DEA status as a structure which helps people with mental and cognitive disabilities to find work. 

 The IECD is currently supporting 6 organisations in France and this support will last 3 years in total. In 2022 these organisations provided vocational training and labour market integration services to more than 1,500 people as well as teaching manual trades to over 3,500 young people.