An archipelago of more than 115 million people, the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in South-East Asia. However, this growth has not benefited everyone. The informal sector accounts for nearly 38% of the workforce, leaving millions of workers without social protection and making them particularly vulnerable to economic crises, natural disasters and social unrest. Nearly one quarter of the population lives below the poverty line, with even greater disparities in rural areas.

Young people are particularly affected by these inequalities. School dropout rates remain high, while many young people, especially those living on remote islands and in disadvantaged neighbourhoods of cities such as Manila and Cebu, struggle to access quality vocational training and sustainable employment opportunities.

To address these challenges, IECD is implementing several programmes in partnership with local stakeholders:

• A micro and small enterprise support programme designed to strengthen the capacities of micro and small entrepreneurs, promote income-generating activities and improve the economic resilience of the most vulnerable communities.
• A bakery and pastry training programme, launched in partnership with the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT). This pilot project provides vulnerable young people with six months of training in pastry-making to support their integration into the labour market. In parallel, a market study is being conducted to assess the needs of the hospitality sector, evaluate the feasibility of establishing an artisan bakery school, and ensure that future training programmes are aligned with local labour market demand.
• The Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality & Catering (ASSET-H&C) brings together 13 vocational training centres in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. ASSET-H&C members share expertise, strengthen one another’s capacities and receive technical assistance. Since 2016, the network has strengthened the capacities of more than 200 staff members and raised awareness of sustainable tourism among more than 1,000 participants through regional events. Through its expansion in the Philippines, IECD is also helping to strengthen regional cooperation in the hospitality and catering sector.