Business and government-backed vocational training and job placement in the ICT sector

EmployAbility by the Guyana Council offers ICT and entrepreneurship training for individuals with disabilities. From 2016-2024, 624 were trained, with 42% employed and 80 starting businesses with grants.

The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, a national umbrella organization of DPOs, launched the EmployAbility programme in 2016, offering virtual vocational skills training for persons with disabilities. It focuses on ICT skills, alongside job preparedness and entrepreneurship training. Participants receive certification and support for employment or starting small businesses. From 2016 to 2024, 624 people were trained, with 42 per cent finding employment and some 80 starting their own businesses with government grants.

Problems Targeted

Guyana’s population with disabilities faces high unemployment and limited opportunities for vocational training.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), a national umbrella organization of DPOs based in Georgetown, launched the EmployAbility programme in 2016. This innovative initiative provides vocational skills training to persons with disabilities, focusing on ICT and related fields. EmployAbility offers training in PC repairs, data processing, data analytics, social media marketing, and robotics, along with office administration and special education needs. Each area includes 100 to 120 hours of instruction, followed by job readiness, entrepreneurship training, and internships. Trainees receive certification upon completion, enhancing their employability. GCOPD collaborates with the Council of Technical Vocational Education Training, which oversees all technical and vocational training institutes across Guyana, granting access to a pool of skilled trainers. GCOPD then partners with government agencies, businesses, and NGOs to secure meaningful employment for graduates. The government also provides small grants for those starting their own businesses. Open to all persons with disabilities, EmployAbility transitioned to a virtual format, expanding access to indigenous communities in remote regions. Between 2016 and 2024, 624 persons with disabilities were trained and certified, with 263 finding employment and others starting small businesses with government support.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The EmployAbility programme is primarily funded by the Board of Industrial Training, a business sector body, which contributes $40,000 annually – 80 per cent of the programme budget. The additional $10,000 is raised through fundraising events. The programme has been replicated by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security through the establishment of a programme called Learning Lab. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)