[{"bbox": [119, 151, 1110, 207], "category": "Text", "text": "a) Improvement of the development of training and certifications that can be used for labour insertion linked to the different investments in the targeted territories,"}, {"bbox": [119, 218, 1110, 272], "category": "Text", "text": "b) Strengthening of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with the consolidation of the National System of Qualifications and the dynamic updating of professional profiles"}, {"bbox": [119, 283, 1110, 365], "category": "Text", "text": "c) Strengthening of the TVET institutional framework with established links between the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) and the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MTESS) and the productive sector"}, {"bbox": [119, 375, 1110, 431], "category": "Text", "text": "d) higher access and retention rates (with a focus on lower and upper secondary education) with respect to the most vulnerable (girls, indigenous population, people living in poverty, people with disabilities, etc.),"}, {"bbox": [119, 441, 1110, 496], "category": "Text", "text": "e) better learning outcomes for the most vulnerable (girls, indigenous population, people living in poverty, people with disabilities, etc.)"}, {"bbox": [119, 506, 1110, 561], "category": "Text", "text": "f) increased capacities at the level of the MEC to design and implement educational proposals relevant to the contexts of vulnerability at lower and upper secondary level and in the various learning modalities."}, {"bbox": [119, 571, 468, 600], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 1.3 Zone benefiting from the action"}, {"bbox": [119, 610, 1110, 666], "category": "Text", "text": "The action shall be carried out in Paraguay, which is included in the list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients."}, {"bbox": [109, 705, 340, 739], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2. RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [109, 754, 246, 780], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1. Context"}, {"bbox": [119, 793, 1110, 956], "category": "Text", "text": "Paraguay is a politically and macro-economically stable country with solid economic growth until 2019 (4% of GDP growth on average) that contributed to raising living standards of Paraguayans over a decade. Following a low growth period during 2020-2023, there is a strong upturn with 3.8% GDP growth forecast for 2024. With a per capita income of over US$5,700, Paraguay is an upper middle-income country. The country has a considerable endowment of natural resources, enormous energy potential, ample fertile land, and a youthful population."}, {"bbox": [119, 965, 1110, 1100], "category": "Text", "text": "Although economic growth has been consistently above the regional average, several analysts recognise the need to diversify economic production, formalise the economy and integrate marginalised populations that are excluded from productive employment (poor, rural, remote and indigenous populations). It is necessary to move from a limited production matrix to a more diversified and sustainable one, through the design and implementation of development strategies that include education and social welfare at their core."}, {"bbox": [119, 1110, 1110, 1298], "category": "Text", "text": "Given the potential youth dividend in Paraguay with approximately 50% of the population below the age of 27, human capital development, which enhances the skills, knowledge, and abilities of the workforce, is a significant driver of economic growth. By investing in education and training Paraguay can improve the productivity and efficiency of its workforce, leading to higher economic output and improved living standards. Greater education attainment can similarly help lift people out of poverty by providing them with the skills and resources they need to secure better-paying jobs and access essential services. This, in turn, can reduce income inequality and improve social mobility in Paraguay."}, {"bbox": [119, 1308, 1110, 1443], "category": "Text", "text": "The Paraguayan education system is composed of 10,156 educational institutions (MEC, 2023) located in 9,197 educational premises, which in turn have 1,543,057 students enrolled in the different levels and modalities. The education system has 93,117 teachers, of which 77,822 are classroom teachers, 11.7% in Early Education (EI), 62% in Basic School Education (EEB) and 19.6% in Secondary Education (EM) (MEC, 2021) with the remaining proportion in lifelong learning for adults."}, {"bbox": [119, 1453, 697, 1482], "category": "Text", "text": "Education in Paraguay faces several challenges, among others:"}, {"bbox": [119, 1492, 1110, 1574], "category": "Text", "text": "**Access, coverage and attainment:** Despite efforts to improve access to education, marginalised groups such as poor, rural and indigenous communities suffer significant disparities in educational coverage, learning outcomes and completion rates."}, {"bbox": [1105, 1651, 1122, 1677], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "5"}]