What is DAFI Plus?
In collaboration with UNHCR, the GIZ Refugee Management Support Programme on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office developed DAFI Plus to complement the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee initiative (DAFI). with the aim to connect current and past DAFI scholars as well as educated Afghan refugee youth in Pakistan with on-the-job training opportunities and provide them with digital skills trainings, thereby equipping them with marketable professional experience and skills to support a sustainable reintegration upon a voluntary repatriation to Afghanistan.
So far, two rounds of the DAFI Plus initiative have been completed. The initiative has helped the skill building of 559 Afghan refugee youth in Pakistan. The first round (2018-2019) supported 336 refugees whereas the second round (2020-2021) helped in the skill building of 223 Afghan refugee youth.
The training is categorized in two components namely (i) digital skills and (ii) on-the-job training.
The digital skills training is 6 months program with the aim to empower trainees with skills that are in-demand in the freelance global digital job market. As of now, DAFI Plus has trained 327 youth in different courses including Digital Photography and Graphic Designing, Data Analytics, Digital & Social Media Marketing, Creative & Technical Writing. Trainees can choose to register for any given course however, Soft Skills and Freelancing are mandatory modules of all digital skills courses.
On-the-job training is an opportunity for DAFI scholars in Pakistan (graduated/graduating) to have temporary hands-on working experience in a professional environment. The field of placement usually has relevance to scholars’ educational background or their interest like Accountancy, Banking & Finance, Business, Consulting & Management, Engineering & Manufacturing, Information Technology, Hospitality & Events Management, Media Agriculture, etc. Through DAFI Plus, more than 236 scholars have received 3 to 5-month training in different companies and organizations.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proof of Registration (POR) card holders residing in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Karachi, Quetta or Peshawar
- Age 17-28
- Minimum education: Higher Secondary School Certificate/Intermediate for Digital Skills Training and BA/B.Sc (graduation). for On-the-Job Training, and not previously participated in DAFI+ pilot project, and second phase.
- Preferably be a current or past DAFI scholar (2021-2022), or must have applied to the DAFI scholarship (2021-2022) – meeting the minimum criteria of educational requirements but receiving the scholarship
- Preferably should not be the beneficiary of the previous rounds of DAFI Plus (2018-2019 and 2020-2021)
- Should preferably have access to a computer or a laptop
- Should ideally have access to internet
- Must be committed to participating and completing the training.
Selection Process
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FAQ's
What is DAFI Plus?
In collaboration with UNHCR, the GIZ Refugee Management Support Programme developed DAFI Plus to complement the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee initiative (DAFI), with the aim to connect current and past DAFI scholars as well as educated Afghan refugee youth in Pakistan with on-the-job training opportunities and provide them with digital skills trainings, thereby equipping them with marketable professional experience and skills to support a sustainable reintegration upon a voluntary repatriation to Afghanistan.
What is the difference between DAFI and DAFI Plus?
DAFI’ (The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) is UNHCR’s global tertiary education scholarship programme in more than 25 countries worldwide, funded by the Government of Germany. In Pakistan, UNHCR has been implementing DAFI scholarships since 1992 and has supported more than 1,700 students. DAFI Plus complements the DAFI scholarship program because it aims to provide digital skills and on-the-job training as an extension to formal education to DAFI scholars as well as educated Afghan refugee youth who could not secure a DAFI scholarship.
What is the On-the-Job Training component?
An opportunity for educated Afghan youth/ DAFI scholars in Pakistan (graduated or currently enrolled) to get soft skills training and have temporary hands-on working experience in a professional environment. These On-the-Job trainings may be in a field of relevance to your educational background or your professional interest, such as social media management, content/ proposal writing, sales and marketing, hospitality/ hotel management, etc.
What will the tasks be during On-the-Job Trainings?
The following tasks may be expected to be performed by the trainees, however, the list is not exhaustive and only hints at the basic functions, which may vary from one industry to the other: desk job: filing, taking minutes of meetings, preparing presentations, content/ proposal writing: blogs, social media content, sales and marketing; hospitality management; HR functions; database management and record-keeping.
What is the Digital Skills Training component?
Digital Training is different from traditional Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Although the purpose of both the training is the same i.e. to support economic self-reliance or capacity building of an individual to enable better earning opportunities, the Digital Skills component empowers individuals with skills that are in-demand in the freelance global digital job market. It consists of multiple online skill-based training courses.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the delivery of DAFI Plus?
Keeping in view the current pandemic and government policy, for the Digital Skills Training there has been a combination of conventional classroom learning (institute) and virtual learning (online classes). While, for On-the-Job Training ideally within the city of your current residence, the training has been a combination of in-person training (within formal office environment) and online (work from home). But for any future round, this would depend on government regulations and the given company/organization policy.
Is there any stipend for the courses?
Yes, a stipend is paid to the trainees. Please be mindful of the fact that stipend payment is subject to your attendance. No stipend will be paid for any day absent unless informed prior via official channels.
What is the benefit of On-the-job training?
You will get the opportunity to gain professional experience i.e. technical knowledge and soft skills, which will look attractive to employers, also in case you decide to voluntarily repatriate to Afghanistan in the future if conditions are better and look for a job there.
What is the benefit of Digital skills training?
You will gain digital skills that are in-demand in the global freelance digital job market. Learning these skills will enable you to become a part of a rapidly growing freelance market and earn online, as an entrepreneur. This training will allow you to enhance and upgrade your current skill-set, and augment professional exposure while acquiring certification at the end of the training.
What are soft and hard skills?
Soft skills are non-technical skills that include how you interact with colleagues (inter-personal skills), how you solve problems (creative and critical thinking, conflict resolution), and how you manage your work (time management, motivation), etc.
Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you’ll learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job. These hard skills are often listed in your cover letter and on your resume and are easy for an employer or recruiter to recognize.
Can I apply under the ACC card?
No, only registered Afghan refugees with POR cards can apply.
Who will provide Digital Skills Training?
Inspire Pakistan will engage the expert training service providers offering certified Digital Training programs.
Who will provide On-the-Job Training?
Inspire Pakistan will engage specialized HR firms to find the right companies and organizations for training the DAFI scholars on the job.
Where and how will be the training conducted?
In person and in particularly four cities i.e. Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. In case the current pandemic prevails the training might be confined to two or three cities.
DAFI Corner
DAFI Corner is a dedicated space within the UCH in Karachi for educated Afghan refugee youth, especially DAFI scholars and DAFI Plus beneficiaries. The goal of this functional space is to provide a working environment where young Afghan refugees can come together, interact, use digital facilities, apply for jobs, take prints, and more.
The purpose of DAFI Corner is to help make refugees and vulnerable host communities become economic actors in their communities by being financially independent and self-reliant, while also contributing to the development of the host community by generating employment and supporting the creation of small businesses.
In Pakistan’s complex protracted refugee environment, refugees often face problems in securing learning/training opportunities and learning about potential or available income-generating schemes/skills/opportunities. This is where DAFI Corner comes in, by providing services like information, training, coaching, mentoring, and counseling to youth who intend to learn or enhance their knowledge and capacities in digital skills such as SEO, digital marketing, graphic designing, data analysis, and web development.
Additionally, DAFI Corner would work as a small incubation center that would promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within refugees and host communities. It would provide guidance, coaching, and mentoring services to startups or existing home-based businesses, as well as business planning support, information on accessing seed capital, linkages with industry partners, training, and other relevant components required for encouraging innovative start-ups.
The DAFI Corner would have linkages with the livelihood component of the UCH, so that if needed, a start-up from the livelihood component may seek the support of digital/social media marketing from trained DAFI Plus trainees.
Specific possible functions of DAFI Plus Corner include:
- Synergies with DAFI and DAFI Plus: Provide information on DAFI and DAFI+ to educated Afghan youth
- Provide physical space with basic infrastructure where refugee and host communities could access specialized services like web development, social media marketing, graphic designing, etc.
- Enhance Co-creation: Provide a space for both communities for discussion, brainstorming, and creativity for creating social action projects, startups, and/or small businesses
- Conduct events and inspirational programs inviting guest speakers to guide, mentor, and coach participants to help develop an entrepreneurial work/process system in the community
- To provide a platform for those entrepreneurship initiatives where support is needed by the collaboration of different incubators and accelerator programs which can transform the ideas into practical initiatives.