Learning-to-Earning: Mapping Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Skills Evidence
The reasons for global youth unemployment are complex and multifaceted. A promising area of development programming is technical and vocational education and skills training (TVET), which bridges the gap between education and employment. To support more effective investments in this space, 3ie, in partnership with FCDO, is mapping and synthesizing evidence on TVET policies, programs, and projects in low- and middle-income countries.
Mapping learning-to-earning pathways: A framework proposal and scoping review
Discover the first output of 3ie’s global initiative with FCDO, focusing on TVET in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs). This framework report categorizes interventions that support youth transitions from education to employment across five key areas: availability, access, quality, delivery, and supplementary services. Based on literature and expert input, it also includes a rapid scoping, using 3ie’s Development Evidence Portal, that reveals gaps in the current landscape and calls for more research into scalable, cost-effective solutions.
Preliminary framework and scoping
Our multi-phase initiative, in partnership with FCDO, aims to improve the evidence base for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in L&MICs. We have produced a preliminary framework that categorizes “learning to earning” interventions—programs, policies, and projects that support youth transitions from education to employment—into five key areas: availability, access, quality, delivery, and supplementary services.
The framework was developed through a structured literature review, expert consultations, and thematic synthesis. We reviewed existing typologies, examined causal pathways, and identified barriers to effective TVET implementation. Consultations with policymakers, funders, and academic experts further refined the framework’s structure and relevance.
Through a rapid scoping using 3ie’s Development Evidence Portal, we have identified 91 impact evaluations and 13 systematic reviews relevant to TVET. We find significant regional disparities, limited mixed-methods use, and a lack of cost-effectiveness analysis in the existing evidence. Notably, only one high-confidence systematic review focused primarily on TVET, underscoring the need for stronger synthesis to support decision-making.
This framework report lays the foundation for future outputs, including an evidence gap map and a comparative effectiveness systematic review. Both will aim to identify scalable, cost-effective “best buys” and advance evidence-informed policymaking in the global TVET sector.
