Scaling with Evidence: The Case of Egypt’s Career Centers

• In Event: Improving Effectiveness and Sustainability by Localizing Evidence: Models for Testing, Scaling, and Institutionalizing What Works

Proposal

In 2012 USAID/Egypt supported the establishment and management of five state-of-the-art, university-based Career Development Centers (CDCs) through a three-year activity aimed at improving the long-term capacity of four Egyptian public universities to assist students and recent graduates in their transition from education to employment. From 2012-2015, the five Career Centers were able to assist 52,000 students and graduates with employability skills courses, English language development, connections to the private sector through internships, and attendance at annual career fairs.

Using evidence to demonstrate effectiveness and improve and adapt the offerings and financial sustainability of the CDCs, USAID issued a follow-on activity to scale the model: the Career Development Centers become University Centers for Career Development (UCCD). Begun in 2017 and still ongoing, the UCCD activity aims to establish 30 sustainable UCCDs in 22 Egyptian public universities in Egypt. To date, eleven universities have developed such Centers, which are a sustainable and integral part of their universities, and have benefited 263,798 students (59% female). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the career centers even adapted career services to be fully online, which has benefitted 168,742 students. Further plans for continued scaling are in progress.

The incredible reach, impact and sustainability of this initiative has been due in part to the use of evidence in piloting and scaling. For example, a 2015 mid-term evaluation identified key factors related to the performance of CDCs that helped inform the CDC model, and market research and in-depth interviews informed the design of the follow-on activity.

In this session, USAID/Egypt will share their process and lessons learned in scaling Egypt’s Career Development Centers based on evidence and the key factors related to the success and sustainability of these centers.

Author

• Wafaa ElAdawy, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Egypt