Multiple studies show a strong correlation between employment security. economic productivity, and healthcare access. In fact, excluding genetic factors. Social determinants can contribute 80 to 90 percent to health outcomes, while less than half of people in lower-middle income countries can adequately access social protection resources, underscoring the need to strengthen active coverage.

USAID CATALYZE, implemented by Palladium, mobilizes private capital through blended finance initiatives to meet development goals. In partnership with the private sector, USAID CATALYZE helps small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—including non-state schools— accelerate progress, productivity, and prosperity through a skilled, educated, and competitive workforce.

In the Philippines, USAID CATALYZE Asia Social Protection (CATALYZE ASP) in partnership with Asia Society Philippines, will bolster the government's flagship social protection initiative, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by improving employment outcomes for 4Ps beneficiaries, increasing access to and utilization of health services for 4Ps adolescents and youth adults, and strengthening healthy adolescent behavior through mentorship.

BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION

CATALYZE will work with young adults as they prepare to enter the labor force. Targeting women, CATALYZE will provide skills training and employment opportunities, an integrated health curriculum, and improve linkages to healthcare. CATALYZE is working to form strategic partnerships with local job placement firms and medium- to large-sized employers to provide quality and sustainable employment. To increase the hiring capacity of employers, CATALYZE will aim to provide technical assistance and facilitate business and transaction advisory services.

We invite you to help us empower vulnerable youth to sustainably optimize their employment and health outcomes through the following:

• WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
  to help participants develop both core life and specialized employment skills so that they are prepared to enter the workforce and hold sustained employment.
• BUSINESS AND TRANSACTION ADVISORY SERVICES
  to enhance the quality and capacity of job placement programs and services and strengthen healthcare providers' ability to deliver adolescent-friendly services so that beneficiaries will have the knowledge and skills to thrive in the workforce.
• LOCALIZED HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS
  including facility-based access, primary healthcare registration, and collaboration with local networks to improve outcomes for vulnerable youth.
• NEAR-PEER MENTORSHIP
  to bring mentors and mentees from similar backgrounds and small age gaps together into mutually beneficial relationships in which mentees can learn how to best navigate challenges.
• KNOWLEDGE GENERATION
  to bring about lessons learned in social protection that can be used to inform national policies and programs and incorporated into similar initiatives beyond the Philippines.

To learn more about the project, please contact:
Kayla Marra (Program Lead - Washington, D.C) -  [email protected]
Abigail Pangilinan (Team Lead - Philippines) - [email protected] 

About the Project

IMPROVING HEALTH AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG ADULT 4PS IN THE PHILIPPINES

CATALYZE will work with young adults as they prepare to enter the labor force. Targeting young women, CATALYZE will provide skills training and employment opportunities, an integrated health curriculum, and improve linkages to healthcare. CATALYZE is working to form strategic partnerships with local job placement firms and medium- to large-sized employers to provide quality and sustainable employment. 

OUR WORK SO FAR

4Cs Orientation
The 4Cs Orientation marks the beginning of the youth’s CATALYZE journey. In this one-day orientation, the learners are given an overview of the 4Cs which stands for CATALYZE (the program), Career (career in their chosen industry), Course (courses to avail), and Care (Health program and Core Life Skills training of CATALYZE).

Health Training
The CATALYZE health training aims to improve knowledge, access to, and utilization of health services (demand generation). Specific modules cover gender sensitivity, sexual and reproductive health, healthy lifestyles and behavior, mental health, health system navigation, and maternal and child health (supplemental module for participants with child/ren). Local health units of Naic and Pasig supported the training by providing on-site family planning services and commodities. Additionally, PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Offices of Pasig and Trece Martires City participated in discussing PhilHealth benefits, including PhilHealth Konsulta, and facilitated on-site registration. This initiative is significant because PhilHealth Konsulta provides participants free access to primary health care services, including outpatient check-ups, selected diagnostics, and medicines.

Other health activities include facilitating access to local health services, such as free pre-employment checks and certificates, specialized medical care for those who failed pre-employment checks, and the provision of eye checks and eyeglasses (Pasig only). A training of trainers program was conducted for 49 local health workers on CATALYZE Health Training, emphasizing youth-friendly service delivery and equipping them with comprehensive training materials, including presentations, manuals, and audio-visual aids. Peer support groups are also established to provide psychosocial support to participants through regular on-site and online “kumustahan” sessions that monitor their progress, well-being, and mental health status.

Core Life Skills Training

Technical Training
CATALYZE has partnered with multiple companies in both Pasig and Naic to facilitate the technical training of the learners. In Cavite, CATALYZE partnered with Chef’s Den Culinary Institute,  a TESDA Tech-Voc Institute (TVI) in Dasmarinas for technical training in the tourism industry. Courses offered by Chef’s Den for CATALYZE learners are Bread and Pastry Production (BPP) NC-II, Barista NC-II, and Cookery NC-II.  Another training partner is  Precious Knowledge Inc. - General Trias (through the DSWD-TESDA scholarship) for the Shielded Metal Arc Welding(SMAW NC-I) technical training.

In Pasig, 59 learners completed the 20-day Food and Beverage technical training under J. Amado Araneta Foundation Inc. (JAAF) in partnership with PPI Holdings, Inc. (PPI) and currently undergoing the 20-day immersion in Pizza Hut stores in Pasig, Quezon City, and Marikina areas. Out of the 59 learners, 25 received additional barista technical training from Cooko Culinary Academy, a Tech-Voc institution (TVI) in Pasig City.

JAAF and PPI leveraged their expertise in youth-centered training in the food and beverage sector to provide targeted technical and vocational training for CATALYZE learners. The Food and Beverage Training for Restaurants program is adapted after TESDA’s training regulations on Food & Beverage Services NC-II, Cookery NC-II, Bread and Pastry NC-II, and the international standards of the Yum! Brand.  It aims to equip CATALYZE learners with essential knowledge and practical skills needed to become work-ready and secure stable employment in the food and beverage industry.  It covers the fundamental and core skills required for a service worker in a fast-casual dining restaurant. Graduates of the program will be qualified for roles such as dining and production crew, as well as other food-related service positions.