Vocational Literacy Programme (VOLIP) for Poverty ReductionAn ISFD initiative to equip the poor, particularly women and youth, with functional literacy competencies and notional skills, and provide them with microfinance resources The US$ 500 million Vocational Literacy Programme (VOLIP) is to be implemented over a period of five years. It seeks to address simultaneously two key challenges faced by poor illiterate families: (i) a gap in knowledge, functional literacy and skills required for employment; and (ii) lack of access to financial resources that can help them start their own businesses. The VOLIP equips the poor with appropriate functional literacy competencies and skills and gives them acccess to microfinance resources to facilitate their own development. The main activities of the VOLIP include: · Teaching out-out of school children (between the ages of 9-15 years) how to to read and do practical arithmetics. · Giving teenagers and young adults ( 16-24 year olds) functional literacy and vocational training for employment · Give women workers on-the-job training in health education and financial management and give them functional literacy competencies and skills. · Combating Illiteracy among adults. . VOLIP will reaching more than 2 million people; and 25 percent of the beneficiarieswill be provided access to microfinance. The Board of Directors (BOD) of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) has earmarked US$100 million as seed money for VOLIP. The remaining financial requirement will be raised from partners in the public and private sectors. The Framework The Vocational Literacy Programme (VOLIP) was established in line with the recommendations of the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Islamic Summit held in Makkah Al Mukarramah, in December 2005 (Dhul Qadah 1426H), which mandated the Fund to reduce poverty through the eradication of illiteracy, building capacities and skills. The VOLIP is among the first programmes launched under the Strategy of the ISFD. It is also consistent with the IDB 1440H (2020G) Vision and constitutes a powerful tool for the implementation of the IDB Policy Paper on Poverty Reduction adopted in April 2007. <><>