Over the last decade, populations are ageing at a faster rate across the world, making it an important policy issue for developed and developing countries. This issue is particularly relevant for OIC member countries given the increasing size, proportion and longevity of elderly people. A failure to address this demographic change has the potential to negatively affect the well-being of elderly people as well as the development of member countries in the long run.

"Best Practices Guidelines and Toolkit on Engaging the Private Sector in Skills Development”, jointly developed by SESRIC and UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD), will inspire, motivate and mobilize the private sector for its active engagement in skills training for employment. The guidelines and toolkit will help stakeholders to collaborate more closely with companies, chambers of commerce and business associations. It outlines how the private sector could contribute to the employability of individuals through providing labour market signals, improving technical and practical skills acquisition, integrating industry know-how and expertise to every step of the trainings and help link skills to placement opportunities. These will ensure that disadvantaged youth, women and other marginalized groups are ready to enter the labour force with possessing the right skills they need to thrive.