Training voucher schemes for microenterprises in Paraguay

Training for microentrepreneurs is usually subsidized by the government, with the result that programmes are often tailored to meet the requirements of government officials rather than the trainees themselves. In the past they have often emphasized bookkeeping and broad technical skills rather than the specific practical skills that microentrepreneurs themselves would choose. This article describes a voucher training programme in which the government subsidy takes the form of vouchers. Microentrepreneurs can exchange these vouchers for training at any of a number of institutions, but the institutions can only redeem the vouchers once the trainees have completed the course in its entirety. In this way, an incentive is built in for the training to be relevant to and retain the interest of the microentrepreneur clients.