Project Description
Quality delivery and client satisfaction are important factors in the construction industry. To enhance these factors in the Niger Delta region, PIND in partnership with Construction Kaiser Limited seeks to develop a Local Artisanal Development project aimed at developing local artisans and small artisanal supply firms for productivity in the construction industry. This project seeks to build the capacity of at least 50 artisans and is expected to bring about more participation and growth for local artisanal firms through increased markets and linkages to large construction firms brought about by improved competitiveness.
Expected economic and social impact include:
- Increase in sales for local artisans and artisanal firms due to improved competitiveness and increased patronage by large construction firms
- Cost reduction for large construction companies leading to financial gains as a result of improved quality of services and workmanship by trained artisans
- Provision of sustainable livelihood and increase in income for the artisans and their family members
- Retention of existing jobs and creation of new ones (over 160 jobs targeted) due to creation of new services firms and the improved performance of supported artisans
The project will run a one-year pilot to test the efficacy of the model, learn lessons and then incorporate the lessons in the design of a scale up which would be driven by project partners.
The pilot will be implemented thus:
- Selection of local artisans and potential artisanal management entrepreneurs using developed selection criteria.
- Identification of trainers or developing the capacity of the local training institutes to enable them effectively bridge the skills gap in the construction industry
- Capacity building process for selected Artisans and Artisan firms incorporating both classroom and COOP/OJT at the end of which the trainees will be linked to partners construction firms for jobs
- Identification of key large construction companies willing to buy the services of the artisanal firms; such companies will be enrolled as partners to the project
- Identification of specific opportunities for artisans in partner construction companies via a market/scoping study which will also serve to increase knowledge of the landscape for artisans: available skills, underlying constraints, structure, support systems /institutions, etc
- The construction of the 14 storey Radidon Blu hotel would serve as the hub project for the pilot. Trained artisans would be able to refine and apply the skills they have learnt on the construction of the hotel.