- The program includes the development of two results-based pilot projects, one with the Ministry of Labor and the other with PROCOMER.
- The Citi Foundation participates as a funding partner, supporting the progress of the pilot projects.
San José, Costa Rica. Fundación Caricaco, in alliance with Instiglio, announced the launch of the Alliance for Innovation in Public Youth Employment Programs. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), and the Citi Foundation, aims to strengthen public youth employment programs in Costa Rica by implementing Results-Based Financing (RBF) schemes.
The alliance seeks to improve labor market inclusion for young people — especially those facing socioeconomic vulnerability — and to generate concrete evidence to inform the design and implementation of public employment policies.
Within this framework, Fundación Caricaco will play an active role in the design and implementation of the pilot projects. These will focus on training in skills that are in high demand in the labor market and on supporting young people as they enter the workforce. The Foundation will also support coordination with public institutions and with the service providers needed to deliver the initiative. Its participation builds on more than four years of experience implementing RBF schemes in areas such as education, employability, and institutional strengthening.
“Strategic alliances are key to driving real and sustainable change in employment systems. The private and nonprofit sectors can serve as a vehicle for experimentation — discovering what works and scaling it within our public institutions. At Fundación Caricaco, we believe in a Costa Rica where every young person has the same opportunities, and this initiative brings us one step closer to the country we want to build,” said Amadeo Quirós Marten, founder and president of the Fundación, highlighting the value of scaling innovative models into public policy.
Instiglio will lead the technical design of the pilot projects, ensuring their alignment with the Government’s priorities as well as their impact and potential for scale. During implementation, it will support the public institutions involved, strengthening capacities and generating evidence to inform decision-making.
“Through this alliance, we seek to demonstrate that results-based approaches can transform public youth employment programs and strengthen the capacity of the State,” explained Sebastián Osorio, Associate Partner at Instiglio.
The program includes the development of two results-based pilot projects. The first will be implemented with the MTSS under the EMPLEATE program and will focus on developing bilingual skills and other competencies in high demand in the labor market. The second will be developed in coordination with PROCOMER and will aim to close skills gaps in high-growth sectors, particularly the export sector.
Both pilots align with the RBF roadmap led by the MTSS, under both PRONAE and the National Employment System.
“Implementing and consolidating the Results-Based Financing model will allow us to improve labor market inclusion for young people while optimizing the use of public resources, contributing to the country’s productivity and competitiveness,” stated Andrés Romero, Minister of Labor and Social Security.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER, added: “For our institution, this pilot is an opportunity to validate models that address the skills gaps facing companies in the export and foreign direct investment sectors, with a view to improving the employability of young people and strengthening the competitiveness of the sectors that drive the country’s economic growth.”
The Citi Foundation participates as a funding partner and knowledge catalyst, supporting the development of the pilot projects and promoting the exchange of learnings among the actors involved.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER, added: “For our institution, this pilot is an opportunity to validate models that address the skills gaps facing companies in the export and foreign direct investment sectors, with a view to improving the employability of young people and strengthening the competitiveness of the sectors that drive the country’s economic growth.”
The Citi Foundation participates as a funding partner and knowledge catalyst, supporting the development of the pilot projects and promoting the exchange of learnings among the actors involved.
