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India’s demographic dividend presents an immense opportunity, but to harness its potential, there is a pressing need for robust education-to-employment (E2E) pathways. However, underserved youth often lack access to relevant training, digital tools, and life skills that are critical for navigating a rapidly changing job market. LiftEd, a collaboration between Dalberg and the EdIndia Foundation, was designed to address this gap by integrating digital learning, life skills, and direct employer linkages into India’s skilling ecosystem.
Traditional skilling programs in India have struggled with outdated curricula and a lack of alignment with industry needs, leaving many youths unprepared for the demands of the modern workforce. The digital divide further compounds this issue, as many rural and underserved communities lack the infrastructure to access digital skilling programs. Additionally, soft skills such as communication and adaptability, often critical for long-term employment success, are rarely prioritized in traditional vocational training. Employers frequently report a mismatch between job requirements and the skills of candidates, perpetuating unemployment despite demand in key sectors like healthcare, logistics, and retail.
LiftEd addresses these challenges with a holistic and adaptable approach to skilling. By combining digital tools, life skills training, and employer-aligned curricula, the initiative ensures participants gain both technical expertise and the adaptability needed for future roles.
To bridge the digital divide, LiftEd introduced offline-first learning modules accessible via low-tech devices and established community-based learning hubs. This model enabled over 15,000 youth in remote areas to participate, significantly expanding the program’s reach. Employer engagement was another cornerstone of LiftEd’s success. By co-designing job-specific training modules with industry leaders, the program ensured participants were job-ready upon graduation, meeting the needs of sectors like retail and logistics.
The integration of life skills training—including communication, problem-solving, and workplace readiness—proved transformative. Participants who developed these competencies were 30% more likely to secure and retain employment compared to peers who only received technical training.
Redefining Skilling for the Future
LiftEd exemplifies a shift in skilling strategy from traditional vocational training to holistic, employer-aligned pathways. By embedding digital tools and soft skills training into its model, LiftEd prepares participants not only for current job demands but also for the evolving nature of work as automation reshapes industries. The initiative aligns with global trends emphasizing employability and adaptability over rote credentials, ensuring that graduates remain competitive in dynamic markets.
Collaborating with local governments provided LiftEd with policy support to scale its impact, while partnerships with private sector organizations kept its curriculum market relevant. This dual-engagement model ensures that LiftEd addresses systemic challenges while remaining sustainable and scalable.
By fostering partnerships across sectors, LiftEd created a scalable and sustainable skilling ecosystem .
LiftEd is more than a skilling initiative—it is a proof of concept for a scalable, future-ready E2E model. By integrating digital tools, life skills training, and direct employer engagement, the project has redefined what it means to prepare underserved youth for meaningful employment.
As governments and organizations globally seek to build resilient skilling pathways, LiftEd offers a replicable framework that combines innovation, practicality, and inclusivity to meet the demands of a rapidly changing job market.
The LiftEd Initiative is one of our most ambitious and innovative programs, which seeks to strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy across India through strong focus on outcomes. Over the coming years, we aim to support 4 million students to gain foundational literacy and numeracy across the country and establish a model for how to build government school system capacity to deliver quality education at scale.
Read more: https://liftedindia.com/
To learn more about our education-to-employment projects, contact: