The Foundation is piloting a local ecosystem approach for employability skilling in the Philippines, while continuing all entrepreneurship programs nationwide at zero cost to partners and beneficiaries
Manila, Philippines | 30 January 2026: Wadhwani Foundation, a global non-profit organization focused on job creation, is strengthening its employability skilling efforts in the Philippines through a pilot ecosystem-led approach in Mega Manila, the country’s largest economic hub composed of Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal. This initiative is aimed at aligning local skills development with local hiring demand.
The focus of this pilot is to ensure that skilling programs translate into real employment outcomes—by working closely with local employers, training institutions, and ecosystem partners so that people are skilled locally and placed into local jobs. This approach improves coordination, strengthens job-to-training linkages, and enables more measurable placement outcomes for learners.
A Targeted Pilot for Skilling
The Mega Manila pilot will allow the Foundation and its partners to test and refine an ecosystem-based skilling model before considering expansion. Learnings from this pilot will inform how similar approaches may be applied in other parts of the country over time, based on what demonstrably works on the ground.
Entrepreneurship Support Continues Nationwide
The Ignite program, which supports students as well as aspiring entrepreneurs will continue to be offered nationwide, unchanged in scope or delivery. Ignite helps participants explore entrepreneurship as a career pathway and build early-stage entrepreneurial capability through practical, real-world exposure.
Continuity of Programs and Partnerships
All existing partnerships and programs in the Philippines remain fully active, with no disruption to ongoing engagements. The Mega Manila skilling pilot complements—rather than replaces—the Foundation’s national platform-led delivery and partnerships across the country.
Commenting on the approach, Ajay Kela, CEO & Board Member, Wadhwani Foundation, said:
“Our mission is to enable job creation and improve livelihoods at scale. In the Philippines, we are piloting a more locally anchored skilling approach in Mega Manila to strengthen job outcomes, while continuing to support student entrepreneurship nationwide through Ignite. This allows us to learn quickly, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that programs translate into real opportunities for people—while remaining fully committed to zero-cost delivery.”
All entrepreneurship and skilling programs in the Philippines continue to be offered at zero cost to partners and beneficiaries.
Looking Ahead
By combining national platforms with targeted local pilots, the Foundation aims to strengthen employment outcomes where they matter most—creating clearer pathways from skills to jobs, and from aspiration to opportunity, for young people and communities across the Philippines.