Contact details

Submitted by: Dr. Silvia Morgenroth, Head of Division 221, Tackling the root causes of displacement, Partnership for Prospects 

Email: [email protected]  

Website: www.bmz.de/en  

Social: 

Twitter @BMZ_Bund 

Article on the Nefas Silk Polytechnic College, Ethiopia’s first inclusive vocational college, available here 

Introduction to the project 

Country 

Ethiopia 

Duration 

2017 - 2022 

Description 

BMZ has been supporting Ethiopia in offering market-oriented vocational training and quality education to both refugees and host communities, thus preparing them for their entry into the labour market. The programme is implemented by GIZ in Addis Ababa, Somali, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella and Tigray regions.  

Through this programme, BMZ supports the Ethiopian government in its reform agenda and in the implementation of its Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework Roadmap, in line with national policies and the aims of the Djibouti Declaration. 

Project aims 

• Enhancing the quality and employment relevance of vocational training for refugees and host communities.
• Expanding offers of vocational training for refugees and host communities.
• Fostering entrepreneurship and exchange platforms to generate employment opportunities for refugees and host communities.

Resources used 

The programme is co-financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). 

Main activities of the Good Practice 

• Inclusion of refugees in national TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) systems:  

Teaching staff receive additional training to deal with diverse classrooms and provide an open and inclusive learning environment. As an education platform that links refugee and host community youth to public institutions and the local market, TVET also fosters understanding, social cohesion and the long-term integration of refugees.  

• Improved quality and employment relevance:  

The programme carefully analyses regional development priorities and sectors for employment creation and adapts the curricula accordingly. Refugees and host communities can equip themselves with skills that are in demand locally and thus improve their employment perspectives. 

• Expanded offer of vocational training: 

In remote areas, inside and outside refugee camps, the programme increases the number of skilled vocational trainers. Thus, more refugees and Ethiopians receive trainings that improve their employability. New training sites for irrigation and agricultural production help trainees to familiarize themselves with efficient farming practices. New cooperation networks between public vocational training institutions and refugee training centres promote increased integration and uniform standards.  

• Entrepreneurship support:  

Joint businesses of refugees and Ethiopians benefit from comprehensive trainings, start-up support and guidance. Successful approaches of providing training and employment perspectives to remote populations will be scaled up in different regions. 

Partners

• Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) 
• Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) 
• UNHCR 
• Regional TVET Bureaus 
• other regional government actors 
• TVET Colleges 
• NGOs 

Challenges and how they were overcome

Most refugees in Ethiopia live in remote areas where income opportunities, especially for wage employment, remain limited. The potential for increased investments to leverage employment needs to be further explored. In addition, an increased degree of freedom of movement for refugees could ease access to employment in other locations.   

In many refugee hosting areas, host communities are affected by the same lack of quality training opportunities and employment prospects. A contextual approach for increasing training opportunities and promoting employment opportunities needs to be strengthened in cooperation with government partners.  

The new refugee legislation in Ethiopia is likely to provide huge opportunities. Implementation modalities need to be explored with all relevant government and international partners.  

The vocational training system in Ethiopia has improved over the last years. However, further improving the labour market relevance of vocational training and promoting the involvement of the private sector remains a challenge. 

Results of the Good Practice

The programme aims at serving around 5.500 refugees and members of the host communities.

To date, 297 trainees have received training.

In addition, 194 TVET trainers have participated in technical training as well as soft skill training-of-trainer activities in Addis Ababa, Somali region and Benishangul-Gumuz region. Curricula of employment-relevant training areas have been revised and adjusted to Ethiopian occupational standards.  

In Somali region, structures for improved vocational training in selected refugee hosting areas have been set up, linking the provision of training to the public vocational college in Jijiga. The standards of the Ethiopian vocational training system have been transferred to refugee hosting areas.  

In Addis Ababa, Nefas Silk TVET College was established as the first inclusive public vocational college for refugees and Ethiopians. This unique institution lay the foundation for joint learning of young Ethiopians and refugees. In addition to transferring employment-relevant skills, the institution promotes mutual understanding and exchange between these two groups. In June 2019, the first batch of students successfully graduated in employment-related areas such as auto mechanics, textile & garment, welding and food preparation. The example of Nefas Silk shows how inclusion in public TVET Colleges can work in the future.  

The Integrated Employment Promotion Programme (IEPP) has begun in 2019 in different regions. IEPP aims to create pathways into employment for graduates of TVET colleges by cooperating with local companies.