Promoting job-oriented TVET in Ethiopia

Context

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa and the fastest-growing economy in the region. However, many young Ethiopians, even well-educated ones, are unemployed. One of the reasons for this is that the private sector has so far barely been involved in education and training offerings. As a result, young graduates lack skills that are needed on the labour market.

To provide demand-driven TVET and produce skilled workers, it is crucial that the TVET system be geared to the labour market and have the ability to adapt. On that basis, the new Ethiopian Education and Training Policy emphasises the need to closely link general and vocational education with developments in the private sector. In reality, this has rarely been the case to date.

Objective

The Ethiopian Government is increasingly achieving success in implementing reforms aimed at aligning TVET with the labour market.

Approach:

The project supports the implementation of the TVET reform. It also promotes closer cooperation between the education and private sectors for steering TVET. This will ensure TVET is aligned with the needs of the private sector to a greater extent.

The project focuses on three aspects:

Improving TVET regulation and steering: The project is advising the national government on translating the reform guidelines into practical strategies, implementation plans, regulations and steering structures.

Expanding private sector influence on TVET: The project is advising the private sector on fulfilling its key role in TVET and helping to shape it – as formulated in the reform.

Preparing the TVET system for change: The project is training TVET employees to recognise societal, economic and social change and to adapt the TVET system.

Last update: March 2025