Empowering women in TVET: closing session of a capacity development project in Ethiopia
Over the past 1,5 years, CINOP and Cordaid Ethiopia have been working in collaboration with the Bahir Dar Polytechnic institute in Ethiopia on a capacity development project aimed at reducing barriers for women in accessing TVET, performing well, and successfully transitioning to the labour market. As part of this project, we organized a final event where we brought together male and female students to visit various local companies, followed by a group discussion to reflect on the lessons learned.
The company visits provided an inspirational opportunity for students to witness firsthand how their TVET training could be applied in the workplace. The companies were carefully selected to showcase different industries and career paths, with a focus on promoting women’s participation in non-traditional roles (such as metal & wood working). The students were able to interact with employers and employees, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of the practical applications of their TVET education. For example, meeting a successful female business owner in the garment sector caused multiple girls to indicate their interest in becoming an entrepreneur themselves.
After the visits, we held a group discussion where the students, teachers, company representatives, and local government officials came together to share their thoughts and insights. The discussion highlighted the importance of promoting gender equality in TVET education and creating a supportive environment for women to pursue careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. Simultaneously, challenges were brought to light such as unfavorable governmental rules and regulations that hamper women’s full participation in the workforce. All stakeholders recognized the importance of promoting women’s economic empowerment and acknowledged the role of TVET education in cooperation with the private sector in achieving this goal.
We hope that this project will serve as a catalyst for further initiatives aimed at empowering women in TVET in Ethiopia and beyond.
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