TVET changes lives, closes gender skills gaps
Africa Skills Week
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has the power to transform the lives of Africa’s youth, women, persons with disabilities and displaced people, serving as a driver of economic growth and social equity.This message was emphasised during day four of Africa Skills Week (ASW) that took place in Accra, Ghana, last week.
Jessica Annor, head of the Youth, Gender, and Women's Empowerment Unit at the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, stressed TVET’s practical approach, enabling vulnerable people to gain skills and make an impact on their communities, fostering a more inclusive Africa.
Several impactful local initiatives were highlighted, including "Building a Pathway Out of Poverty" in Somalia, which helps ultra-poor households and displaced people. By partnering with enterprises, the program sponsors TVET trainees, with 60% of its 1,893 graduates since 2021 being women and girls, 76% of whom have found employment.
In Uganda, Musema Robert’s Msema Culture empowers women, girls, and young people through vocational training in sustainable tailoring. This initiative provides flexible learning that balances domestic duties, helping participants create and sell products, addressing unemployment, and combating gender-based violence.
As African nations prepare to implement the AU Continental TVET (CTVET) Strategy (2025-2034), ASW delegates emphasized that its success will rely on strong partnerships. Dr Vanessa Phala-Moyo, Country Director of the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, highlighted the SKILL-UP Ghana Project, which has established 16 sector skills bodies in areas like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and ICT to ensure training aligns with labour market demands.
She stressed that inclusive collaboration among social partners like the Ghana Employers Association and Trades Union Congress is crucial for the success of the CTVET Strategy. Youth participation is also key, as highlighted by high school students from Accra, who shared insights on career aspirations, financial barriers, and the societal impact of vocational education.