Ethiopia

Agricultural Transformation Through Stronger Vocational Education (ATTSVE)

2014 - 2021 (December 2021)

MEDA worked with its partners to increase the skills, capacity, and knowledge required by the labor market for the Ethiopian commercial agriculture sector.

Overview

Goal

The goal of the ATTSVE project was to increase the number of men and women graduates from Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) Institutions in the Nejo, Woreta, Wolaita, Soddo, and Maychew regions. These graduates will then acquire the skills and knowledge needed to work in the commercial agriculture sector of Ethiopia.

Scope

The direct clients of the ATTSVE project were the students, administration and instructors of four ATVET institutions that receive grant funding and technical assistance over the course of the project. Other clients included future students and households.

Context

Most ATVETs in Ethiopia are located in rural areas and focus largely on competency-based curriculum approaches and outcomes. ATVETs and their students are becoming increasingly interested in practical programs that will contribute to rural economic growth through agriculture and private sector development. ATVETs and the Government of Ethiopia recognized that there should be more focus placed on private sector development and entrepreneurship, as well as curriculum development and content delivery. This approach aims to support ATVET graduates to find employment, build businesses, and contribute to their local economies.

Opportunity

ATVETs are the main vehicle for providing agricultural education in Ethiopia. Typically, graduates of ATVETs will find work as Development Agents (DAs) with the Government of Ethiopia. Yet, as ATVETs have grown, there are significantly more students graduating than there are DA positions that are available.

To address this employment challenge, the Government of Ethiopia is moving from a public sector supply-oriented training approach to a demand-driven training focused on the private sector. The ATVET curriculum requires increased use of business, entrepreneurship, and value chain concepts to better prepare graduates to enter the private sector workforce.

Strategy

Through this project, MEDA worked with the selected ATVETs to strengthen their educational and economic capacities in value chain development and business management areas. Through a holistic approach, MEDA:

  • Provided business advisory services to ATVETs that promoted sustainable and replicable income-generating activities for the targeted educational entities
  • Supported the development of value chain and business management curriculums in selected ATVETs – that was developed in line with industry best practices, and Ethiopian agriculture and education policy and environment
  • Strengthened academic and industry linkages that facilitated skills development and provided practical learning opportunities for students in appropriate sectors

Our Cumulative Impact by FY2021 (Project Closing Year)

0

Direct Individuals

0

Direct Businesses

0
%

Direct Women Clients

0
%

Direct Youth Clients

N/A

Indirect Individuals

N/A

Indirect Businesses

N/A

Decent Work

$
0
K

Total Budget

Funder

This program was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.

Partners

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, McGill University, and
Jima University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine