Eritrea Vocational Skills Training

Project completed

The Swiss Development Cooperation will implement in this pilot phase 2 projects in vocational skills training in Eritrea. One project is designed as a contribution to ongoing projects of Don Bosco, the other to a project of the “Schweizerisches Unterstützungskomitee für Eritrea. The objectives of the phase are: (i) enhancing the training of teachers and increasing numbers of students having access to trainings and (ii) building a relation of trust with the Eritrean authorities in order to open a broader policy dialogue between the two countries

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Eritrea
Vocational training
Education
Vocational training
Education facilities and training
Teacher training
01.10.2017 - 30.04.2021
CHF  2’480’000
Background Eritrea is a low-income country ranking generally at the bottom end of international development rankings, it is ruled by the Peoples’ front for Democracy and Justice. The Government slogan of “self-reliance” is linked to the country’s impression of being left alone by the international community (sanction regime in relation to Somalia). Thousands of Eritreans leave their country, high numbers to Switzerland. Most of them are young men. Swiss domestic politics called SDC to respond to the challenge and it was decided to start investments in young Eritreans in their home country in order to improve their life perspectives. Most of the Eritreans flee their country because they do not have real life perspectives. Remittances are extremely important for the survival of the Eritrean population.
Objectives Through the components of its technical and vocational education training programs, SDC contributes to better job-opportunities for young Eritreans in their home-country and better life perspectives. The new Swiss pilot programs shall build trust and credibility between the two Governments leading to opportunities for a regular, broad bilateral policy dialogue.
Target groups TVET trainers and TVET students are the key target group of the project. With regards to the students, a well balanced recruitment approach for girls and boys students and female and male teachers will be sought. Don Bosco is specifically recruiting students from the underprivileged segment of the eritrean youngsters, whereas the school in Massawa aims to work with companies in the private and semi-private sector in order to improve the skill of their employees.
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Don Bosco contribution: Aims to Increase job opportunities through a contribution to the improvement of the education system, the learning and social conditions of the youngsters, with particular attention to marginalised youth, in the areas of Asmara, Dekemhare, Nakfa, Hagaz and Mai Habar.

Outcome 2: “Schweizerisches Unterstützungskomitee für Eritrea” contribution: the Massawa vocational training centre is - under the responsibility of National Confederation for Eritrean Workers - operational in the training of young electricians and young Eritreans in the hospitality sector. It delivers relevant technical and vocational skills to trainers and workers in the region and recruits new students for the training. In the medium term the program contributes to establish a functional TVET system with dual elements.

Outcome 3: the Embassy of Khartoum facilitates a broad policy dialogue between Switzerland and Eritrea.

Results

Expected results:  

  • Trainings of trainers: upgrading teachers’ knowledge regarding competence based approach, lifelong learning, new technologies and technical subjects like “General Automotive Building”, “Constructions”, “General Mechanics”, “Electricity” and “Electronics”, “Solar Energy”, “Hospitality” and soft skills.
  • Restructuring and maintenance of school infrastructure
  • Training of more than 1’500 students annually
  • The Embassy in Khartoum supports activities in order to facilitate a broader the policy dialogue.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Swiss Private Sector


Coordination with other projects and actors Eritrea Vocational Skills Training UNDP (to be submitted latest 4th trimester 2017)
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’480’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’296’688
Project phases Phase 2 01.09.2020 - 30.09.2024   (Current phase)

Phase 1 01.10.2017 - 30.04.2021   (Completed)