“The establishment of the Sector Skills Body (SSB) symbolizes our commitment to aligning education and training with industry needs. Today, we officially launch the Agro-processing SSB, a pilot initiative that has received substantial technical and financial support from the ILO over the past few years.”
On 30 August 2024, the first Sector Skills Body, piloted in the agro-processing sector, was officially launched by H.E. Dr. Teshale Brecha, State Minister for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Ethiopian Ministry of Labour and Skills. The Sector Skills Body comprise private sectors, sub-sectors, training and certification agencies, and trade unions.
During the launch, speakers emphasized that many African countries addressing unemployment, underemployment, and job scarcity are focusing on sectoral approaches to skilling and employability. This demand-driven approach, which links with employers, fosters innovation and provides state-of-the-art training, skills matching, and recognition of lifelong learning talents, ultimately enhancing productivity.
The ILO through the ProAgro Ethiopia “Promoting Decent Employment in the Agribusiness Sector “ project has been providing technical guidance through its Skills Specialists and leveraging collaboration with partners such as the GIZ and the World Bank programme in Skills and Employability. The project also dedicated resources for regional and South-South Cooperation experience sharing in India and China (to capture private sector-led models), as well as in South Africa and Ghana (on examples of Sector Skills Bodies). Additionally, short-term training at the ITC/ILO knowledge centre in Turin was facilitated by the project. These exposures culminated in national ownership and a commitment to proceed in setting up the SSB and developing a roadmap to inform future skills development.
Employers recognized their active role in the successful implementation of sector skills governance and training. Dr. Dawit Mogus, President of the Federation of Ethiopian Employers Association (FEEA), speaking on behalf of the SSB, outlined that the SSB will serve as a bridge between industry needs and workforce skills. This ensures that educational and training institutions produce graduates who are not only employable but also bring the latest industry-relevant skills to the workplace. He also highlighted that the support and exposure provided by the ILO have broadened their skills and understanding of Sectoral Skills approaches.
Engineer Getahun Hussien, President of the Confederation of Ethiopian Employers Federation (CEEF), reiterated their commitment to engaging more with the private sector and facilitating confidence-building between employers, industries, and TVETs to align skills development with labour market demands. He also mentioned that his confederation works in the agro-processing sector, making the SSB in this sector a key tool to address skills needs and enhance productivity.
Ms. Susanne Duering, representative of the German Embassy in Ethiopia, applauded the joint commitment of the tripartite constituents. She emphasized that productivity and decent employment are realized when people have access to jobs and wages through inclusive talent development.
Reiterating the continued support of the ILO, Project Manager Anthony Agyenta said, “The ILO will continue to support the government’s efforts to link Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), enhance industry partnerships, and promote employability for the many young graduates entering the job market.” He outlined plans to set up sub-national Sector Skills Committees to operationalize the government’s strategy, which includes a special body represented by stakeholders, sub-sector skills anticipation analysis, and building a robust Industry and Labour Market Information database for the agribusiness sector.
The ILO ProAgro Ethiopia project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The national media and development partners engaged with the SSB have widely disseminated the message on the Government’s dedication to this agenda.
