Prof. Idris Rai, the Deputy Executive Secretary, Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), highlighted in his welcoming speech that the workshop was a crucial step for the TVET sector to contribute to the global climate change agenda and emphasized the need to revise curricula to produce a skilled workforce for future green jobs.
The strategy drafting followed a structured methodology over the five days. Activities included opening remarks, introductions, presentations on the approach to strategy development, and discussions to agree on content. Participants engaged in country group work, including a SWOT Analysis relevant to green TVET. Subsequent days were dedicated to presenting SWOT results, extensive group work to draft the strategy, presenting progress, and refining the draft document. The strategy aims to equip individuals with competencies for the green economy and environmentally responsible practices.
Participants in a group photo at the strategy development and capacity building workshops
The workshop was facilitated Dr. Teshome Lema, who presented the step-by-step approach to developing the strategy for Green TVET and Eng. Wisdom Simon Mtisi, who had facilitated the strategy development process.
The week involved intense discussions, group work to outline components, group progress presentations, and the assembling of content to create the draft strategy. Eng. Mtisi was responsible for presenting the initial draft and identifying missing content, followed by group work to refine the document.
The development process included a context analysis using tools like SWOT, PESTLE, and Stakeholder Analysis to understand the region’s challenges and opportunities. The strategy also outlines an integrated and adaptive implementation approach, emphasizing collaboration, skills alignment, and scalable actions such as establishing a unified governance platform, implementing industry-linked curriculum integration, and diversifying funding. Stakeholder mapping identifies the roles of various actors, from governments and industries to educators and communities.
Participants successfully produced the draft Regional Green TVET Strategy which is set to undergo validation with wider stakeholders before its official adoption and implementation.
The Regional Strategy was developed as part of the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), a five-year initiative funded by the World Bank and the governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, to increase access and improve the quality and relevance of TVET programs delivered by 16 selected Regional Flagship TVET Institutes (RFTIs). The project, facilitated regionally by the Inter University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), recently received a two-year extension until December 31st, 2026. A key mandate for IUCEA during this extension period is to develop the Regional Strategy for Green TVET and lead the process of greening TVET across the 16 RFTIs. Developing green skills is seen as vital for contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting sustainable environmental protection alongside industrialization.
The Regional Project Coordinator for EASTRIP, Dr. Cosam Joseph, commended participants for the commitment and dedication to produce a document in a short period. “I am confident that this strategy document will lay a strong foundation for a greener and more sustainable future for the East African region, driven by a skilled and environmentally conscious workforce,” Dr. Cosam said.
Participants during the training session on beneficiary satisfaction survey
Parallel Training on Beneficiary Satisfaction Surveys
Concurrently with the strategy development, an induction training for RFTIs on conducting beneficiary satisfaction surveys and tracer studies was held. The training, considered an intervention to ensure the sustainability of tracer studies, aimed at building capacity of RFTI. The training was attended by monitoring and evaluation officers and consultants from IPSOS.
Following the training, the M& E officers visited the National Institute of Transport (NIT) and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology as part of the benchmarking visit. The BSS training is expected to strengthen the capacity of RFTIs to measure outcomes, identify skill gaps, and refine programs to align with labor market needs and sustainable development priorities.
The events in Dar es Salaam represent an important step in the implementation of the EASTRIP Project, working to forge a regional vision for environmentally conscious technical and vocational training while simultaneously building the institutional capacity needed to measure the impact and relevance of these critical programs.
By Godwin Bonge Muhwezi, Project Communication Specialist for EASTRIP at IUCEA
