Enhancing employability through vocational training in Tanzania

Practices & Experiences

Enhancing employability through vocational training in Tanzania

Scope
Local
Lead organization
Voluntary Service Overseas
Country
United Republic of Tanzania
Region
Africa
SDGs
SDG icon
Overview
Between 2012 and 2018 VSO’s EEVT programme focused on equipping young people in the Lindi and Mwtara regions of Tanzania with the vocational and employability skills needed to find employment. The programme involved 259 volunteers, including 21 international volunteer experts, such as carpenters and engineers, and 216 Tanzanian and British youth volunteers. Working in partnership with the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) of Tanzania these volunteers offered mentorship and hard and soft skills training to build the capacities of over 3000 Tanzanian youth. The volunteers also set up two ‘Kazi Connect’ career centres and worked with VETA to align their courses with internationally recognized certificates. Before EEVT, fewer than one in three VETA graduates was in work after two years. Following the introduction of the EEVT programme, the graduate employment rate in Lindi and Mwtara has increased by 30%, with more than half of graduates now finding a job within six months.
SDG contribution highlights

Youth unemployment and underemployment represents a major challenge for the SDGs. Many global South countries have large youth demographics but over 95% of young workers in developing economies work in the informal sector with low job stability and quality. Through using specialist volunteers, VSOs EEVT programme supports and complements existing vocational training services to increase the capacities of unemployed and underemployed youth. And through youth volunteers that are able to interact with young job seekers on their own terms, valuable soft skills training - including on CV writing, cover letters and interview skills, is delivered, meeting important needs of young job seekers that are often not met through official services. As a result, young Tanzanians have increased their chances of finding a better quality job, increasing wellbeing and quality of life, and lowering the social costs of underemployment.

Lessons learned and success factors
  • The design of the programme included specific focus on breaking down the gendered division of labour. This included providing career guidance and training to women in traditionally male-dominated areas of work and highlighting female role models in advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.
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