PfC, together with the well-renowned Ethiopian NGO WISE, runs a project to provide poor and marginalised women with relevant skills to become competitive in the local labour market.
Women, youth, disabled, and elders make up the most marginalised part of the population in developing countries in general, and in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Estimates show that 500 million teenagers and young women live in developing countries. They make up a considerable share of the next generation’s global economic and social actors. However, they do not have the same opportunities as their male counterparts in access to jobs, obtaining economic independence, and become productive members of society.
The Ethiopian Government is making significant efforts to improve their population’s socio-economic standards and living standards through increased employment and opportunities for income-generation. However, these efforts seem to be prevented by lack of competent workers, effective training opportunities, and other services related to private sector development. Young women can potentially boost growing economies, as entrepreneurs or employees, and by engaging in unpaid household work. Hence, supporting youth to build relevant competence, to get access to financial services, and getting jobs are critical measures – not only to help them improve their own livelihoods, but also to become active contributors to social and economic development.
The Ethiopian NGO WISE (Organization for Women in Self Employment), has, since its establishement in 1998, been engaged in programmes to improve women’s socio-economic conditions in Ethiopia. WISE and Partnership for Change has partnered to run a project to contribute building young women’s capacity and skills on job readiness program.. The objective is to improve their social and economic position in their communities by having employable skills. The project consisted of the following components:
- Building capacity, skills and raising awareness for 200 urban women to prepare them for a job in the local market
- Provide support to 30 poor, rural women to acquire relevant skills to get access to the formal labour market
- Provide financial, strategic and operational support to 100 young female entrepreneurs at WISE’s incubator
- Share our project model and curriculum with at least five other NGOs/actors working to achieve economic independence for women.
120 women have completed the programme so far, of which 75 have found a job.
