April 27, 2026 (Arta, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD ) Member states validated the IGAD Regional Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy today in Arta City, Djibouti.
The IGAD TVET strategy aims to strength national TVET Strategy in developing a skilled workforce for the region’s development.
The one – day workshop reviewed and validated the draft TVET document in detail and finalize key components including policies, standards, and implementation mechanisms and agree on key components including policies, standards, and implementation mechanisms before adoption.
Speaking on behalf of Ambassador Moussa Megague, Director of the Health and Social Development Division, Mr. Fisseha Meseret, Education Program Officer, stated that the revised and validated TVET Strategy emphasizes relevance, access and inclusion as well as, partnership and integration in supporting the member states on the development of harmonised TVET policies, qualification frameworks, and skills recognition system.
Mr. Fisseha indicated that the demographic reality of a rapidly growing youth population presents both an extraordinary opportunity and a profound responsibility. “If equipped with the right skills, our young people can drive innovation, productivity, and sustainable development across our member states. If not, we risk widening gaps in employment, inequality, and social stability,” He stressed.
Addressing, the workshop Mr. Aroun Omar Aden, Technical Advisor for the Ministry of Higher Education of Djibouti highlighted that TVET is essential to coordinate the training strategies of the IGAD countries so that every young person from the region can work in the countries that make up the IGAD region”. It remains a priority for us for the people of Djibouti and in general for the IGAD Region since a competent technician can work anywhere, he does not need a language, his skills serve as a passport,” Mr. Aroun said.
Mr. Samatar NATALIS, Head of Program, Strengthening IGAD Migration Policy Implementation (SIMPI) Project, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH stressed in his remarks that the revised and officially validated IGAD Regional TVET Strategy (2026–2035) is about relevance to the labour market.
Mr. Samatar cited the German government, through the GIZ SIMPI project, has proudly provided financial and technical support for the revision of this strategy – a testament to our long-standing collaboration with IGAD. “Today, our youth are facing persistent unemployment, while the digital and climate transitions are profoundly reconfiguring our economies. We must integrate migrants and refugees into this vision, because tomorrow’s problems cannot be solved with yesterday’s tools,” he noted,
During this One – day Validation Workshop, the member states and partners have carried out présentation, Panel discussions, break out group activities and structural validation sessions.
Participants of the TVET validation workshop have drawn from the IGAD Member States TVET ministries, agencies, experts and practitioners as well as, development partners, Private sector and training institutions and accreditation bodies.
Subsequently, the participants of the workshop officially validates the IGAD TVET document and consolidates the Partner inputs and recommendations, and agreed on the roadmap for the finalization and dissemination to Strengthened regional collaboration on TVET development
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development has prioritized Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key driver for youth employment, regional integration, and economic transformation.
The workshop is organised by IGAD with support from the German government, through the GIZ SIMPI project.
