Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) and Enabel, Belgium Development Agency have signed two years Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at empowering youth particularly women by equipping them with quality education, vocational training and green employment opportunities.

Speaking shortly after signing the MoU, Enabel country director Koenraad Goekint said that the objective of the partnership is to implement inclusive green and smart cities by fostering greener, more inclusive cities and support the creation of the green jobs and enterprises to many youth.

Goekint said that it also aims to improve availability of business development services and financial services and strengthened the value chain through skills development and entrepreneurship promotion.

“It’s a framework for collaboration of two parties in areas of mutual interest to promote sustainable development and enhance vocational education in Tanzania.” said Goekint.

Goekint said that the partnership will assist in the establishment of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) to deliver market-relevant skills as well as enhancement of digital entrepreneurship and green skills development.  

He added that through the Wezesha Binti project will empower young women to thrive in a gender-equal environment, pursue education and skills and access decent work opportunities in the Kigoma region by empowering young girls aged between 14 to 29 years to decent employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in greener industries.

“From this project we expect youth to have access and complete quality education and a safe environment. Girls will have more access to decent and green employment, we also hope communities, and families as well as local governments create a supportive environment for girl’s education and empowerment.” added Goekint.

He further noted that on the side of Enabel , it will provide technical expertise , grants and support for the successful implementation of the projects as well as collaborating , reporting and evaluating project outcomes.

 VETA Director General, CPA Anthony Kasore said that through the partnership will oversee and support the implementation of projects in various centres by ensuring compliance with grant guidelines and address implementation risks and pilot and adopt best practices.

“This MoU marks a significant step toward improving vocational education and creating opportunities for youth, therefore will strengthen our ability to offer high-quality education and foster economic development across multiple regions of the country.” said CPA Kasore.

CPA Kasore said that the Wezesha Binti project will be implemented in Kigoma Urban and Kasulu both in Kigoma region while inclusive green and smart cities in Mwanza na Tanga regions.

On his side, a representative President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government Tanzania (PO-RALG) Frank Mkomochi urged the two parties to accelerate the implementation of projects so that youth who are drop-outs, standard seven and even universities benefit by getting skills and hence become self-employed as well as acquire decent employments.

“Youth are in need of these skills, you should hasten the implementation of these projects because many youth are in the streets to the extent that others are jobless and join immoral groups. We expect these skills will enable them to have jobs as well as self-employment. These projects should not end only the targeted regions but also countrywide.” said Mkomochi.