By Godwin Bonge Muhwezi
A Team from the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) comprising teams from the World Bank Ethiopia Country Office, the Inter-University Council for East Africa and the Kenya National Project Coordination Unit (NPCU) undertook a monitoring support and supervision mission in Ethiopia.
The Mission, which took place from 6th to 14th February 2023, involved visits to Regional Flagship TVET Institutes (RFTI) in different regional of the country including Dire Dawa Polytechnic College, Hawassa Polytechnic College, Kombolcha Polytechnic College, General Wingate Polytechnic College, and Tourism Training Institute.
The purpose of the monitoring and supervision mission was to monitor progress of the project implementation, identify challenges and propose mitigation measures for effective project implementation. During the mission, it was established that a number of RFTI had made good progress in project implementation amid a number of challenges.
Teams from the World Bank, IUCEA, and Kenya National Project Coordination Unit with the State Minister for TVET, Dr. Techale Bercha (4th Left) after handing over the finding of the Supervision Mission
Teams from IUCEA and Kenya National Project Coordination Unit with the Dean and Staff of Hawassa Polytechnic College.
At the end of the Mission, the Team met with the State Minister for TVET, Dr. Techale Bercha, at his office at the Ministry of Labour and Skills of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, to share the findings from the mission.
Speaking during the meeting at the Ministry, the IUCEA Deputy Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Rai, who was the Head of Delegation, observed that the mission had largely been successful and had provided the team with important lessons on how to improve performance of the project at various RFTIs.
Dr. Bercha thanked the Team for undertaking such a critical mission at a time the project was entering final phase of its implementation. He informed the team that he will study the findings together with his team and address any gaps to ensure successful implementation of the project.
The Writer is a Project Communication Officer for EASTRIP at IUCEA.