Is Vocational Training a Way Forward for Somaliland Development ?
For many young Africans, especially those from marginalised communities, TVET is a pathway out of poverty. Equally, to build up a nation there needs to be a labour force equipped with the practical skills necessary to raise key infrastructure, accommodate growing populations and make public systems work. Sometimes people are quick to overlook the importance of practical trade workers, but the world as we know it would not exist without them.
In the quest for sustainable development, economic stability, and the empowerment of youth, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is increasingly seen as a critical pathway for Africa’s future. With rapid population growth, urbanisation, and evolving labour market demands, vocational training offers a practical solution to bridge the skills gap and equip the continent’s young workforce for employment that is meaningful in the context of their country.
At Pharo Foundation, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of TVET in our mission to enhance productivity and eliminate barriers to employment across Africa. Our vocational training programme, which provides skills in solar power, painting and interior decoration, plumbing, plastering, and electricity, has already made significant strides, especially in Somaliland. Building on this success, we are exploring an expansion of our TVET programme to Kenya, a move driven by both demand and opportunity.
Is TVET a catalyst for Economic growth?
As highlighted in the comprehensive literature review by Powell et al. (2019), TVET is recognised as an incredibly powerful tool for addressing unemployment and therefore, economic development. Given that young people aged 15-24 represent 20% of the African population but over 40% of those who are unemployed, vocational training can play a vital role in integrating them into the labour market. With Africa’s youth unemployment rates alarmingly high, the need to equip young people with practical skills has never been more important.
The skills acquired through TVET programmes will often align directly with the demands of the local economy, ensuring that graduates are seeing a demand for their skills. Moreover, as the global economy shifts towards green energy and sustainability, as well as many African countries ongoing electricity shortages and energy crisis, sectors like solar energy are becoming critical areas where vocational skills can make a lasting impact on the economy as well as the lives of African youth. At Pharo, we have integrated solar and electricity training into our curriculum to address both local energy needs and global sustainability goals. This approach not only provides immediate employment opportunities but also contributes to Africa’s broader development agenda by addressing energy access.
With better employment opportunities, individuals can achieve higher incomes, which contributes to poverty reduction. This is particularly important in regions where the informal economy is prevalent. By removing obstacles to employment for graduates and giving them a career they become contributors to the economy.
In Somaliland, we have seen a remarkable transformation in the lives of youth who have completed our courses. Many of them have gone on to secure employment or start their own small businesses, contributing not just to their families but to the broader community as well. From our batch of 2023 TVET graduates 80% of them secured employment, and 87% of employed graduates stated that their current job directly relates to the TVET course they undertook, indicating a high rate of successful job placement. By tailoring our curriculum to local needs, we aim to replicate this success and create more opportunities for youth across the region.
Despite the clear benefits of TVET, many sources highlight several challenges that must be addressed for vocational training to reach its full potential. One key issue is the societal perception of TVET as a “second-rate” option compared to academic education. This stigma often discourages young people from pursuing vocational careers, even though they may offer more immediate employment opportunities. Indeed, in many African countries it is apparent that even when youth are university educated, they do not have employment options available for them. This results in an overeducated, yet underemployed society. This can be seen clearly in countries such as South Africa, where around 52% of the youth are unemployed despite having an incredibly high number of university graduates. Many struggle to find jobs due to a mismatch between their skills and the demands of the job market.
One of our TVET graduates, Roda Hussein Abokor, had a similar experience before she completed our programme. She was extremely intelligent and qualified, but couldn’t find work She says, “I graduated from Pharo TVET Programme Hargeisa section of electrical engineering, and now I have a job! I am currently working at Pharo Sheikh Secondary school. The reason I chose to do electrical vocational training was that I was an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Hargeisa, but I could find a job. I also joined because I would like to increase my practical skills abilities and test myself to go to the site because this type of work, our community believes it can only be done by men.”
Another challenge is the need for stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors. Vocational training programs are most effective when they are closely aligned with industry needs, ensuring that graduates have the relevant skills required by employers. At Pharo, we are committed to forging these partnerships to ensure that our trainees are well-equipped for the realities of the job market.
TVET is not just a short-term solution to unemployment, it is a long-term investment in Africa’s future. By equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy, vocational training can drive innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and promote economic stability. The overall benefit is an increase in productivity which is what Pharo Foundation’s third mission is all about. We want to eliminate barriers to employment and encourage productivity within African societies.