Dodoma, July 20, 2023 – Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is continuing its longstanding partnerships in Tanzania with a program that will build a more inclusive economy in communities across the country. Officially announced today in Tanzania by the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP) will support the economic empowerment of women and adolescent girls with skills training and tailored support through their transitions to employment or self-employment.
Funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, the seven-year $25 million program will be delivered in partnership with Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, through the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
ESP will strengthen the capacity of 12 Folk Development Colleges and 12 community-based organizations in Tanzania who will have an opportunity to forge new partnerships with 17 Canadian colleges and institutes. Together, they will work to increase the rates of participation of women and girls in skills training programs; improve access to business, skills, and gender and human rights training; and expand opportunities in informal and formal sectors of the economy. The project will directly benefit 7,000 people across 12 communities in Tanzania.
Folk Development Colleges, which first appeared in Tanzania in 1975, were established to provide access to vocational and general training to support the social and economic development of local, mainly rural communities across the country.
ESP will follow CICan’s signature Education for Employment (EFE) approach which pairs Canadian colleges and institutes with similar institutions in partner countries. The approach helps ensure that training meets the needs of local communities and learners, developing the capacity of stakeholders to sustain the educational change after the projects come to an end.
As an EFE program, ESP is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the partnerships forged through the program will leave a lasting impact in Tanzania and create promising pathways to education and employment for young Tanzanians. Specifically, ESP contributes to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Though gender equality is a critical component of all EFE programs, ESP is the first one designated as GE3 – the highest rating for gender inclusion under Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
This new project follows CICan’s recent Improving Skills Training for Employment Program, which concluded in December 2020.
Quotes:
“We are thrilled to continue working with our many partners in Tanzania to help build a more inclusive economy, where women and adolescent girls are empowered with the skills they need to succeed. This is a great opportunity to build on our past successes and to forge new partnerships that will leave a lasting impact in Tanzania by creating promising pathways to education and employment for young Tanzanians.”
Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the national and international voice of Canada’s largest post-secondary education network. It advocates, builds capacity, and drives knowledge to strengthen Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics. With more than 95% of Canadians living within 50 km of a member institution, and thanks to its extensive reach around the globe, CICan works to future-proof communities in Canada and abroad.
We respectfully acknowledge that CICan’s offices in Ottawa are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.