Obviously, women need to be provided with equal opportunities and training to make them and the country’s economy more efficient. Vocational training is also presumed to be crucial to empower women by giving them with practical skills leading to better job prospects, financial independence and social advancement impacting their lives, their respective families and the community around them.
Cognizant of the fact that vocational training is of paramount importance in helping women develop confidence in the due course of doing what their mind allows them to do and other related wisdom-oriented aspects, The Ethiopian Herald approached Zinash Dedefo, an architect and designer who graduated from Arba Minch University, to have a professional opinion regarding the contribution vocational training can make to women’s empowerment in particular and to the national economy in general.
She said, “The positive impact of vocational training on women is multifarious, as it would help them secure employment opportunities, equip women with the skills sought after in the job market, increase their chances of finding stable and high-paying jobs, as well as declare financial independence.”
It is also significantly useful in enabling women to secure employment and promote financial independence via allowing them to make their own decisions and contribute to their families’ well-being, she added.
As to her, vocational training can also help women overcome traditional barriers to employment, especially in male-dominated industries like construction, IT, and manufacturing.
According to Zinash, skills gained through vocational training can also be used to start and run their own businesses thereby fostering entrepreneurial spirit and economic growth.
Besides, she added, by gaining skills and confidence through training programs, women often become advocates for change within their communities by challenging traditional gender norms and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
“Increased labor force participation and entrepreneurial activity resulting from vocational training contribute significantly to local economies centering women and girls as the subsector focuses on practical skills directly applicable to the workforce, providing an alternative to traditional educational paths,” she stated.
Unequivocally, she opined that empowered women can become role models for younger generations, inspiring future leaders to push for progress and innovation.
For instance, women are capable of, as experience would have it, taking skills like welding, plumbing, and electronics, which have long solely been confined to male counterparts.
In addition to these skills and expertise, women are also capable of being equipped with computer skills training for operating various industries, providing guidance and resources for starting and running small businesses.
She said, “Women have been engaged in a range of vocational skills even though as demanded. However, it has not been through a rosy path as a number of challenges are widely witnessed in terms of accessibility. Hence, vocational training opportunities need to be accessible to all women, regardless of their location, background, or financial situation.”
In terms of relevance, too, she said, since ensuring that training programs are tailored to the needs of the local labor market, they can offer skills that are in demand, providing women with high-quality training that meets industry standards and leads to job readiness.
According to Zinash, the issue of addressing gender inequality is another tough challenge. Making sure that vocational training programs and the broader labor market environment are inclusive and free from discrimination is quite vital. This means that vocational training and meaningful employment for women in the country have to be taken as an intersectional and transformative approach even to disability inclusion.
She further stated that vocational training plays a crucial role in women’s empowerment by enhancing skills, increasing earning potential, and improving overall quality of life and economic independence. It also contributes to a skilled workforce and promotes entrepreneurship.
In clear terms, there are key ways she stated by which vocational training can empower women. To mention but a few: economic empowerment this incorporates increased earning potential as vocational training equips women with marketable skills, enabling them to secure better jobs and earn higher incomes, contributing to their financial independence.
Household income contribution—by increasing their earning potential, women can contribute more to their household finances, improving the overall economic well-being of their families.
It is also instrumental in reducing vulnerability she said adding that financial independence gained through vocational training can make women less reliant on others, reducing their vulnerability to abuse and exploitation, and has caused increased self-confidence.
As to her, acquiring new skills and earning a living independently can boost women’s self-esteem and confidence, leading to increased agency and participation in society.
Besides, it would help them build improved decision-making capacity because with greater financial security and self-reliance, women are better positioned to make informed decisions about their lives and future, leading to improved quality of life. It is also of paramount importance in reducing gender inequality by empowering women economically as vocational training helps address gender inequality and promote a more just and equitable society.
As far as community engagement is concerned, women who have access to vocational training and gain economic independence are more likely to participate actively in their communities, she opined.
She said, “In nations like ours, which are grappling with socio-economic challenges, the question of empowering women economically becomes even much more trying and tenacious. Among the most vulnerable are young girls who lack formal academic qualifications or vocational skills. In many instances, young women find themselves in precarious situations, exposed to exploitation and abuse.
Yes, Zinash said empowering young women through vocational training can be well regarded as part of transformation and life change. This transformation underscores the ripple effects of targeted interventions for youth empowerment and offers a blueprint for broader economic sustainability. Obviously, she stated that technical and vocational training is a key driver of economic transformation and social inclusion in the country. It equips young people with the skills they need to find decent work and improve their livelihoods.
Even once they complete their formal education, many women don’t have clear paths into an occupation. This leaves them with precarious situation even not to be financially independent. Alternatively, this lack of opportunity may drive women into vulnerable work, where there is the hazard of exploitation. Such a trying fashion needs to be altered.
She said, “Working with development partners, the government helps women find life-long careers in tourism, nursing, hospitality and more. If a woman is provided with tailored vocational training, they are less likely to feel pressured into accepting exploitative work, such as working long hours at underpaid jobs or in unsafe conditions. Moreover, if a job grants women with financial independence, it’s less likely that they will experience domestic abuse, child marriage or coercion, among others.
Needless to state, skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development of any country, she said adding that Ethiopia is not exceptional of course. The empowerment of women in general and rural women in particular can be seen as the means of poverty eradication.
Any step of empowering these women can make provision to link the nature of empowerment with the skill training required for efficiently running it.
Most importantly, vocational training can make a big difference for many of the rural poor and women by improving household productivity, employability and income-earning opportunities and also for enhancing food security and promoting environmentally sustainable development and livelihoods.
She wrapped up her idea saying women are not less than men in any perspective since they can contend men in every field of work whether it may be pilots, instructors, engineers, doctors, or journalists, among others. As women are keen to learn and earn for a living, concerned bodies only need to create an apt environment to support their living and income earning.
It is also very important that women be encouraged to learn either academic or vocational education and enable themselves to sustain on their own without support which will enable them to be confident, independent and fearless.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 15 MARCH 2025
