Sector Project Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET)
Context
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) covers
both initial and continuing training. TVET that is aligned with
the needs of the labour market increases employability and
promotes political and social participation. Availability of skilled
workers is key for a nation’s sustainable economic development.
The TVET systems of many GIZ partner countries do not corre-
spond to the needs of the labour market and are disconnected
from the workplace. Often these countries also face a lack of
qualified teachers and infrastructure. In addition, TVET suffers
from a bad image and is not considered a desired career path in
many partner countries.
This situation has given rise to a growing need for support with
developing their TVET systems. Germany has long-standing
and extensive experience in this area, particularly with regard
to intensive cooperation with and involvement of the private
sector and close labour-market relevance. German specialist
knowledge and competence in TVET are in great demand in
partner countries.
In recent years TVET has been steadily gaining relevance in Ger-
man development policy. Germany is currently by far the world’s
leading bilateral donor when it comes to promoting TVET.
Approach
The Sector Project Technical and Vocational Education and
Training supports BMZ with the further development of TVET
strategies and approaches for German and international devel-
opment policy. A central task is to provide comprehensive advi-
sory services to the Ministry on current TVET trends and issues.
Title: Sector Project Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry of Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Lead executing Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
agency: Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Volume: € 5 million
Objective: The German Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development has at its
disposal TVET strategies and approaches that
have been further developed for German and
international development policy.
Overall term: May 2015 to April 2018
The project focuses on updating BMZ’s existing strategies and
approaches in the field of TVET and raising their profile among
actors working in development policy, both in Germany and at
international level.
The sector project’s advisory approach builds on the findings
and lessons learned from national and international discourses
on TVET as well as from completed and ongoing TVET projects.
Strategic recommendations and innovative topics are developed
on this basis.
The sector project provides advisory services in three areas:
1. Increasing the visibility of TVET in development cooperation
2. Development of key innovative TVET topics
3. Mainstreaming of topics in TVET projects
Photo left: Initial and continuing vocational
education and training in a TVET school in Ulan Bator.
© GIZ / Nicole Herzog
Photo right: Qualified TVET and skills development in
the metal industry in Ethiopia.
© GIZ / Michael Tsegaye
CONTACT:

Oliver Haas
oliver.haas@giz.de
svbb@giz.de

Results
With the support of the sector project, BMZ has been able to
position itself nationally and internationally on innovative topics
and trends in TVET.

At the national level, inter-ministerial cooperation has been

fostered through the German Government’s strategy on inter-
national TVET cooperation. In addition, the German position
was strengthened in multilateral and international processes,
for example in the discourse on formulating the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the Annual Meeting of the Asian
Development Bank in May 2016 and secondment of staff to
UNESCO-UNEVOC and the German Office for International
Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (GOVET).

Syrian refugees are beeing trained as plumbers in a TVET school in

Irbid, Jordan. © GIZ / Thomas Imo, photothek.net

The project has developed several TVET-related instruments,

including an online-toolkit entitled ‘Learning and working in the
informal economy – access, skills development and transition’.
The toolkit provides information to support policy-makers and
organisations working in this field.

The focus of BMZ involvement in TVET is primarily on informa-

tion and communication technology (ICT), forced displacement
and migration, skills development in the informal economy,
TVET in rural areas and in the context of fragile states, and
gender equality.

Qualified TVET and skills development as in Ethiopia UCBP (University

Capacity Building Project) in the metal sector helps developing small
businesses. © GIZ / Michael Tsegaye

Published by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation Edited by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
and Development (BMZ) Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Division Education and digital world Sector Project Technical and Vocational Education
and Training (TVET)
Addresses BMZ Berlin | Im Europahaus Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 36
of the BMZ offices Stresemannstraße 94 53113 Bonn
10963 Berlin Germany
Germany
T +49 (0)30 18 535-0 svbb@giz.de
F +49 (0)30 18 535-2501 https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/39101.html

BMZ Bonn As at April 2017

Dahlmannstraße 4
53113 Bonn
Germany
T +49 (0)228 99 535-0
F +49 (0)228 99 535-3500

poststelle@bmz.bund.de
www.bmz.de