The Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the “SI-Jobs – Improving Vocational Education and Livelihoods for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities” (SKILLS) Project, a groundbreaking initiative that has reshaped the economic future of young people with disabilities in Ethiopia.
Implemented from July 2021 to December 2024, and funded by CBM Germany and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the SKILLS project directly benefited 1,849 youth and young adults with disabilities across 10 regional states and two city administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa).
The SKILLS project was conceived to break down systemic barriers hindering access to vocational training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. By creating inclusive vocational training environments, linking graduates to job opportunities, and engaging both public and private sector partners, the project has successfully paved the way for sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of youth with disabilities.
Beyond individual empowerment, SKILLS strengthened the institutional capacity of training centers, employers, and government agencies to promote inclusive employment practices. The project stands as a model of how disability inclusion, economic development, and youth empowerment can be successfully integrated.
Within the past 3 and half year period ECDD tried to implement the project with a combined budget of over 1.561 million Euros across the regions, ECDD effectively utilized about 1.492 million Euros 95.57% of the allocated funds to deliver impactful interventions.
