Ethiopia Moves to Unlock Informal Skills as RPL Assessor Training Advances National Rollout

Bishoftu, Ethiopia – Ethiopia has taken a further step towards recognising informal and non-formal skills, as 35 assessors completed a four-day training under the International Labour Organization’s Global Skills Programme, supporting the national rollout of the country’s Recognition of Prior Learning system.

The training, held in Bishoftu, was organised by the ILO in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Skills and supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. It forms part of Ethiopia’s efforts to operationalise its newly developed Recognition of Prior Learning framework and policy, which aim to formally recognise the competencies of workers who lack formal qualifications.

Participants included practitioners from the Ministry of Labour and Skills as well as regional assessment and certification bodies. Their role is central to the next phase of implementation, which will begin with pilot assessments in selected priority occupations linked to economic growth and decent employment creation.

Ethiopia’s Technical and Vocational Training policy and strategy identify Recognition of Prior Learning as a credible pathway for workers who have acquired skills through work experience, community learning or self-learning. By certifying these competencies, the government aims to improve employability, strengthen labour mobility and address skills mismatches across key sectors of the economy.

The assessor training directly supports this policy direction by building the technical capacity required to deliver high-quality, transparent and reliable assessments. Over four days, participants examined the full Recognition of Prior Learning process, including evidence collection, portfolio development, assessment tools and methods, decision-making, quality assurance mechanisms and certification procedures.

The sessions also clarified the roles of employers, applicants, assessors, government institutions and regulatory bodies in ensuring a fair and credible recognition system. Practical exercises enabled participants to apply national procedures to real assessment scenarios, reinforcing consistency and integrity in the process.

For many workers in Ethiopia, the absence of formal recognition continues to limit employment prospects, wage potential and confidence. Dr Genet Haileyesus, Team Leader at the Addis Ababa Education and Training Quality Regulatory Authority, described Recognition of Prior Learning as a direct response to these challenges.

“Workers without skills recognition struggle with unemployment, lower wages and lack of confidence. Recognition of Prior Learning will help address these issues. As an assessor, the new skills I gained here will help me recognise skilful workers, increasing their employment chances and ultimately helping reduce poverty,” she said.

Solomon Sisay, an assessor from Addis Ababa, highlighted the relevance of the system for workers who have built expertise outside formal education pathways.

“This training helped us understand Recognition of Prior Learning and how we can better serve unrecognised professionals. Assessing and recognising their skills opens doors to more economic opportunities and boosts their confidence in exercising their skills,” he noted.

The Bishoftu training marks another milestone in Ethiopia’s efforts to build an inclusive and market-responsive skills ecosystem. By investing in assessor capacity and piloting Recognition of Prior Learning in priority occupations, the country is laying the groundwork for a sustainable national system that values learning in all its forms.

The workshop runs until 12 December 2025, with continued collaboration planned between the ILO, the Ministry of Labour and Skills and regional partners to support the next stages of the rollout.

Across Africa, where large segments of the workforce gain skills outside formal education systems, Ethiopia’s approach reflects a broader shift towards valuing lived experience and practical competence. As young African economies work to expand decent work and reduce inequality, recognising informal skills remains a critical step in turning human potential into inclusive growth.

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