Bold claim: Ethiopia is actively expanding recognition for prior learning, fast-tracking how workers’ existing skills become official credentials. And this is the part that may surprise people: a four-day assessor-training sprint is underway to operationalize the country’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework. In collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS), this effort marks a pivotal step in putting the RPL Policy, developed under the ILO Global Skills Programme (GSP) with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NoRAD), into action.
The workshop convened 35 practitioners from MoLS and regional assessment bodies, who will drive the next phase of Ethiopia’s RPL rollout. The initial move involves pilot assessments in selected priority occupations tied to economic growth and the creation of decent employment opportunities.
Strengthening national skills reforms
Ethiopia’s push for broader, inclusive skills recognition is reflected in its current TVET policy and strategy, which treats RPL as a credible pathway for workers who have earned competencies through work experience, community learning, or self-learning. By certifying these skills, the country aims to boost employability, improve labour mobility, and reduce skills mismatches across sectors.
The assessor training directly supports this policy direction by building the technical capacity needed for high-quality, reliable, and transparent RPL assessments.
Preparing practitioners for quality-assured implementation
Over four days, participants explored the structure and requirements of a robust RPL process. Topics included evidence gathering, portfolio development, assessment tools and methods, decision-making, quality assurance mechanisms, and certification procedures. The program also clarified the roles of employers, applicants, assessors, government, and regulatory bodies in ensuring a fair, valid, and credible recognition system.
The training provided assessors with standardized tools to ensure fair and credible recognition of skills, along with practical exercises that applied the national RPL procedures to real-world scenarios.
Expanding opportunities for skilled, capable but unqualified workers
Across Ethiopia, many workers face unemployment, lower wages, and reduced confidence because their skills aren’t formally recognized. Dr. Genet Haileyesus, Team Leader at the Addis Ababa Education and Training Quality Regulatory Authority, emphasizes that RPL directly addresses these barriers.
“Workers without skills recognition struggle with unemployment, lower wages, and a lack of confidence. RPL will help address these issues. As an assessor, the new skills I gained here will help me recognize skilled workers, increasing their employment chances and ultimately helping reduce poverty,” she noted.
Another participant, Solomon Sisay from Addis Ababa, highlighted RPL’s value for professionals who built expertise outside formal training systems.
“This training helped us understand RPL 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 said.
Laying the foundation for a national RPL system
Held in Bishoftu, this training represents another milestone on Ethiopia’s path toward an inclusive, market-driven skills ecosystem. By boosting assessor capacity and piloting RPL in key occupations, the country is building the foundation for a sustainable, nationwide system that recognizes learning in all its forms.
The workshop runs through 12 December 2025, with ongoing collaboration between ILO, MoLS, and regional partners to advance the next steps of the RPL rollout.
About ILO’s Global Skills Programme:
ILO’s Global Skills Programme helps countries build inclusive, demand-driven skills systems and promotes lifelong learning to adapt to evolving labor markets. The program emphasizes social dialogue, equitable access, and quality assurance in skills development and aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its goal is to boost employability and productivity worldwide. The Global Skills Programme is funded by Norway, including NoRAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).
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