Ethiopia is strengthening its national Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system through intensive training for 35 assessors in Bahir Dar, Amhara region, under the ILO Global Skills Programme with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NoRAD). The initiative is designed to build institutional capacity for implementing the National RPL Framework and Policy, enabling workers who have gained skills through work experience, informal learning, or non-formal training to receive formal recognition. This is expected to improve access to better employment opportunities for skilled but uncertified workers while supporting Ethiopia’s broader inclusive and market-responsive technical and vocational training (TVT) reform agenda.
Recognition of Prior Learning offers a structured and quality-assured pathway for individuals to gain certification for competencies they have already developed outside formal education systems. By validating existing skills, the system can improve employability, increase labour mobility, and open pathways to further education, training, and career progression. In Ethiopia’s updated national TVT strategy, RPL has been identified as a key tool for promoting job readiness and expanding access to certification.
The four-day training brought together participants from TVT colleges and industry in the Amhara region, with a strong focus on gender balance. During the sessions, participants were introduced to competency standards, evidence requirements, portfolio development, certification procedures, appeals mechanisms, and audit processes. Using standardised tools and templates developed under the ILO RPL initiative, the assessors strengthened their ability to carry out fair, transparent, and competency-based assessments aligned with national standards.
Participants described the training as highly valuable in improving both technical knowledge and coordination for implementation. They highlighted the importance of understanding how the RPL system operates, clarifying institutional roles and responsibilities, and building stronger collaboration among stakeholders. The training also deepened participants’ understanding of portfolio preparation, competency-based assessment, and the practical steps needed to support skilled workers in securing formal recognition of their abilities.
The programme also encouraged trainees to develop action plans for applying the RPL framework within their own institutions. Participants expressed plans to raise awareness, guide candidates in preparing their portfolios, and ensure that future assessments are conducted in line with national competency standards. Many noted that a more structured RPL system would make assessments more standardised, transparent, and effective than earlier informal practices.
The training is expected to support RPL implementation in selected occupations, including tourism and hospitality as well as other priority sectors linked to economic growth. As Ethiopia gradually expands RPL across different regions and industries, the availability of well-trained assessors will be essential in reducing skills mismatches, improving productivity, and increasing access to decent work. By strengthening assessor capacity, the ILO is helping Ethiopia build the institutional foundation for a sustainable and inclusive national system that recognises skills wherever they are acquired and ensures that capable but uncertified workers are not excluded.
Held from 10 to 13 March 2026 in Bahir Dar, the training marked another concrete step toward making Ethiopia’s national RPL system fully operational. Through the Global Skills Programme, the ILO continues to support countries in developing inclusive, demand-driven skills systems that promote lifelong learning, equitable access, and quality assurance in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
