NEDA Treasure Trove on TVET

Gender-Responsive and Transformative TVET in Africa A curated collection of promising practice In a landscape rich with policy papers and guidance notes on gender and Technical and Vocational Education and Training, this publication distinguishes itself as a practical and evidence-informed compendium of action. It is described as a true treasure trove because it brings together concrete, field-tested gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches from across the African continent. Rather than revisiting familiar arguments, the booklet highlights initiatives that actively challenge entrenched social norms and gender stereotypes. It showcases how TVET programmes can dismantle structural barriers that limit women and girls’ participation in the economy and constrain their contribution to household and community well-being. The emphasis is on applied methodologies, institutional reforms, and measurable results. Anchored in Continental and International Frameworks The approaches featured are aligned with key continental and global policy commitments. At the continental level, the African Union Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 2018–2028 calls for inclusive and multisectoral transformation to eliminate systemic constraints to women’s empowerment. At the international level, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development advances an intersectional and transformative agenda through its Feminist Development Policy introduced in 2022. Both frameworks move beyond access alone and promote structural change in institutions, norms, and resource allocation. This publication translates these strategic commitments into tangible examples within the TVET sector. Addressing the Documentation Gap Despite strong policy endorsement, systematic documentation of effective gender-responsive and transformative TVET approaches remains limited. To close this gap, the GIZ Network for Economic Development in Africa has compiled a preliminary yet carefully selected portfolio of promising project examples from across Africa. These cases demonstrate that transformative change in TVET is not aspirational. It is already underway. The objective is to inspire practitioners, policymakers, and programme designers to replicate, adapt, and scale innovative methodologies that promote gender equality in skills development systems. A Structured Assessment Framework The projects included in this collection are assessed using the Reach–Benefit–Empowerment Matrix. This practical analytical model enables stakeholders to evaluate initiatives according to: Reach: Who is being targeted and included Benefit: What tangible improvements participants experience Empowerment: Whether structural power relations and opportunities are shifting The matrix provides a clear methodology for planning, implementing, and evaluating TVET interventions with measurable outcomes. It supports evidence-based decision making and strengthens accountability in gender-transformative programming.