After 30 years of operation, DVV International will end its project work in Ethiopia in June 2024. This comes at a time when significant milestones have been achieved together with the Ministry of Education in adult and non-formal education.
To acknowledge achievements made and to foster sustainability of structures and approaches in adult education, DVV International conducted a closure conference from 18-19 April 2024 in Addis Ababa. About 80 participants were present, among them key partners of DVV International from the Ministry of Education, the Regional Education Bureaus and academia. The conference was graced by the presence of distinguished guests including the Honourable State Minister General Education, Mrs Ayelech Eshete, His Excellency Stephan Auer, German Ambassador, Martin Rabanus, MP and Chair of the Board of Directors of DVV, and board member Arne Zielinski, accompanied by Uwe Gartenschlaeger, Director of DVV International, Germany.
“I am very proud of the work done by DVV International in Ethiopia,” said Martin Rabanus, MP and President of the DVV Board of Directors in his opening remarks at the conference. “After 30 years, our work in Ethiopia is coming to an end – the structures have been established as models and can now be rolled out in the country. We would like to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Education for their invaluable cooperation, which has been instrumental in the success and impact achieved in Ethiopia.” His Excellency Stephan Auer, German Ambassador stated during the opening remarks: “We need an education system that not only imparts knowledge and skills but also cultivates critical thinking and fosters the capacity for self-initiative and accountability. Adult education stands as a crucial pathway to combat unemployment and serves as an integral part of sustainable economic development.”
Advancing adult education and empowering the citizens of Ethiopia
Frauke Heinze, Regional Director of DVV International East/Horn of Africa expressed her appreciation to the Ministry of Education and other partners for their invaluable contributions toward the advancement of adult and non-formal education in Ethiopia. The Country Director of DVV International Ethiopia, Eshetu Abate, invited all participants to learn more about the work done by DVV International and its partners over the past three decades. Yoseph Abera, CEO ANFE, Ministry of Education delivered opening remarks in which he acknowledged the significant contributions of DVV International in partnership with the Ministry in providing valuable support and structural developments.
The guest of honour of the conference, Honourable State Minister of General Education, Mrs Ayelech Eshete extended her congratulations to DVV International, the Ministry of Education, and all stakeholders involved in the remarkable achievement of advancing adult education and empowering the citizens of Ethiopia. She expressed gratitude for the privilege of collaborating with DVV International on the significant progress made in providing quality education to marginalised adults. Mrs Eshete mentioned some initiatives undertaken during this collaboration, including the development of successful methodologies in adult learning and education and the establishment of Community Learning Centres (CLCs), one-stop adult education service delivery points. She emphasised the importance of scaling up these centres to offer tailored basic education, skills development and vocational training to citizens, particularly in the rural areas, and thus ensure the sustainability of the ANFE sector for the country’s sustainable development.
Milestones of the cooperation of DVV International and the Ministry of Education
DVV International and the Ministry of Education showcased their milestones in an exhibition. These included the development of the Integrated Functional Adult Education (IFAE) programme, which incorporates adult literacy into functional approaches alongside sectors like health, agriculture, life skills, livelihood and the environment as well as the introduction of Community Learning Centres as part of the IFAE programme, the establishment of study and master programmes at universities, such as Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Hawassa, among others. These approaches empower individuals and communities through lifelong learning opportunities.
“Adult education should evolve around the needs of adults. You cannot force adults into classrooms.” – Uwe Gartenschlaeger, Director DVV International
During the conference, a number of keynote speeches were delivered, shedding light on the progress and future directions of adult and non-formal education in Ethiopia. Dr Dessu from Addis Ababa University provided a detailed overview of the historical development of non-formal adult education over the past century, offering valuable insights into historical trends and evolving methodologies. He emphasised Mwalimu Nyerere’s contribution to adult and non-formal education, highlighting that adult education should aim to empower adults who are in the present generation to help themselves, noting that this can bring about changes in their communities, fostering self-reliance.
Besides keynote speeches, roundtable discussions were conducted to foster sustainability of the achievements made in the adult and non-formal education sector in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Esteemed guests that were present included: Dr Alemayehu Gebre, Director of Lumions Foundation; Yoseph Abera, CEO of ANFE, Ministry of Education; Uwe Gartenschlaeger, Director of DVV International, Germany; Mr Tamagne Ashenafi, ANFE Focal Person REB Amhara Region; and Mr Abiy Minker, Bahir Dar University. They shared their perspectives on enhancing the adult education sector in Ethiopia and beyond through sustaining the IFAE programme implementation and Community Learning Centres. During the roundtable discussion, Arne Zielinski emphasised the importance of government support for sustaining CLCs in Ethiopia beyond DVV intervention.
“The state should invest in supporting the local structures.” – Arne Zielinski, Board Member, DVV
Sustain the momentum left by DVV International
In wrapping up the conference, Dr Alemayehu Gebre, Director of Lumions Foundation, and Yoseph Abera, CEO of ANFE at the Ministry of Education, shared some key reflections. Mr Abera stressed the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the progress made and urged the Ministry to continue the initiatives pioneered by DVV International. He called upon all conference attendees to remain committed to strengthening networks, with a collective goal of eradicating illiteracy in Ethiopia. Dr Gebre echoed these sentiments, emphasising the significance of collaborative efforts in driving forward the mission of adult education. As Dr Gebre succinctly put it, “We need to sustain the momentum left by DVV International.” Other key takeaways were the call to encourage the Ministry of Education to ensure sustainability and the role out of the CLCs and the call for stakeholders to invest in capacity building to sustain the quality of adult education services at CLCs in future years.
As we say goodbye to this important collaboration and the conference, we would like to remind everyone of DVV International’s unwavering dedication to promoting lifelong learning and empowering communities. Even though we’ve reached a milestone, the quest for education and empowerment continues. Let’s work together toward a future where every person has access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.
More information
Download the publication 30 Years of Journey in Advancing Adult and Non-Formal Education in Ethiopia.
Learn more about DVV International’s work in East Africa at the regional website.
