Workforce Development
At FC, we view workforce development as a pathway to dignity, inclusion, and national transformation. Work is more than employment; it is a means of self-realization and social contribution. Our approach focuses on equipping people, especially youth and women, with the skills, mindsets, and opportunities they need to thrive in dynamic labor markets. By aligning training with market demand, blending soft skills with technical skills, and linking workers to enterprises, we transform potential into productivity and ensure that growth is both inclusive and sustainable.
- Skills Training and Certification: We design and deliver demand-driven training programs, in partnership with industries and government, to provide young people and women with the technical and soft skills required by employers.
- Workplace Readiness and Mindset Programs: We integrate life skills, financial literacy, and psychosocial support into training packages, preparing individuals to adapt, innovate, and contribute productively in diverse work settings.
- Job Matching and Placement: Through digital platforms, career centers, and partnerships with employers, we facilitate the transition from training to employment, helping individuals secure meaningful and sustainable work.
- Labor Market Systems Development: We identify and address systemic barriers in labor markets, such as policy gaps, information asymmetries, and weak linkages between training providers and employers, to make employment systems more inclusive and effective.
- Youth and Women Employment Initiatives: We design and implement large-scale employment and entrepreneurship initiatives, often in partnership with development partners and the private sector, that prioritize the economic empowerment of women and young people.
HIPSTER (Hawassa Industrial Park Sourcing and Training Employees in the Region) : 2013-2020
FC implemented the HIPSTER project in response to labour challenges at the Hawassa Industrial Park. The initiative created a standardised labour demand-supply system, providing screening, training, and job matching for job seekers while offering soft skills development to improve worker readiness. The system expanded beyond Hawassa, evolving into IPSTER, standardizing labour sourcing across multiple industrial parks.
BRIDGES Programme: 2019-2024
The BRIDGES programme built on the HIPSTER/IPSTER model and scaled its reach to over eight industrial parks across Ethiopia. It addressed workforce sourcing, screening, and employability challenges while providing training to bridge cultural and skill gaps for rural workers entering the industrial sector. The programme extended its impact beyond industrial parks, adapting the model to support workforce development across multiple regions of Ethiopia, including urban and rural settings.
Other Publications
Interest-Free Banking in Ethiopia – An Analysis of Product Offerings and Market Adoption
Programmes
