The cooperation is resumed: Eritrean flag in front of the UN building in Geneva. (Photo: Keystone / Salvatore di Nolfi)
12 October 2017 17:56; Act: 12.10.2017 18:31
Since the beginning of October, Switzerland has been supporting two vocational training projects in Eritrea. The commitment is intended to help to improve the living conditions and future perspectives of young people in the country in the long term.
The Federal Council had asked the Directorate for Development and Cooperation (Deza) about a year ago to examine possibilities for cooperation with Eritrea with pilot projects. After planning work, the commitment has now begun, as the Foreign Department (EDA) today announced.
The Deza had retired from Eritrea more than ten years ago because the conditions for cooperation were no longer there. The FDFA writes that the new commitment will demonstrate that effective engagement is possible on the ground.
Switzerland supports the two vocational training projects, each with around one million Swiss francs per year. The pilot phase will continue until the end of 2019. A first evaluation will be carried out by the end of 2018.
Learn a trade
The first project is about a vocational school in the port city of Massaua. This is carried out by the Swiss Private Supporting Committee for Eritrea (Suke). Teachers employed in companies in the region train workers and can also train themselves.
The second project is supported by the Volontariato Internazionale by Lo Sviluppo Agency (VIS), which supports vocational schools in several regions. These offer young people from disadvantaged population groups and especially girls the opportunity to learn a profession.
To create future perspectives
The FDFA believes that better professional perspectives for young Eritreers in their own country contribute decisively to the decision of the people where they want to settle down and live.They gave hope for the future.
With its commitment, Switzerland could also deepen intergovernmental dialogue on various topics, including human rights, development questions and the rule of law. The EDA hopes that bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Eritrean authorities will gradually improve.
**Software translation**
(Sep / SDA
