Creating new opportunities through entrepreneurship skills for migrant returnees in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA (ILO News) - A first round of entrepreneurship and motivational skills trainings for returned migrants was successfully completed by the ILO in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.

From 15-to 21 February 2016, the trainings of the returnees were held under the “Support for Reintegration” project funded by the European Union and implemented by the ILO in collaboration with Oromia Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs (BOLSA) and Micro and Small Enterprises Development Agency (MSEDA).

The objectives of the trainings were to provide returnees practical tools to establish sustainable livelihood; acquire entrepreneurial mind set; identify and recognize opportunities; and asses the feasibility of ideas as well as familiarize with basic economic and financial concepts and steps in business start-up and expansion.

Growing numbers of Ethiopians are leaving their home towns and villages in search of better opportunities abroad. According to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Ethiopia, more than 2 million Ethiopians are residing in North America, the Middle East, Australia and other African countries. The Middle East countries especially the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been the major destination for semi-skilled and unskilled Ethiopian migrants over the last three decades.

In November 2013, the Government of KSA (GoKSA) expelled all irregular migrants. As a result, between November 2013 and March 2014, more than 163,000 Ethiopian migrants were forcibly repatriated. More than 30,000 of them returned to Oromia region. In order to address these challenges and support returnees to establish a sustainable livelihood, providing entrepreneurial and motivational training was identified as a key activity in the reintegration project.

For further information please contact: Blen Mandefro, Communication Office for Migration Project at [email protected]