Overview
This report presents the independent terminal evaluation of the project entitled Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development for Job Creation in Ethiopia and Senegal (UNIDO project ID 190092), funded by the Government of Germany and executed by UNIDO from December 2019 to December 2023. The project, with a budget of 8 million Euros, was part of Germany's Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” and aimed at mitigating youth unemployment challenges in Ethiopia and Senegal through training and skills development stimulating private sector investment, and mainstreaming legal and policy instruments and mechanisms.
Key findings reveal the project's achievement in demonstrating the potential for
employability and job creation, primarily through the adoption of value chain approaches in agro-industry in Ethiopia, and the UNIDO IDEA approach for youth entrepreneurship development in Senegal. Overall, the project’s achievements have been significant more on a qualitative level than quantitatively due to its demonstrative nature.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a low number of investors in the
integrated agro-industrial park in Ethiopia and the non-completion of the Agropole Sud in Senegal, the project surpassed most predefined targets, creating and improving over 3,000 jobs in both countries combined, with notable emphasis on youth, women, and smallholder farmers. Moreover, significant efforts were made to support SMEs and enhance the working conditions of employees through targeted training initiatives.
Recommendations of the evaluation aim to enhance the sustainability of the project's
benefits, emphasizing the importance of continued policy support, investment attraction, and capacity building. Additionally, the evaluation highlights valuable lessons learned, underscoring the importance of adaptive approaches in the face of unforeseen challenges and the potential for replicability in similar contexts.
In conclusion, while facing inevitable obstacles, the project achieved commendable outcomes in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development, thus contributing to economic transformation and job creation in Ethiopia and Senegal.
