UNHCR, World Together partner to expand vocational skills training for young refugees in Ethiopia to build self-reliant, productive futures

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Korean international non-governmental organization World Together (WT) today signed a landmark partnership agreement to promote the inclusion of urban refugees in Ethiopia in fully funded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scholarship programmes.

The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa during the visit of the President of World Together for the 2026 LG-KOICA Hope TVET College Graduation Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in advancing refugee self-reliance through quality vocational education and private-sector linkage.

"Under this partnership, UNHCR and World Together will collaborate to explore and develop pathways to enroll urban refugees in fully funded technical and vocational training programmes in Electronics and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), to initiate the first intake as early as December 2026, subject to operational readiness. During the initial phase, UNHCR will support promotion and awareness-raising across local secondary schools, government authorities, and operational partners.

Ethiopia hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, including over 70,000 urban refugees residing in Addis Ababa. In line with the Government of Ethiopia’s Makatet Roadmap to include refugees in national systems, this collaboration addresses a vital gap in technical training and sustainable livelihoods.

"For over two decades in Ethiopia, World Together has focused on transforming lives through quality education and sustainable employment for vulnerable youth," said Mr. Kim Yong-woo, President, World Together. "Extending our fully funded vocational programs to refugees is a natural next step in our mission. By combining rigorous TVET training with private-sector internship pathways, we are providing young refugees with the practical skills and confidence needed to build self-reliant, productive futures."

World Together Ethiopia was established in 2007 to support Ethiopian veterans of the Kagnew Battalion, who served under the UN Command during the Korean War, and their families. Since then, the programmes have expanded to assist low-income youth and other vulnerable groups. In 2014, KOICA and LG established LG-KOICA Hope TVET College through KOICA’s Inclusive Business Solution (IBS) Programme, with World Together managing and operating the college. The college has achieved nearly 100% employment and self-employment rates for its graduates, thanks to tailored curricula and direct internship pipelines with LG’s Regional Office in Dubai and affiliated companies across East Africa.

"Vocational training remains a critically important yet often under-invested area for empowering young people," said Aissatou Ndiaye, UNHCR's Representative in Ethiopia. "This partnership aligns with UNHCR’s global '50by35' vision—aiming to reduce dependency on humanitarian assistance of refugees by 50% by 2035. The LG-KOICA Hope TVET College represents an exemplary model of long-term collaboration among a government donor, the private sector, and civil society, with partners remaining committed for more than a decade to creating sustainable career pathways," she said.

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For more information, please contact:

(UNHCR) Sona Dadi, [email protected], +251 932 459 640

Pictures: https://f.io/lJZbwAhx

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance including shelter, food, and water; help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future.

About World Together

Established in 2005, World Together is an international development NGO operating across 13 countries. In Ethiopia, World Together works to empower vulnerable communities, youth, and descendants of Korean War veterans through comprehensive education, healthcare, and technical skill development programs designed to foster self-reliance.