German Cooperation and YEA Launch Make Fashion Inclusive Project
German Development Cooperation, in collaboration with Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has launched the ‘Make Fashion Inclusive Project’. The initiative is designed to empower Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to enter and remain in Ghana’s fast-growing fashion industry. The Project signing ceremony took place in Accra, together with other partners including the Ghana Chamber of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (GCED) and Osei Collective and the Ghana National Association of Tailors and Dressmakers, Greater Accra Region.
People with disabilities represent a marginalised group in the labour market in all countries around the world, being far more likely than persons without disabilities to be unemployed, underemployed, or economically inactive. Where persons with disabilities have participated in vocational training, it is often in segregated settings where courses are frequently not linked to labour market requirements or at a standard lower than that required by employers. Where they are employed, workers with disabilities are more likely to be in low-paid jobs with poor promotional prospects and working conditions. Their labour market situation entails social and economic losses which have been estimated by the ILO to be between 3 and 7 per cent of GDP.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Wilhelm Hugo, Head of Programme of The Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” at GIZ Ghana, intimated that there is an urgent need to address the marginalisation of persons with disabilities in the labour market, and to take steps to reduce the significant social and economic cost this represents to individuals, communities, economies, and society at large. He stated that there are greater opportunities in the TVET and skills systems to equip beneficiaries with relevant skills and qualifications for lifelong employment. Therefore, making this fashion sector project disability-inclusive will create jobs and provide better social protection measures for a brighter pension for participants of the project.
The project will commence with a first cohort of 100 beneficiaries drawn from the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions. The successes of the first, yet pilot cohort will provide critical learning lessons to guide the upscaling of the project to other regions of Ghana.
GIZ is the implementing organisation on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), within the framework of the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” Programme.
The Make Fashion Inclusive project, according to Mr. Hugo, seeks to leverage on the growing momentum for investing in the fashion sector and create sustainable jobs for PWDs. He further intimated that the project will operate as a skills hub to provide lifelong skills to foster decent employment for persons with disabilities as the beneficiaries will be operating as a cooperative in a formal setting.
On his part, Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) lauded German Cooperation and the other partners to address the challenges faced by PWDs in the labour market.
He explained that the discrimination and marginalisation of persons with disabilities were of grave public concern in the quest to address the unemployment menace facing the youth of Ghana.
Mr. Agyepong added that, “YEA had already set the pace to change the narrative and is committed to inclusivity by invigorating the YEA Disability Desk Office to have a voice in the decision- making process of the Agency”.
According to him, “the Agency has strengthened the Disability Desk Office by recruiting two hundred and eighty- two (282) PWDs as staff of the Authority this year, to serve as regional and district gender and disability desk officers across the sixteen (16) regions, with an additional two hundred and sixty-six (266) employed in the Authority’s operational districts of the Authority”.
He said as skills training and acquisition are becoming the policy direction of the YEA, these PWDs Officers would come in handy to serve the interest and affairs of PWDs enrolled on programmes and projects of the Agency.
Ms. Jessica Quelennec, Founder of the Osei Collective, indicated that her organisation “has long been an ally of the Ghana Chamber of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities”. She believes that collaborating on this esteemed project will help realise the organisation’s vision of empowering persons with disabilities to become self-reliant and play a significant role in Ghana’s socio-economic development.
On his part, Mr. Alex Tetteh, President of the Ghana Chambers of Disabilities, said the Chamber is pleased to have such a project outdoored. He said on countless occasions, their members have been trained and supported to set up their own businesses, which most often fold up within a short period. He said this project is more sustainable since the beneficiaries will be operating in a hub as a cooperative. This gives the beneficiaries the opportunity to work and earn a decent livelihood.
About the FTC Project:
The Make Fashion Inclusive project is an initiative of Invest for Jobs of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Ghana Chamber of Entrepreneurs with Disability (GCED) and Osei Collective.
About YEA
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA), under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, is mandated to provide decent employment opportunities for the youth in Ghana. The primary objective of the agency is to develop, coordinate, supervise and facilitate the creation of jobs for the youth of ages between 15 to 35 years through its programmes and initiatives to transition from a situation of unemployment to that of employment, through three key strategic pillars:
- Investing in Sustainable Growth
- Promoting Inclusive Development and Job Creation
- Positioning YEA as a Facilitator of Jobs
About GCED
The main activity of the Ghana Chamber for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (GCED) is to contribute towards the creation of an enabling business environment that enhances entrepreneurial abilities and entrepreneurship among persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana. The organization focuses on advocacy for disability-inclusive business environments, promoting disability-inclusive financial sectors, providing entrepreneurial training for PWD business owners, and mentoring PWDs in entrepreneurship. Additionally, GCED promotes networking among members locally and internationally.
About Osei Collective
Osei-Baako Foundation is a non-profit organisation which focuses on providing paid employment opportunities for PWDs rather than relying solely on charitable donations. Osei Collective extends training solutions to promote the advancement of entrepreneurial competencies and employability skills, enabling PWDs to have an independent work life for productive future employment, generate a sustainable income and support in competing favourably for available employment opportunities by:
- enabling artisans with disabilities to develop entrepreneurial skills through education, craft, and trade to change the trajectory of their lives.
- giving job seekers the confidence to reach their full potential, build employability skills and exercise their human rights without discrimination.
About Ghana National Association of Tailors and Dressmakers
About Invest for Jobs
Under the Invest for Jobs brand, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has put together a package of measures to support German, European and African companies in investment activities that have a high impact on employment in Africa. The Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” – the official title – offers comprehensive advice, contacts and financial support to overcome investment barriers. The development objective is to team up with companies to create good jobs and improve working conditions and social protection in the eight African partner countries. The Special Initiative is implemented by GIZ, among others. Further information is available at www.invest-for-jobs.com.
About GIZ
As a provider of international cooperation services for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is dedicated to building a future worth living around the world. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. We work with businesses, civil society actors, and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is our main commissioning party. Currently, GIZ promotes sustainable development in Ghana via about 50 programmes and projects. Our activities currently cover three priority areas: Energy and Climate, with a concentration on renewable energy and energy efficiency; Training and Sustainable Growth for Decent Jobs, and Peaceful and Inclusive Societies, which looks at good governance. For more information, please visit: www.giz.de/ghana
