Empowering Dreams through the Leather Initiative for Sustainable Employment Creation in Ethiopia

Funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the “Leather Initiative for Sustainable employment Creation” (LISEC) project, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with partners including the Modjo City Administration and Oromia Regional State, is catalyzing transformative change in Ethiopia’s leather industry, by creating greater economic and decent employment opportunities especially for young men and women.

Modjo, nestled  in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, is a hub for the leather industry as the city hosts about 80 % of tanneries, with over 75 % being direct foreign investment. This leather cluster offers opportunities for foreign and local investors, technology transfer and skills development. The LISEC project committed to fostering inclusivity through participatory methods, aims to engage all stakeholders and seeks close partnership with relevant government institutions at local, woreda, regional and federal levels. Empowering women and youth, the project’s primary beneficiaries, LISEC empowers them to steer their own development agenda guided by the program’s implementing partners.

“I was eager to know how animal skins are finally turned into shoes and bags. From my very early days, I wanted to make shoes from leather. My dream is about to come true. I was registered as unemployed with the Kebele administration in Mojo town. I have also the dream to build my own footwear brand in the future. I have just received training with my group members on confidence building and running group business. We have learned how to prepare a business plan, run and expand a business, record keeping and working in harmony”, said Bethelhem young girl of 21 years old, that had the dream to follow her father’s footsteps in working in a local tannery.

Alongside her, Endale, shares his journey from Arsi Zone, Oromia region to Mojo town, seizing the opportunity to transform his life through craftmanship.

Endale explains, “I was invited to participate in the project after I was registered as a jobless person with the city administration. The presence of tanneries in Mojo offers an opportunity to engage in producing leather products. Together with other young people, we can make use of this opportunity to learn new skills in manufacturing shoes and bags. We can work as a group and transform our lives and support others with creating job opportunity. I have a strong dream to work hard and transform my family’s life and support others too.”

Similarly, Alemtsehay, aged 22 has completed grade 12 from Modjo Secondary School in 2019. Alemtshay has 3 brothers and 3 sisters living with their parents in rural village. After completing high school, Alemtsheay tried to engage in casual jobs as a labourer in a local tannery for meagre income. Through the local administration, she was included in LISEC project youth cluster to receive training to engage in footwear and leather manufacturer cooperative.

“I have learned the skills of designing, cutting, trimming, assembling and knitting leather into bags. My dream is to establish my own leather products making business,so that I can make good income and enjoy a happy family life”, she said.

Abay is married and has a six-year-old son. Since childhood, he desired to become a professional with technical skills rather than academia. He was unable to pursue his dream due to family responsibilities.

Learning of the UNIDO training from the government office where he registered as job seeker, he joined the training session hopes of  realizing his aspirations. He liked the training and proudly speaks about the bags that he himself has produced with the skills he learned from the training

My city Modjo is known for tanneries and leather production,” he said. “I want to be a part of the project to use the opportunity of ample leather availability to make leather products for a local market. The project trained me on footwear making. I learned the whole process that required shoe making, he proudly explains.

Through LISEC, these individuals embody the spirit of empowerment, each carving their unique path toward success. Meanwhile,  the “Leather and Leather Products Industry Research and Development Centre (LLPIRDC)”also benefited from the project.

Ms. Maereg Haile, Head of Modjo Satellite Laboratory explains: “By bringing the laboratory service closer to the tanneries, we can successfully contribute to the improvement of the leather value chain by boosting their competitiveness in the international market. Our results are technically accepted as per internationally accredited standard.”