Malawi is addressing the issue of poverty reduction through a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) which states that the Technical, Entrepreneurial Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) system must become an engine of economic development and poverty reduction. The Technical, Entrepreneurial Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT) and the Malawi Polytechnic (MP) have developed the PRS outlining the strategic plan and activities over the next 5 years.

This project supports this plan by increasing employment and self-employment through appropriate technical, entrepreneurial, vocational programming and policy supports. It aims to build and sustain the TEVET system capacity to increase employment and self-employment through the development of market-driven policies, management practices focused on community needs and student-centered teaching processes. It will build capacity within the formal and informal TEVET training system, increasing effectiveness and producing highly skilled graduates who will take their place as economic development agents.

Description of Actual Services Provided:
- Policy/management/gender working groups identified, trained and operational
- Staff training policy/plans developed; policy development workshops
- Management training modules developed and offered
- Designed and implement strategy for teachers; develop teacher training competency profile and training modules
- Developed and implement linkage model
- Developed and implement recruitment and retention strategies for females; pilot career guidance program for females
- Provision of equipment and materials
- Updated curriculum and articulated with certificate and degree programs
- Design modules for distance education to increase access
- Develop HIV/AIDS health action curriculum/environmental education modules and material
- Design monitoring system
- Identification of baseline for employment levels; design and implement survey for employment/self-employment records
- TEVET strategic plan utilizing managers and teachers trained in community-based, market-driven and student-centered methodologies

Description of Results Achieved:
- TEVET instructors with increased knowledge and skills in delivering competency-based TEVET training and entrepreneurial education using ‘Linkage Model’
- Governance and management policies demonstrate responsiveness to local community education and training needs
- Gender recruitment and retention policies and programs in place in TEVET institutions and with industry
- “Linkage Model” for employability skills and entrepreneurship training implemented in Model schools including production units
- HIV/AIDS Health “Action” curriculum/ Environmental Education Curriculum implemented in Model schools
- Students, with increased knowledge and skills reflecting labour market needs, find employment
- Reduced poverty through increasing numbers of wage earners & self-employed
- Decreased numbers of HIV/AIDS affected teachers & students in TEVET institutions