Overcoming the challenges women face in Technical and Vocational Training in Côted’Ivoire

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

This study examines, through qualitative data collection and analysis, the multifaceted challenges encountered by Côte d’Ivoire students in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) across four stages: enrollment, attendance, completion, and entry into the labor market. Financial constraints, family influence, and limited perceived value shape enrollment, while bureaucratic complexity adds further barriers. Women face cultural bias limiting access, attendance is hindered by geography, boarding gaps, and security concerns, and completion is worsened by financial burdens and early pregnancy. The labor-market transition is blocked by scarce jobs, discrimination, and weak placement support.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages58

Reading Time2 h 26 min

AccessFree to download

List of Acronyms

Exploring Gender Disparities in Technical and Vocational Training: Executive Summary

1. Introduction

2. Findings

Enrollment

Attendance

Completion

Entry into the labor market

3. Conclusions and recommendations

4. References

5. Appendix

FGD-1: For Young Women in Male-Dominated TV ET Fields

FGD-2: Guide to Focus Groups for Women Not Selected for TVET Enrolment in the Last 3 Years

IDI-1: Interview Guide for Women Who Dropped out of TVET Education

IDI-2: Interview Guide for Women Who Have Completed TVET and Are Working or Unemployed

Overcoming the challenges women face in Technical and Vocational Training in Côted’Ivoire Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Abstract. This study examines through qualitative data collection and analysis the multifaceted challenges encountered by Côte d’Ivoire students in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) across four essential stages: enrollment, attendance, completion, and entry into the labor market. During enrollment, financial constraints, family influence, and the perception of the limited value of TVET affect student decisions, with bureaucratic complexities further complicating the process. Women, in particular, face cultural biases which restrict their access to technical fields. Attendance is generally impeded by limited geographical distribution, inadequate boarding facilities, and security concerns, with young women experiencing additional hardships, such as harassment and the need to balance schooling with domestic responsibilities. These factors contribute to emotional distress and stand in the way of academic achievement and personal well-being. Completion is negatively influenced by ongoing financial burdens, and early pregnancy and motherhood exacerbating the challenges for young women. Finally, the transition to the labor market is hampered by limited job opportunities, gender discrimination, and insufficient institutional support for job placement, with internships and practical work experiences being crucial yet often inadequate. The study highlights the need for multi-faceted efforts to address the challenges across stages ofthe engagement cycle with a particular focus on the additional and specific needs of women and girls. Acknowledgements. This report was authored by Ana Luiza Machado and Miriam Muller. The authors gratefully acknowledge contributions from a large team, especially the research team from Africa Consultants who collected the data, transcribed the interviews and coded the data. We thank Ezechiel Diallo, Iliana Violeta Colman Valdez, Yves Jantzem, Ali Coulibaly, Sophie Cerbelle, Rogelio Granguillhome Ochoa, Eduardo Alonso Malasquez Carbonel, Heba Elgazzar, Gabriela Inchauste, and Rob Swinkels for their valuable analytical inputs. The team worked under the guidance of Johan Mistiaen. The team benefitted greatly from excellent peer review comments received from Lou Gonan Karine Kouassi Epse Kouacou and Juan Baron. We thank the technical staff at the Ministère de l’enseignement technique, de la formation professionnelle et de l’apprentissage (Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship) and the staff of who facilitated entry in the selected schools for the purpose of data collection. Santosh Kumar Sahoo provided excellent administrative support throughout. This study was funded by the Hewlett Foundation and the Umbrella Facility for Gender Equality. Finally, and most importantly, our deepest gratitude to the key informants and to young women who shared their personal stories with us. Table of Contents List of Acronyms ................................................................................................. 4 Exploring Gender Disparities in Technical and Vocational Training: Executive Summary ........................................................................ 5 1 . Introduction ................................................................................................... 7 Inequality of opportunity .................................................................. 8 Inequality in education ................................................................... 9 A commitment to equality ................................................................. 11 Purpose and methodology of this research ..................................................... 12 2 . Findings ........................................................

FAQs

What stages of the TVET engagement cycle does the study analyze?

The study examines four stages: enrollment, attendance, completion, and entry into the labor market.

What main factors affect women’s access during enrollment?

Financial constraints, family influence, and perceptions of TVET’s limited value affect decisions, and women face cultural biases that restrict access to technical fields.

Why is the transition to the labor market difficult for TVET graduates, especially women?

Limited job opportunities, gender discrimination, and insufficient institutional support for job placement hinder entry, while internships and practical experiences are crucial but often inadequate.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang