Traditional weavers in Ethiopia to undergo training

24 May '12

2 min read

Traditional weavers in Ethiopia would be imparted training in weaving and designing so that they can improve the product value and quality of their woven items and thus better cater to the export market.

The overall project cost is estimated at about 6.3 million birr, of which 3.8 million birr has been contributed by the USAID's Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Program (COMPETE).

The USAID funding forms a part of the US$ 8.4 million food security support for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries.

Other agencies contributing to the project – both financially and otherwise – include the Center for African Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), which leads the project; Sara Garment Designers and Manufacturers (SGDM); and Muya Abyssinia Craft, who have accepted to be the implementers of the project.

The project 'Connecting 100 Traditional Weavers to the Export Market', launched by CAWEE, involves 50 upgraded weaving looms, each costing 17.557 birr, and would train 70 male and 30 female weavers, Steve Humphreys, Country Representative for COMPETE, said.

The training, forming a part of the CAWEE's plan of involving skilled weavers in manufacturing of export-oriented products, would commence at Alem Gena, a town in central Ethiopia from June onwards. It would be undertaken in two phases from June-August and September-November. Alem Gena has been preferred as the location for training as it houses a large number of weavers.

The training curriculum developed by SGDM is available in English and Amharic.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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