Kenya and Ethiopia are embedding green and circular economy skills into their vocational education systems, with the goal of equipping young people to turn textile waste into sellable products and businesses. This progress was disclosed at a recent cross-border "Green Skills Learning Forum," attended by government officials, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, private sector representatives, and development partners from both countries.

According to the forum, the project has covered more than 50 vocational institutions across the two countries, trained 500 TVET teachers, and provided circular skills and entrepreneurship training to 33 startups and 20 textile enterprises, reaching a cumulative total of 4,600 learners. The curriculum covers fashion design, textile production, textile dyeing, and circular entrepreneurship, using raw materials including cutting scraps, discarded textiles, and other waste. The project has developed three green training modules applicable to Kenya and Ethiopia.

Nelius Wangare of Kisumu National Polytechnic said at the forum that the institutions involved are developing textile and green skills curricula to promote circular fashion design and integrate digital skills into the training process. The forum also showcased recycled products made from textile waste and plastic waste, demonstrating that discarded materials can be transformed into market-oriented goods.

Mary Mugo, Edukans Kenya Country Director, believes this approach can reduce pollution while alleviating unemployment. She said that "Dressing for a Green Future" is not just about protecting the environment, but about giving young people skills suited to today's economy, enabling them to work confidently with sustainable textiles and to scale up the green transition through innovation. She added that when a young person learns to recycle waste into a sellable product, unemployment and pollution are solved at the same time. Mugo also said that Kenya and Ethiopia should exchange experiences on the green transition, and that both countries can benefit from sharing green skills and sustainable production methods.

Forum topics included how to integrate green skills into curricula, the interface between training institutions and industry, and sustainable waste management. According to Edukans, some learners who completed the training have already used what they learned to start green businesses and hire others. The project is part of Edukans' broader work supporting sustainable development of the textile and fashion industries in Kenya and Ethiopia; according to its 2025 report, the project also contributed to efforts to incorporate circular education into Kenya's Cotton, Textile and Apparel Policy. The forum concluded by adopting a declaration calling for the promotion of green skills and the removal of barriers faced by women and marginalized groups in the industry.

For the used clothing and textile recycling industry, this development means that textile waste handling in East Africa is extending from end-of-pipe recycling toward the talent supply side: the design and processing capabilities produced by vocational institutions could provide labor and entrepreneurs for local reuse capacity and value-added links in second-hand textiles.

Source: How Kenya, Ethiopia are turning textile waste into jobs · Originally published on 2026-09-18