Photo © RET Germany

Article by Linda Kaka Enyia-Lawrence, M&E Manager for RET Nigeria

KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA – In workshops that once stood underused and in need of repair, young women and men in Katsina State are now producing cosmetics, crafting furniture, installing solar systems, and securing paying customers. What began as an investment in resilience is already translating into visible economic activity and renewed confidence across communities.

Launched in October 2024, this initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by RET Germany in partnership with CCDRN. Running through December 2028, the project targets 9,000 vulnerable participants across the Niger–Nigeria border region, including 60% women, 45% youth, and 10% persons with disabilities. In Katsina State, activities focus on the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Jibia, Funtua, Mai’Adua, and Batagarawa, where displacement, unemployment, and climate-related shocks continue to strain livelihoods.

Photo © RET Germany

Vocational training is a core pillar of the project’s broader strategy, which also integrates climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk management, and peacebuilding. The vocational component began in February 2025 with the identification of beneficiaries and the disbursement of unconditional cash transfers to 520 selected participants. This early support was paired with business and financial management training to encourage productive investment. The response was promising: 78% of beneficiaries chose to invest in small businesses rather than spending the funds solely on immediate consumption, allowing them to generate income even before formal vocational courses commenced.

To ensure long-term sustainability, the project conducted a comprehensive assessment of vocational training centers across the four LGAs. The review revealed significant gaps, including deteriorating infrastructure, outdated curricula, and limited gender inclusivity. Through coordinated advocacy with local and state authorities, LGA chairpersons committed to rehabilitating facilities and constructing additional blocks to accommodate diverse trades. This collaboration marked a critical step toward institutional ownership and sustainability.

Building on these improvements, RET Germany and CCDRN equipped the centers with solar power systems and modern tools for eight trade areas: solar installation, carpentry, GSM repairs, tailoring, leather work, catering, cosmetology, and knitting. The project also supported the Katsina State government in updating vocational training curricula and trained 39 local instructors to strengthen the quality and relevance of instruction.

By January 2026, quality assessments showed encouraging progress. Cosmetology trainees are producing soaps and beauty products for local markets. Carpentry departments are generating revenue for center maintenance through the sale of sofas and wardrobes. Students in solar installation and tailoring have begun securing clients and producing goods for sale, signaling early economic returns.

These achievements demonstrate skills acquisition and reflect a growing ecosystem of opportunity. By combining infrastructure rehabilitation, market-relevant training, institutional strengthening, and early income support, the project is laying the foundation for an economically empowered generation. The long-term vision remains clear: youth and women in Katsina, and across the broader Niger–Nigeria border region, equipped with technical skills, confidence and resources to drive inclusive growth and social cohesion within their communities.

The project is  funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ) and implemented by RET Germany in partnership with CCDRN.

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