The Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI) convened a high-level stakeholder engagement to review the TVET Bursary Cohort 1 recruitment and plan for Cohort 2 under the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Programme. The meeting brought together key government ministries, institutional representatives, and partners to strengthen transparency, inclusivity, and strategic planning in expanding equitable access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) opportunities for young women and men.

Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement

The planning session included participation from:

Government Ministries: Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology Development; Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education; Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, including the Department of Social Development and Department of Disability Affairs.
Refugee Engagement: Representatives from Tongogara Refugee Camp participated, highlighting the programme’s inclusivity.
Technical Institutions: Delegates from Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, Kwekwe, Gweru, and Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College.
FAWEZI Leadership: Executive Committee members and Secretariat representatives.

The convening served as a platform to review lessons learned from Cohort 1 recruitment, assess implementation gaps, and refine processes for Cohort 2.

Strengthening Transparency and Effectiveness

Provincial and national selection committees provided feedback on the Cohort 1 recruitment process, highlighting the importance of:

Transparent selection procedures
Inclusive outreach strategies to reach marginalized young women and men
Effective use of application tools and selection matrices
Ensuring equitable opportunities for all eligible candidates

Participants critically assessed current recruitment tools, identifying opportunities to improve selection matrices, timelines, and procedural workflows, thereby ensuring a streamlined and fair process for Cohort 2 applicants.

Strategic Planning for Cohort 2

During the meeting, strategies and action plans were developed to guide the Cohort 2 recruitment process. These include:

Enhanced engagement with underrepresented communities to expand access
Standardized recruitment processes across all participating institutions
Monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track recruitment progress
Capacity-building for provincial and national selection committees to ensure consistent and fair implementation

The meeting concluded with actionable recommendations for implementing Cohort 2 recruitment in alignment with programme objectives, ensuring that the next group of beneficiaries receives targeted support and access to transformative educational opportunities.

This stakeholder-driven engagement reflects FAWEZI’s commitment to systematic, transparent, and inclusive programming, reinforcing its role in expanding access to TVET education for marginalized youth and driving sustainable development outcomes across Zimbabwe.