RTI International to lead discussion on workforce development at Devex conference in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia —RTI International will host a featured panel conversation on youth workforce development in Africa and discuss ways to build effective international development partnerships at the Devex Partnerships & Career Forum, Oct. 21-22 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"RTI International is excited and honored to play a leading role in the Devex Partnerships and Career Forum," said Aaron Williams, executive vice president of RTI's International Development Group. "This conference is a tremendous opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen partnerships and collaborations within our community. Working together enables us to better pursue our shared goals of ending poverty, eradicating disease, and creating employment opportunities for people around the globe."

Titled "Africa's rising workforce: Empowering youth to drive economic growth and job creation," the RTI panel will bring together a diverse group of development experts to talk about the most promising trends and ideas in regional workforce development. The participants will also discuss how putting these ideas into practice can empower Africa's youth to learn vital skills and embark on pertinent career paths that will drive sustainable economic progress throughout the region. The panel participants include:

•    Esther Benjamin, CEO for Africa Operations, Laureate Education, Inc.
•    Mirafe Marcos, chief of staff & senior director-special projects, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency
•    Dennis Weller, mission director, USAID Ethiopia
•    Peter J. Joyce, senior researcher, RTI International; general manager, Global Center on Youth Employment (moderator)

The two-day forum convenes key actors in international development—including the United States Agency for International Development, the Department for International Development (United Kingdom), regional African development agencies, and donors—for important discussions and workshops on building effective partnerships and innovative development programs. RTI has previously participated in Devex forums in Manila, Philippines and Nairobi, Kenya. 

RTI's Nicole Barnes, vice president of business strategy and communications in IDG, will participate in the forum's opening plenary discussion. Other RTI experts will join panels throughout the two-day conference.

RTI is active in 15 African counties, implementing more than 35 projects for a variety of public-and private-sector clients. Current projects include:

•    Reading for Ethiopia's Achievement Developed (READ) Technical Assistance Project, a new project aimed at improving the learning outcomes of primary school students, specifically in reading and writing.
•    Neglected Tropical Diseases control and elimination. RTI support helped USAID reach 1 billion cumulative treatments in 25 countries. 
•    The Kenya Primary Math and Reading (PRIMR) Initiative, an applied research program in 1,384 schools focusing on improving English, Kiswahili, mother tongue, and mathematics skills of children in grades 1 and 2.

Devex was founded to help make the international aid process more efficient. Its membership includes more than 1,400 funding agencies, companies and nongovernmental organizations in 100 countries.