Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute’s (ALLPI) Expert Team led by its Programs Coordinator, Mr. Nicholas Mudungwe and composed of Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam, Institutional Capacity Development and Consultancy Expert, Mr. Harrison Mungai Leather Value Chain and Tannery Expert and Two consultants from UV Enterprises-India, conducted a mission to Asmara from March 3 to 11 ,2018.
The main objectives of the mission were:
- Validate the Vocational and Diploma level curricula on leather Technology;
- Conduct training on Cluster Design and Implementation, and
- Assess the operations of tanneries and their effluent treatment and disposal systems.
The Expert Team started its activities by holding a courtesy call on March 4, 2018 meeting held at the Ministry of Trade and Industry with the Director General Mr. Tadesse Woldeyohannes. The Meeting was also attended by other ministry officials and the Chairperson of Eritrea Leather and Allied Industry Association (ELAIA) Mr. Petros Semere.
The Team held the Vocational and Diploma Curricula validation and launch workshop on March 5, 2018 at Asmara Palace Hotel. The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Tadesse Woldeyonnes, Director General, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and was attended by 36 participants drawn from line ministries, Higher learning institutions, ELAIA, and actors from across the leather value chain. Both the Vocational and Diploma Curricula were validated after thorough discussions and further enrichment by the participants. The workshop evaluation summary results showed that 96% of the respondents indicated that the workshop achieved its set objectives and also made useful suggestions of additional activities to be included in the future.
The training workshop in Cluster designing and implementation was held at Crystal Hotel from March 6 to 8, 2018. It was officially opened by the Director General, Mr. Tadesse Wodeyohanes . A total of 24 trainees, drawn from public and private sectors, took part in the training. Major topics covered during the training encompassed cluster preparation: from informal to formal, cluster development initiatives framework, cluster implementation and cluster monitoring and evaluation. At the end of the training trainees were made to evaluate the program, a summary of which showed that the training met the expectations of 95 percent of the participants and all of them indicated that they will be able to apply the knowledge learned. Participants were also given certificates at the end of the training.
The UV Enterprises, Consultants, Mr. Perinkolam Parameswaran Viswanathan, CEO and Senior Consultant and Srinivasa Perumal Arun Oli Project Manager visited tanneries to conduct situational analysis on their operations and management of effluent in Asmara, parallel to ALLPI Experts mission. The UV Enterprises, under a contract with ALLPI to deliver a situational analysis of the issues identified and proposed technical options of addressing them. Thus, they are expected deliver documents detailing: the choice of technology on both effluent treatment and disposal; prepare and submit detailed designs, drawings and cost estimation of various short term and long-term options of improving effluent management. ALLPI tannery and leather value chain expert also made equipment (machinery) and operation situational assessment of the tanneries.
The ALLPI Expert Team at the end of its mission held a debriefing session with officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry on March 10, 2018.
