A female student in training during a welding class
A female student in training during a welding class
Industrial development is often measured in kilometres of pipeline laid, tonnes of steel installed or megawatts of energy generated. Yet another equally important measure is who gets the opportunity to contribute to that progress.
In Uganda and Tanzania, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project is helping redefine that narrative by expanding access to technical skills and creating opportunities for women to participate in professions that have traditionally been dominated by men.
For decades, occupations such as welding, rigging and heavy equipment operation were widely viewed as the preserve of men. While never formally codified, this perception shaped recruitment, training and career progression across the industry. Today, that mindset is gradually changing.
Through its technical training programmes, EACOP is enabling women to train alongside men, undertake the same rigorous certification programmes, pass identical technical assessments and meet internationally recognised industry standards. The emphasis is not on preferential treatment but on ensuring that everyone with the required aptitude, commitment and determination has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Across the 1,443-kilometre pipeline corridor, more women are entering specialised technical roles once considered beyond their reach, demonstrating that competence, professionalism and performance—not gender—define excellence in the energy industry.
At the centre of this effort is EACOP’s National Content strategy, which seeks to maximise the economic benefits of the project for host countries by strengthening local capacity and developing a skilled workforce that will outlive the pipeline’s construction phase.
While supporting local suppliers remains a key pillar of the strategy, EACOP has also prioritised investment in human capital.
Working with institutions such as the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) and vocational training colleges across Tanzania, the EACOP Academy and its tier-one contractors have established specialised training programmes that equip local talent with practical, industry-ready skills.
Participants earn internationally recognised certifications, including qualifications from the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and OPITO, in disciplines such as 3G and 6G coded welding, mechanical maintenance, non-destructive testing (NDT) and heavy equipment operation. These qualifications prepare trainees not only for work on the pipeline project but also for employment across the global energy, engineering and construction industries.
According to EACOP’s National Content team, the project’s ambition extends beyond delivering critical energy infrastructure.
“Our objective is not simply to build a pipeline, but to build local capacity that outlasts the construction phase,” the team says.
To date, hundreds of young Ugandans and Tanzanians have enrolled in specialised technical training programmes, helping to retain valuable expertise within local communities.
EACOP has also embedded gender inclusion within its workforce development agenda through its Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) framework. The initiative promotes targeted recruitment, gender-sensitive workplace facilities and mentorship programmes designed to address long-standing cultural and institutional barriers that have limited women’s participation in technical careers.
The results are becoming increasingly evident across training centres in Buliisa, Hoima, Sembabule and Tanga.
Women now account for up to 25% of trainees in specialised midstream technical programmes. Female trainees are qualifying to operate heavy cranes, mobile workshop units and rigging equipment essential for pipeline logistics, while others are mastering the precision welding techniques required for what will become the world’s longest electrically heated crude oil pipeline.
For many participants, the programme represents far more than technical training. It offers financial independence, career progression and an opportunity to challenge deeply rooted stereotypes.
“When people first saw me wearing a welding helmet, they thought the job was too dangerous for a woman,” recalls one trainee at UPIK. “Today, when they see my welds pass inspection, they see a qualified professional.”
The impact extends beyond individual careers. Skilled women contribute to household incomes, strengthen local businesses and inspire other young women to pursue technical professions previously considered inaccessible.
As Uganda and Tanzania continue to invest in industrialisation, energy infrastructure and manufacturing, these internationally certified technicians will form a valuable talent pool capable of supporting future projects in construction, renewable energy and other strategic sectors.
With pipeline assembly and station construction progressing, EACOP continues to expand vocational training opportunities and supplier development programmes. By investing in local skills and promoting equal access to technical careers, the project is helping shape a more inclusive industrial workforce for East Africa.
For the project’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion team, that may ultimately become one of EACOP’s most enduring achievements.
“When you train a woman in technical engineering, you don’t just fill a job role—you transform community perceptions of what is possible.”
