Environment  – Benin is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Unemployment and under-employment are widespread. The long tradition of apprenticed craftsmen no longer meets present-day demand. There is no systematic theoretical and practical education. This means, amongst other things, that the quality of products and services no longer meets growing customer expectations, and that many companies struggle to sell their goods. Sound vocational training enables young people to find jobs on completion of their apprenticeship and to obtain a regular income, whether in a company or as a self-employed person.

The Project  –  The aim is to support the manual trades sector to establish a structured and state-recognised system of vocational training and further education, and to improve the supervision of apprentices. In Benin a national fund finances approximately 90% of the training programmes, and great interest is being shown by professional associations. Thanks to these favourable conditions and experiences with similar projects in Mali and Burkina Faso, between 1,000 and 1,500 apprentices a year receive sound training, and to date more than 4,000 teachers have received additional training in short courses. Together with the local manual trades organisations and the national authorities, model training programmes for apprentices and further education measures for teachers are being developed and implemented, initially for five trades (joinery, tailoring, hairdressing, refrigeration and air conditioning and motor cycle mechanics) in ten towns. Reading and writing is also taught as part of the courses, together with real-life knowledge (AIDS prevention etc.). Access to training for young women is especially being promoted. In addition, local manual trades organisations support vocational training and further education for disadvantaged young people. With the aim of institutionalising this system in future, the training of instructors and continuing education in training sites is also supported. This guarantees future quality training for young people.