The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Promotion of Employment, in charge of Vocational Training, has officially launched the 2026-2027 academic year for vocational training and apprenticeship centers (Cfpa) in Benin. The ceremony took place on September 28, 2026, in Djougou, and was attended by Minister Awaou Baco, Minister-Counselor Nicaise Fagnon, technical and financial partners, and heads of structures under the ministry's supervision. This marks a significant step in the government's efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education.
The new academic year is part of the government's reforms to improve the quality of vocational training and adapt it to the country's economic needs. The ministry plans to focus on improving center operations, enhancing training quality, and implementing performance contracts. Additionally, the development of establishment projects, teacher professionalization, and equipment upgrades are key priorities. These initiatives aim to increase the visibility of offered training programs and align them with priority sectors of the national economy.
During the ceremony, Minister Awaou Baco emphasized the importance of rigor, attendance, and perseverance for new trainees. She highlighted that vocational training should equip young people with concrete skills, promote autonomy, and enable them to contribute to their communities' economic life. The minister also noted that the training programs must be adapted to the needs of different territories.
As part of the ceremony, 179 young women from the first promotion of the Profop program received their Certificate of Professional Qualification (Cqp). Furthermore, a list of 200 women beneficiaries of training scholarships in various technical and professional fields was presented to the minister, thanks to the support of partners. The ministry also distributed equipment worth 241.412 million CFA francs to the Djougou Cfpa, acquired with the World Bank's support.
The Djougou Cfpa is not the only center to receive new equipment. Twelve other reference centers will also benefit from the support of the Fodefca, led by Arsène Zocli. The ministry's efforts aim to improve the quality of vocational training and provide young people with relevant skills. The equipment distribution is part of a broader strategy to enhance the centers' infrastructure and training capacity.
After the ceremony, Minister Awaou Baco and her delegation continued their visit to Djougou and Natitingou. They visited the University Institute of Professional Education (Iuep), where young people are being trained with the support of the National Employment Agency (Anpe). The delegation also toured the "Espace Tissage de Djougou" enterprise, the workshop of furniture maker Juste Yao, and the Natitingou Anpe antenna.
The minister's visit concluded with a stop at the Yetanri SME, specializing in agro-food processing, and an observation of young people receiving soft skills training with the support of the German Development Cooperation (Giz). These visits showcased the ministry's efforts to promote vocational training and support young entrepreneurs in Benin. The successful implementation of these initiatives will be crucial in enhancing the country's technical and vocational education system.
Key points
- The Benin government has launched the 2026-2027 vocational training year, focusing on improving the quality of technical and professional education.
- The ministry has distributed equipment worth 241.412 million CFA francs to vocational training centers, including the Djougou Cfpa.
- 179 young women have received their Certificate of Professional Qualification (Cqp) as part of the Profop program.
