The Ministry of Employment, Social Protection and Vocational Training in Côte d'Ivoire has initiated a training program for 15 national trainers in Yamoussoukro. This program aims to strengthen the skills of actors who will become national trainers and extend social coverage to populations in the agricultural and informal sectors. The training is part of the TRANSFORM program, which seeks to create a national pool of trainers capable of transmitting their knowledge to actors involved in implementing social protection mechanisms.
The training program was launched on November 9, 2026, and represents the Ministry's efforts to implement the Social Protection Investment Program (PIPS). PIPS was launched in December 2025 by the Prime Minister, with the goal of establishing a social protection management model better suited to workers in the agricultural and informal sectors. These sectors currently have insufficient coverage under existing social protection programs. According to Inspector General Kassoum Kouloubali, representing Minister Me Adama Kamara, the program aims to equip trainers with the necessary skills to effectively implement PIPS.
The training program follows a recommendation from a workshop held in July 2026, which emphasized the need to strengthen the operational capacities of actors responsible for implementing PIPS. Specialist in social protection and master trainer Gabriel Fernandez highlighted the importance of this training, noting that it will enable the creation of a national framework of specialized social protection trainers. Upon completion of their training, participants will be able to intervene in different regions of the country to strengthen the knowledge of cadres and other actors on social protection mechanisms.
The training will focus on social protection mechanisms, including health insurance and related rights. Fernandez emphasized the significance of this approach for rural and agricultural populations, a substantial portion of whom work in the informal sector and remain inadequately covered by social protection mechanisms. The program is expected to improve the coverage of social protection in these sectors, enhancing the well-being of workers and their families.
The PIPS program was adopted by the Council of Ministers on October 1, 2025, and officially launched in December 2025. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Protection, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The TRANSFORM training program contributes to strengthening national competencies in social protection and disseminating this knowledge to public administrations and other concerned actors.
The training program for 15 national trainers is a critical step in Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to enhance social protection coverage in the agricultural and informal sectors. By creating a pool of skilled trainers, the program aims to ensure that social protection mechanisms are effectively implemented and that workers in these sectors have access to essential services. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of workers and their families.
The implementation of PIPS and the TRANSFORM training program demonstrate Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to improving social protection for all its citizens. The program's success will depend on the effective deployment of trained trainers and the engagement of stakeholders in the agricultural and informal sectors. Key outcomes will include increased access to health insurance and other social protection services for workers in these sectors.
Key points
- The training program aims to create a national pool of 15 trainers capable of transmitting their knowledge to actors involved in implementing social protection mechanisms.
