Digital Content Development for Vocational Training Reform in Benin

Benin has a young population of 13.4 million, with an annual demographic growth rate of 2.7% (2022). 42% of the population is under 15 years old, and every year, approximately 200,000 young people join the labour market. Despite economic growth of around 6% per year (2017-2022), the labour market cannot offer qualified employment to all young people.

84% of the workforce is employed in precarious conditions in the informal sector, and 72% (92% of young people aged 15 to 24) is underemployed in terms of income or working hours, leading to a high poverty rate of 49.6% and a Gini coefficient of 0.48 (World Bank 2022). The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Benin is insufficiently preparing young people for the labour market.

Currently, 30,000 young people, of whom 31% are women, are enrolled in formal TVET, which represents only 3.8% of all secondary school students. Low enrolment in TVET can be attributed to poor quality training, high entry requirements, lack of information about labour market needs, and high fees for trainees' families.

Recognising these constraints, the government of Benin has adopted a National Strategy for TVET 2020-2030, aiming to enhance the quality of technical and vocational skills and qualifications in priority sectors of the economy.

The government is committed to improving governance, modernising curricula, and certifying apprenticeships to contribute to the structural transformation of the economy as outlined in the Government Action Programme PAG2 (2021-2024).

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is supporting Benin in reforming its vocational training system through the Promotion of Vocational Training Project (ProFoP). This project aims to improve the institutional framework for vocational training aligned with the local economy's needs.

It encourages systematic cooperative relationships between state structures responsible for vocational training and the private sector, and pilots cooperative training approaches in selected sectors. The project measures support practical, inclusive vocational training to increase opportunities for decent employment and secure income, particularly for women.

The project, initially implemented from 06/2021-05/2024, has been extended until December 2027 with co-financing from the European Union. The objective remains improving the institutional framework for formal vocational training geared to private sector needs.

The project is structured around four main outputs: Output 1: Strengthen the steering and implementation capacities of public vocational training institutions by involving private sector structures.

Improved governance and steering capacities will enable the Ministry of Secondary, Vocational and Technical Education (MESTFP) to design frameworks to promote demand-driven vocational training in dialogue with the business sector and other ministries. Output 2: Improve cooperation mechanisms between state and private-sector players in dual vocational training.

Output 3: Pilot dual vocational training in sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, and IT, with parts of the training conducted in companies. Output 4: Enhance career guidance, training support, and integration measures for young people, particularly women and disadvantaged groups.

Digitalisation is integrated across all the project"s outputs, notably through: - Strengthening the digital skills of players at the macro, meso, and micro levels . - Integrating digital solutions into career guidance, vocational training delivery, and labour-market integration services.

- Promoting innovative approaches to support partner countries in shaping structural change and adapting the TVET systems to the future of work. - Providing self-paced e-learning courses on inclusive teaching skills for TVET teachers, focusing on digital accessibility in education and creating accessible digital products and online learning sessions.

Description of Services Objective and indicators The contractor will support the development and integration of digital contents and solutions in designing and delivering vocational training courses across all four outputs of the project.

The contractor will contribute to achieving the following indicators: Module Indicator 2: 555 companies supported by the module will take on the training function in their own company. Module Indicator 3: 2,100 apprentices out of 3,000 (70%), including 630 women (40%), will find a job within six months of completing their training.

Output Indicator 1.2: 100 representatives, including 30 women, from MESTFP and the private sector, will confirm they are very good or good at applying the knowledge acquired to implement the vocational training reform. Output Indicator 2.2: 750 companies, including 225 women-led companies, will improve their capacity to train apprentices in-house.