The challenge
The building materials manufacturer HeidelbergCement depends on the local construction industry for its economic success in the west African country of Togo. With three subsidiaries in Togo, the German company can generate good revenues if the industry is doing well and construction companies are aware of the advantages of high-quality building materials such as cement and concrete. The basic requirement for this is already in place: demand for construction services in the country is high.
However, there is a lack of skilled workers who are trained in handling cement and concrete. In Togo, there is not practical initial or continuing training for professions in the building trade. To change this, sound curricula have to be developed, trainings workshops built, and teachers trained adequately.
HeidelbergCement is very interested in establishing dual training courses in Togo. The company expects these courses to take the construction industry to the next level, thereby increasing revenues and reducing the shortage of skilled workers in its own company.
Project approach
Between 2019 and 2021, the partners invested around EUR 204,000 in the following activities to establish dual training courses for bricklayers and carpenters in Togo:
- Development of curricula for training modules and continuing education courses
- Training of teachers to provide instruction in bricklaying and carpentry
- Establishment of a training workshop with modern equipment
- Preparation for initial training and continuing education courses to be recognised by the Togolese Ministry of Vocational Education
- Implementation of training courses
- Campaign to raise awareness of dual vocational training systems
GIZ primarily took on the development of the curricula and the awareness-raising campaign, drawing on its extensive experience in establishing dual training courses and its robust network of contacts with various actors in vocational education and training in Togo. Scantogo Mines S.A. was responsible for setting up the training workshop.
At HeidelbergCement-Togo, we firmly believe that creating sustainable added value in the construction industry can be achieved only by developing synergies between all stakeholders. Working with GIZ has elevated these synergies to a win-win situation in which craftspeople and local communities benefit the most.
Results
The project has created a basis for establishing dual training systems for the bricklayer and carpenter professions in the canton of Tokpli. This enables young people to improve their employability and means that the construction industry now has well-trained employees. It strengthens local economic development, which benefits Scantogo Mines S.A. as demand for building materials grows.
- Curricula exist for 16 training modules and two education courses, which can be used throughout the country once they have been officially approved
- A learning workshop with modern equipment and training rooms are available to the trainees
- The first 16 of a total of 40 in-house trainers have been trained
- The advantages of dual vocational training and its structure are better known in the canton of Tokpli
Project partners
